Erfurth makes history

Bill Erfurth won't be part of today's shootout for the IllinoisOpen championship at The Glen Club in Glenview, but he made hisimpact on the championship during Tuesday's second round.

Erfurth, 73, became the first player to shoot his age in the 53-year history of the tourney. He carded a two-over-par 73 on the 7,100-yard layout that is hosting the event for the first time. An 88 inMonday's first round, however, led to his missing the cut for thefinal round (9 a.m. today). Canadian PGA Tour member Brian Payne hasa two-stroke lead on Ridgemoor assistant Jason Lee.

Lee matched Payne's first-round 68 as the best score in Tuesday'sround. Payne, who carded a 69, is at 5-under-par 137. Amateur ScottHarrington, a Northwestern student; Naperville's Curtis Malm, who wonthe title in 2000 as an amateur; and Woodridge pro Mike Troy are twoshots behind Lee at 141 in the battle for a $17,000 first prize.

Payne, 28, wasn't surprised that Erfurth made tournament history.As a 13-year-old he was paired with Erfurth in a pro-junior event atPine Meadow.

Shooting his age is incredible," Payne said. But I'm notsurprised. I know what a good golfer he is."

Erfurth was the Illinois Open champion in 1975, and that victorykeeps him in the field each year.

The only reason I'm playing is that I was grandfathered in," saidErfurth, who has 48 consecutive appearances in the tournament. Now awinner only gets a 10-year exemption."

Erfurth was head professional at Skokie Country Club for 20 yearsand considers himself retired since leaving in 1985. He did someteaching at Pine Meadow in Mundelein after that, and has been anactive player.

Erfurth was almost the first Illinois Open entrant to shoot hisage several years ago, when he carded a 69 at Royal Fox in St.Charles. He opened his round Tuesday with three 3s, a sharp reversalin form from Monday when he was 17-over-par for the day and in a tiefor 165th place.