Illinois men's golf coach Mike Small is no stranger to hoisting trophies. The 60-year-old won a pair of titles on the Korn Ferry Tour and has competed in the U.S. Senior Open and on numerous big stages in the game.
His latest victory Sunday is a reminder to his players and other college golf coaches that he's still got it.
Small won the 93rd Iowa Open at Riverside Casino and Golf Resort in Riverside, Iowa. Small carded rounds of 68-66-66 for a 54-hole total of 16-under 200, claiming his first Iowa Open title by three shots over Chris Naegel of Missouri.
Small said he started hitting the ball better the day before the tournament thanks to some work with his friend, Mike Adams, in Florida.
"I played really well," Small said. "I kept my mind, my focus
together. To be in that situation today, the last group and not make a bogey, I'm very proud of that."
.93rd Iowa Open Champion Mike Small of Champaign, Illinois, PGA Member of Illinois PGA and Illinois Mens Golf Coach! Small's 3-day total was 68-66-66=200, 16-under-par. Congratulations Mike Small! @illinoispga pic.twitter.com/D5W3FAmely
— Iowa PGA Section (@iowapga) July 26, 2026
Small is a PGA Member of Illinois PGA and has been the golf coach at Illinois since June 2000. An Illinois graduate in 1988, Small was inducted into the Illinois Golf Hall of Fame in 2013 and remains the youngest person enshrined in the hall.
With the win, Small took home a prize of $12,000.
Cameron Jourdan is an assistant editor of Golfweek, covering college and amateur golf, the PGA Tour and plenty more. Follow Cameron on X/Twitter (@Cam_Jourdan) or Instagram (@GolfweekJourdan).
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Illinois golf coach Mike Small cruises to victory in Iowa Open
