ROCKFORD – Tee-K Kelly had an inkling this would be his week at the 83rd Illinois State Amateur golf championship at Aldeen Golf Club. “I told my Dad on the first day that this was the most nervous I’ve been in a long time, because I knew I had a shot to win,’’ he said….
Author: lenz
DOWNSTATE ILLINOIS: Rock River is steeped in history
ROCK FALLS, IL. — I’ll admit it. I’m a sucker for golf history. That explains why it seemed a good idea to stop by what had been Rock River Country Club en route to the PGA Tour’s John Deere Classic in Silvis, about 40 miles further west. Officially known now as Rock River Golf &…
Illinois’ two biggest tournaments are now back-to-back
The Chicago District Golf Assn. revamped its tournament schedule this year, and the biggest change comes this week when the men’s 83rd Illinois State Amateur tees off a month earlier than previous years. It began a three-day 72-hole run at Aldeen, in Rockford, on Tuesday. After its conclusion on Thursday many of the same players…
JDC: Spieth becomes PGA Tour’s first teenage champion in 82 years
SILVIS, IL. – It’s not unusual for golfers to get their first PGA Tour victory at the John Deere Classic. Jordan Spieth became the 19th player in the tourney’s 43-year history to do it on Sunday. Spieth’s win, though, was different from all the others – a lot different. Still two weeks away from his…
JDC: Changing of the guard after Summerhays shoots 62?
SILVIS, IL. – Could Sunday bring a changing of the guard at the John Deere Classic? Saturday’s developments at TPC Deere Run certainly suggested that’s a strong possibility. Zach Johnson and Steve Stricker, the poster boys for the PGA Tour stop over the last four years, fell off the pace in the third round as…
JDC: Zach Johnson doesn’t need to be perfect to retain lead
SILVIS, IL. – Zach Johnson is not only on the board of directors for the John Deere Classic, he’s also the defending champion. Those roles might seem a burden for the PGA Tour’s leading member from nearby Iowa, but so far Johnson’s kept his focus. He tacked a second round 66 to the 64 he…
Bradley, bigger foreign contingent give JDC strongest field ever
Zach Johnson’s title defense and three-time winner Steve Stricker’s return to the PGA Tour may be the focal points of the John Deere Classic, which tees off Thursday in Silvis, IL., on the outskirts of the Quad Cities. The 43-year old $4.6 million championship, though, may have its best field ever thanks to the first-ever…
LZOG adds a fifth partner — Brian Weis’ GolfTrips and GolfWisconsin
Lenziehmongolf.com is delighted to announce another partnership agreement, this one with veteran Wisconsin golf writer Brian Weis. Weis is publisher of GolfTrips.com – a network of golf travel and directory sites that include GolfWisconsin.com, GolfMichigan.com, ArizonaGolfers.com and GolfAlabama.com. His venture into golf began in 2004 with the launching of GolfWisconsin.com. Its success spurred the creation…
Here’s some tips for your visit to the John Deere Classic
It’s almost here now, the only annual Illinois stop on the PGA Tour. Yes, the John Deere Classic is something special. Those visiting the spiffy TPC Deere Run course in Silvis, on the outskirts of the Quad Cities, will realize that in a hurry if they’re first-time visitors to this July 8-14 shootout. The JDC…
Add Palmer Cup to the big events Jerry Rich is bringing to Sugar Grove
Big golf events used to be commonplace in Chicago. Now, not so much. No U.S. Opens or PGA Championships are scheduled in these parts. The PGA Tour comes only every other year, for the BMW Championship. The LPGA and Buy.com Tour no longer make annual stops here. Only the Champions Tour, with its new Encompass…