Small helps U.S. win PGA Cup

LUSS, Scotland — Illinois men’s golf coach Mike Small lost his singles match Sunday 2-and-1, but the Americans still cruised to a 171/2-81/2 victory against Great Britain & Ireland in the PGA Cup.

Small was the only U.S. team member who did not earn a point Sunday. Overall, Small was 1-4 for the event.

Scott Hebert won all five of his matches for the United States.

“In the end, we had 10 strong players, 10 deep,” captain Brian Whitcomb said. “I’ve been around this game since I was 5 or 6 years old, and to watch club professionals perform at the level they did, it means the world to me.”

The Americans won 81/2 points from the 10 singles matches, beating by one point their largest margin of victory on foreign soil set in 1983 at Muirfield. The United States has twice won by 12 points playing at home.

Back home, Small's Illini golf team finished seventh at the Olympia Fields/Fighting Illini Invitational on Sunday. Scott Langley tied for 12th to lead the Illini.

No. 5 Arizona State won the title by 2 strokes. No. 2 Oklahoma State was second followed by No. 10 Texas, No. 1 Stanford and No. 5 Florida State.