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IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: BILL IBRAHIM August 22, 2011 Senior Director of Operations 847-729-5700 ext. 105 [email protected]

SMALL LOOKS TO ADD TENTH ILLINOIS PGA CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE

GLENVIEW, Ill. – The month of August continues to be a busy one for Mike Small. After competing in the 62nd Illinois Open Championship (July 25-27), the PGA TOUR’s Reno-Tahoe Open and the 93rd PGA Championship, Small looks to defend his title in the Nadler Golf Cars 89th Illinois PGA Championship/PPNC (PGA Professional National Championship), August 29-31 at Medinah (Ill.) Country Club. Small, 45, men’s head golf coach at the University of Illinois, captured last year's Illinois PGA Championship with a 54-hole-total of 200 (70-63-67). His margin of victory was 11 strokes over second place finisher Travis Johns, PGA teaching professional at Twin Lakes Golf Course in Palatine, Ill. The victory was Small’s eighth consecutive Illinois PGA Championship title and ninth overall in the past ten years. His margin of victory of 11 strokes and his 54- hole total of 200 are believed to be Illinois PGA Championship records. Small owns numerous Illinois PGA Championship records, highlighted by his eight consecutive and nine total victories. His only blemish in the past decade was a playoff loss to Gary Groh, PGA head golf professional at Bob O’Link Golf Club, in 2002 at Kemper Lakes Golf Course in Kildeer, Ill. For the second time in five years, Small enters the Illinois PGA Championship after earning the Low Club Professional award in the 93rd PGA Championship, held at Atlanta Athletic Club in Johns Creek, Ga. His 72-hole total of 12-over- 292 represented the top effort among 20 PGA Club Professionals in the Season’s Final Major. “It’s just special to compete and represent PGA Members everywhere,” said Small following his final round in the 93rd PGA Championship. “It was great to have my family there and supporting me. I didn't finish how I wanted to but there were spots and places where I played well. But, it was fun to represent all the members of The PGA of America. It's a great experience every year.” Small’s active schedule will continue into next month as he will join a 10-member United States Team that will face Great Britain & Ireland, Sept. 16-18, in the 25th PGA Cup at CordeValle in San Martin, Calif. The PGA Cup is structured after the Ryder Cup and brings together a team of the PGA of America's professionals facing a team from Great Britain & Ireland. The United States has never been defeated on home soil and owns a 16-5-3 overall record. After being held at , Stonewall Orchard Golf Club and Olympia Fields Country Club, the Championship moves back to historic Medinah Country Club on Course No. 1. “We are excited to once again have Medinah Country Club host the Illinois PGA Championship,” said Michael Miller, executive director of the Illinois PGA. “To have our premier member championship held at such a historic facility will no doubt be an amazing experience for our members who compete in the event.”

– more – Nadler Golf Cars 89th Illinois Open Championship/PPNC – Page 2

The legendary Medinah Country Club has hosted six major championships including the 1999 PGA Championship, three U.S. Open Championships (1949, 1975, 1990) and, most recently, the 2006 PGA Championship. Medinah will also host the 39th Ryder Cup Matches September 25-30, 2012, the first ever Ryder Cup held in Illinois. Also competing in the Illinois PGA Championship with Small will be four-time Illinois PGA champion Gary Groh (1983, 1986, 1989, 2002) and past champions Doug Bauman (1996, 1997), Steve Benson (1982, 1984, 1994), Dino Lucchesi (1998), David Prange (1992) and Jim Sobb (1995, 1999, 2000). Small, along with the top 11 finishers in the 89th Illinois PGA Championship, will receive an exemption to play in the 45th PGA Professional National Championship, which will be contested June 24-27, 2012 at Bayonet and Black Horse Golf Courses in Seaside, Calif. Small is exempt from qualifying as a past champion of the PPNC. The 2011 starting field will be comprised of 156 participants including seven past champions. The first and second rounds will be held Monday, August 29th and Tuesday, August 30th, respectively, beginning at 7:30 a.m. off the first and tenth tees, followed by the final round on Wednesday, August 31st. Long-time Illinois PGA partner Nadler Golf Cars will once again be the title sponsor of the Illinois PGA Championship/PPNC. Their support as title sponsor elevated the Championship to record purse levels every year. Presenting PPNC sponsors include: Club Car, Mercedes-Benz, and Omega. Supporting PPNC sponsors include: Adidas/TaylorMade, Callaway Golf, Titleist/Footjoy, Nike Golf, and the PGA TOUR.

Future Illinois PGA Section Championships (tentative): - 90th Illinois PGA Championship: Stonewall Orchard Golf Club, Grayslake, Ill., Aug. 27-29, 2012 - 91st Illinois PGA Championship: Site TBD, Aug. 26-28, 2013 - 92nd Illinois PGA Championship: Medinah (Ill.) Country Club, Aug. 25-27, 2014 - 93rd Illinois PGA Championship: Site TBD, Aug. 31-Sept. 2, 2015 - 94th Illinois PGA Championship: Site TBD, Aug. 29-31, 2016 - 95th Illinois PGA Championship: Medinah (Ill.) Country Club, Aug. 28-30, 2017

The Illinois PGA: The Illinois Section of the PGA of America is a professional organization serving the men and women golf professionals in northern and central Illinois who are the recognized experts in growing, teaching and managing the game of golf. The Illinois PGA is responsible for the administration of competitive golf tournaments, educational opportunities, support programs and growth of the game initiatives. With over 857 members and apprentices, the Illinois PGA is the 12th largest of the 41 regional entities or "Sections" that comprise the PGA of America.

Nadler Golf Cars: Nadler Golf, after establishing a partnership in 1981 with Club Car, the leading manufacturer of motorized cars in the country, not only successfully expanded their distribution of golf cars across the Midwest, they also began selling and leasing utility and other transportation vehicles. With this addition to their arsenal, Nadler Golf is now doing business with hotels and resort facilities in and around the Midwest by selling the concept of "taking the legwork" out of the equation for property managers at the facilities. For more information, visit www.nadlergolf.com.

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