Playing golf only because he got cut from his high school baseball team, Philip Arouca of Wilmette, who just competed at the Greater Cedar Rapids Open this past weekend at Hunters Ridge Golf Course in Marion, is on the brink of what could be a major breakthrough in his career.

Arouca took a four-shot lead into Wednesday’s play of the 62nd Illinois Open, being played at Hawthorn Woods Country Club in suburban Chicago. Arouca headed into the final round of the 54-hole tournament at 10-under par 132 and led Bennett Blakeman of Burr Ridge by four shots.

Arouca posted a 4-under par 140 here at the GCRO to tie for 17th. He had rounds of 68 and 72 in the rain-shortened 36-hole tournament. Arouca shot a 6-under in Monday’s first round at the Illinois Open and followed that up with a 4-under 68 Tuesday.

Tom Bliefnick of Decatur, Ill., who tied for second in the GCRO at 11-under 133, couldn’t follow up a solid first round at Hawthorn and was tied for 35th heading into the final round. Bliefnick shot a 2-under 69 Monday, but ballooned to a 6-over 77 Tuesday. Also tied for 35th was Joe Emerich of Palatine, Ill., a former Illinois Open champ. Emerich, who tied for 84th at the GCRO, was at 4-over 135.

Two other golfers who just played in Marion and then headed out to the Illinois Open didn’t fare as well, missing the 36-hole cut. Jeff Kellen (Rockford, Ill.) tied for 35th over the weekend in the GCRO at 2-under 142 and Josh Butterfield (Aurora, Ill.) tied for 84th here.

For live scoring updates from the Illinois Open go to www.ipga.com.

Don Wojciechowski resides in the Hunters Ridge Golf Course community and plays the course on a regular basis. He’s a former sports editor for a suburban Chicago daily newspaper and an avid golf fan.