VISIT LAWSONIA.COM 36 HOLES OF CLASSIC GOLF IN GREEN LAKE WISCONSIN. ENJOY STAY AND PLAYS, AND THE NEW LANGFORD PUB.

                     RICH HARVEST FARMS OWNER JERRY RICH, who helped create the LPGA International Crown, and will host the event in 2016 is speaking everyday with the Gog Blog. The Rich Report is found only here, so stay clicked in.

During day 2 at Caves Valley Country Club, the Gog Blog caught up with Jerry Rich near the clubhouse and shortly after Team USA had swept all four points from Spain.

Rich is preparing to head back to Chicago where he will appear this weekend at International Crown watch parties that have been set up in the Chicagoland area. Before he departed he was asked if the USA will make it to Sundays finals.

Click below to hear Friday’s Rich Report, that will return on Saturday night after play concludes.

Visit Startech Glass at 1835 N. Major in Chicago,call (773)-745-0800 or online see Startechglass.com Celebrating 25 years in the commercial glass business.

The International Crown Trophy sits on the 18th green at Caves Valley Country Club. Photo by Rory Spears

THE INTERNATIONAL CROWN TROPHY-BY TIFFANY’S

Rich Harvest Farms Owner Jerry Rich, on the grounds at Caves Valley for day one of the LPGA International Crown matches. 

The Rich Report found only here at the Gog Blog.

On day one of the matches, Rich Harvest Farms owner Jerry Rich got to see how his idea for a world wide golf event is starting to play out.

Rich said day one “was good” but all the girls played a little tight because this event is something special for them.

“The Asian girls really want to play well, ” said Rich. “They responded by stepping up on the first tee and ripped it down the middle.”

Rich went out on the golf course and took turns watching both of the Team USA and Chinese Taipei matches. “Chinese Taipei came to play,” said Rich.”We could get not get out of the box.”

Rich thought that Stacy Lewis played well for Team USA but could not get the putts to fall.

When asked if he thought that Team USA would be the only team on day one not to have any points Rich said,”No I did not. I am shocked but his might be a good wake up call. But in matches like this it show that the eight seed can be as good as the number one seed.”

When players were asked about the event and could they compare it to a Solheim Cup, Creamer said no but felt the intensity from the fans could reach Solheim Cup levels down the road. But said it was a good first day. Maybe for the Crown, but not for team USA.

Rich says, the LPGA faced a lot of challenges to make this all come together in 18 months after the event was announced at the 2013 PGA Show in Orlando. But by 2016, Rich feels his team and the LPGA will meet all the challenges an event like this has.

After watching the matches on Friday, he will go home and meet the people coming to the watch parties around Chicago. Rich says things are close to announcing a title sponsor, but he or the LPGA could not make that announcement quite yet.

The Rich Report returns on Friday. Stay Clicked in.

VISIT LAWSONIA.COM and ADDISONPARKS.ORG

BY: RORY SPEARS LEAD WRITER AND ASSISTANT EDITOR

TEAM USA is not off to the start they expected. They are in last place of eight countries. They are the only team that did not earn a point on day 1 of the International Crown.

The USA got swept 4-0 by the team from Chinese Taipei, the No.8 seed who is now in first place headed to day number two.

(Above photo Team USA looks for answers after being shutout on Day 1 of International Crown play. L-R Kelly Thesier, LPGA, Stacy Lewis, Lexi Thompson, Paula Creamer, Christie Kerr.)

In match one Paula Creamer and Christie Kerr lost 4 & 3 to Candie Kung and Teresa Lu. Match two went all the way to the 18th green. It was all square but the Chinese Team won the hole when Yani Tseng made a birdie putt of 15 feet to win the hole and the match.

The Americans as Lewis would say, didn’t give themselves enough looks by having two players on the green at the same time. Kerr added that,” there will be teams that will get zero points over the next day or two so the USA is not dead yet.” But being in last place the USA has to jump over four countries to get into the finals on Sunday.

