Illinois coach Small comes up big at PGA of America's PNC

For the second time in five years, Illinois men's coach Mike Small has won the PGA of America's national championship for its rank-and-file members.

A final-round 68 at Twin Warriors GC in Santa Ana Pueblo, N.M., earlier today gave Small gave him seven-under 277 total and a one-stroke victory over Mark Sheftic and__Steve Schneiter__ at the PGA Professional National Championship.

"This is huge," Small said. "It validates the one I had four years ago and sets me up for a good year-and-a-half of golf. It also brings credibility to our program."

It also secured him a place in the field at next month's PGA Championship at Hazeltine National GC outside of Minneapolis. It will be Small's eighth appearance in a major championship. He made the cut in the 2005 and 2007 PGA, earning the low club professional honors in the later

Small has finished second in the event on two other occassions.