While the four major championship on the PGA Tour are now history, the Illinois PGA has three of its four still coming up. The next is the Illinois Open, Aug. 2-4 at Stonebridge, in Aurora. IPGA leadership did considerable soul-searching in trying to salvage the pandemic-impacted 2020 season, and their efforts are reflected in…
Author: lenz
Ownership change triggers big changes at Illinois’ Eagle Ridge
GALENA, IL. – I love Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa. There, I’ve said it. Actually, it’s not that earth-shaking a statement. I’ve had good vibes about this place since my first visit, probably in the early 1970s. There have been a lot since then, the highlights being an invitee to the Grand Opening of the…
Streelman looks for a bounce-back at the British Open
Last week’s John Deere Classic wasn’t kind to Wheaton’s Kevin Streelman, the top local player on the PGA Tour. He missed the 36-hole cut at the JDC, but he’s still in this week’s British Open at England’s Royal St. George’s course. “It’s a different level of everything. Everything’s elevated – the adrenalin, the crowds, the…
Glover bucks the trend in winning the John Deere Classic
SILVIS, IL. – Lucas Glover isn’t supposed to be the type of guy who wins the John Deere Classic. That event has been one for young players – like Payne Stewart, Jordan Spieth and Bryson DeChambeau — to kick-start their careers. They were among the 23 first-time PGA Tour winners among the JDC’s 50 champions….
Glover ends a trend in winning the 50th John Deere Classic
SILVIS, IL. – Lucas Glover isn’t supposed to be the type of guy who wins the John Deere Classic. That event has been one for young players – like Payne Stewart, Jordan Spieth and Bryson DeChambeau — to kick-start their careers. They were among the 23 first-time PGA Tour winners among the JDC’s 50 champions….
Munoz makes another big splash in regaining John Deere Classic lead
SILVIS, IL. — The John Deere Classic, which concludes its 50th anniversary celebration on Sunday, is known for its long history of first-time winners on the PGA Tour. The tourney has had 23 of them in its first 49 years and is on a streak of three straight champions who cracked the win list for…
Recharged List passes Munoz for lead at midway point in John Deere Classic
SILVIS, IL. – Sebastian Munoz knew that shooting a 63 in Thursday’s first round of the John Deere Classic – with birdies on the last five holes to boot — wasn’t all good. “It’s never easy showing up the day after you shoot 8-under,’’ he said. And it wasn’t easy for him on the first…
Did Stricker make a mistake in returning to the JDC?
SILVIS, IL. – Did Steve Stricker make a bad decision in helping the John Deere Classic celebrate its 50th anniversary, albeit a year late? Stricker is a legend in the PGA Tour stop played three hours from his Wisconsin home. He won the John Deere Classic three straight times, from 2009 to 2011. He’s won…
Fast start at John Deere Classic shows how much progress Ghim is making
SILVIS, IL. – Being a rookie on the PGA Tour isn’t easy. Doug Ghim, who got to golf’s premier circuit after growing up in Arlington Heights, is making headway and Thursday’s first round of the John Deere Classic provided proof of that. Ghim came into the JDC with $1,152,732 in season winnings and had…
JDC celebrates its 50th after coming through the pandemic just fine
SILVIS, IL. – What a difference a year makes. The John Deere Classic had been announced as the first PGA Tour event in 2020 to welcome spectators after play was shut down by pandemic concerns on March 12. The JDC had July 6-12 dates for what was to be its 50th anniversary staging. Unfortunately, the…