As a result Fridays matches against Spain, who scored three out of a possible four points against Thailand are now must wins. Another 0-1 or 2 point day on Friday could finish Team USA.

One would think that the USA that got beaten as bad as they did at the Solheim Cup last year, would have come into this event and been ready to go. While teams are not going to win every match, the USA did not look ready. At the same time Kung said that,” as a number eight seed we don’t have high expectations.” After earning four points today her team can now raise them. Should Taipei defeat a struggling Thailand team on Friday, they could have a spot on Sunday about locked up.

In the other matches Japan earned three points out of four against Sweden with a win and a draw. While Australia and Korea split their match with each side winning a match.

Fridays matches start at 9 AM. Spain-USA, Taipei-Thailand in Pool A, with Japan-Australia and Korea vs Sweden in Pool B. There will be more coverage of the matches on the Golf Channel. Team USA has announced a switch in it’s pairings with Kerr now paired with Thompson and Creamer with Lewis.

Lawsonia Golf in Green Lake Wisconsin. 36 holes and Stay and Play Packages. Stay on the grounds of this historic Chicago architect William Langford 1930 design. See Lawsonia.com. Now under the operation of Oliphant Golf.

BY: RORY SPEARS

THEY MADE IT HAPPEN. Above right Rich Harvest Farms owner Jerry Rich the host of the 2016 International Crown, and LPGA Commissioner Michael Whan (on the 4th tee at Caves Valley CC) have spent several years pulling this event together. Today it’s happening.

Whan spoke with the Gog Blog yesterday while playing during the pro-am and remembered a meeting in Rich’s kitchen almost 5 years ago to start mapping out the details. Rich called it two guys with a napkin launching a good idea. now it’s more than good. It’s a great idea and 32 players from eight countries are playing for there countries and loving every minute of it. The format is match play, and what countries will move on from their pool of teams, to Sunday’s finals.

Rich wanted the first Crown event but realized there was too much on his calendar to make that happen, when Whan decided to have the event start in 2014 instead of 2016 when Olympic golf was returning to the schedule.

2015 will be an exciting year at Rich Harvest Farms, with the Western Amateur and the Palmer Cup all in one summer. Then Rich and his team will start digging in even more for the International. Rich has a staff that works on the Crown already, this weekend they have organized watch parties around the Chicago area.

Rich doesn’t know exactly what dates he will have in 2016, but it’s expected to be in late July, about one month before the Olympics begin.

Meetings continue here in Baltimore this week for a title sponsor to come on board, an announcement could come within the next 24-48 hours as to who that company will be.

When asked how the first International Crown ended up at Caves Valley, Whan said it came via a recommendation from the USGA.

“We asked the USGA for a few clubs that could host an event like this and whose membership who get energized and involved,” said Whan. “Then we started to make site visits after they gave us four names. Caves Valley was the second stop, after we saw Caves the search ended right there, we were done.”

When asked about why the teams were decided when they where, and if there has been any fall out about Michelle Wie the new U.S. Women’s Open champion not on the U.S. Team Whan added this.

“With this being a new event and there being a gap on our schedule, we had to get this on the players schedule as soon as possible,” says Whan. “There might have been a chance that some of the players could have left the USA and gone home for vacations. But I think once the players play in this event, it’s something that will always be on their calendars.”

Whan and Rich are looking forward to Rich Harvest Farms in 2016. Whan calls RHF “an outstanding facility and I know Jerry will have it ready and in great shape.”

When Rich is asked if he gets to keep the event in 2018, he says he will want it every two years. Rich wants his Rich Harvest Farms to have the Crown every time it’s played. He would like to think this event will be the Masters of Women’s golf, and they don’t move the Masters from Augusta National.

If the demand of the Crown ever takes the event to the Far East, Rich would take the new format LPGA Championship or the U.S. Women’s Open in it’s place. But he had another idea too. “People miss the Western Open in Chicago,” said Rich. ” How about bringing back the Women’s Western Open, it’s been 50 years. Wouldn’t that be something.” Well yes it would.

The Golf Channel has over 30 hours of programming planned the next few days, Chicago fans go watch the championship that is headed your way, now less than two years and counting.

Written by Rory Spears, Lead Writer and Assistant Editor.

Brad Hopfinger holds the Illinois Open trophy after winning the 65th Illinois Open.

With winds gusting up towards 30 MPH, Brad Hopfinger of Lake Forest and a former member of the University of Iowa golf team who has now turned pro, Hopfinger shot a 1 under par 71 for a 210 and six under par total for the championship and defeat runner up Travis Johns the teaching professional at Medinah.

With the win Hopfinger becomes the seventh golfer from Illinois to win the state amateur and the state open. Hopfinger won the Illinois state amateur in 2011 at Glen Oak Country Club.

The other members of the club are David Ogrin, Gary Hallberg, Bill Hoffer, Gary Pinns, Mark Hensby, Roy Biancalana.

Hopfinger has a chance to win the open last year, he went out in the final round as the leader in the final group. But his troubles started on the first hole with a ball in the weeds, and he faded back to a fourth place finish.

This time Hopflinger played steady golf and jumped over several players for the win. He collected a first place check of $13,500.

Hopfinger was tied was Johns after 16 holes, but in spite of Hopfinger missing a birdie on 17, Johns bogeyed the hole and fell one back. Then Johns hit his tee shot on 17 into the high grass and ended up with a lost ball. That sealed the championship for Hopfinger.

Johns said his final round was very Phil Mickelson like, and that he lost in style.

The Gog Blog would like to thank Big 3 partner Len Ziehm for his contribution to the story.

See Addisonparks.org. Links & Tee’s on Lake Ave. in Addison (630)-233-7275. Play or practice all day this summer for just $20. Best deal in town.

BY: Rory Spears at Caves Valley CC for the Inaugural LPGA International Crown.

Day 1 of the matches of the new LPGA International Crown Championship begin tomorrow. Eight countries have brought their best four players for a chance at the crown.

The first matches are being held at the Caves Valley Country Club outside of Baltimore MD. On Sunday only one country will hold the Crown, who will it be.

The #1 seed coming in is the USA, with Korea right behind them at #2. Korean player Inbee Park says there are high expectations back in Korea, for the team to win.

What will the players face this week. For a little history this week and what the Tom Fazio designed course will play like, and how it will challenge the ladies best players from around the world. The Gog Blog caught up with Caves Valley Director of Golf Dennis Satyshur for all the answers. Satyshur has been at the club for all of it’s 24 years.

Listen here to hear the interview with Dennis Satyshur.

The Gog Blog will have more from Caves Valley.

Visit Startechglass.com a Chicago leader in Commercials Glass. Celebrating 25 years in 2014.

Written by Rory Spears, Lead Writer and Assistant Editor

The first day of matches is tomorrow on the Golf Channel, from Caves Valley CC, in Owings Mill MD.

Rich Harvest Farms owner Jerry Rich and Team Australia member Lindsey Wright on the third hole at Caves Valley CC on Pro-Am day.

THE RICH REPORT: is brought to you daily by Golfers on Golf, you won’t find it anywhere else.                                                             Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove owner Jerry Rich, and host of the 2016 International Crown spoke after his pro-am round today at Caves Valley Country Club.

In heat that reached in the mid-90’s and a heat index of over 100, Rich played in the pro-am today, with LPGA Commissioner Michael Whan, Wells Fargo executive Nicholas Carey, and team Australia member Lindsey Wright.

It was Rich’s first full trip around the golf course. After the round he shared his thoughts about Caves Valley Country Club and test it will bring the top ladies players in the world. He did mention one thing he did observe at the events gala dinner last night. Sounds like there will be at least one change in 2016.

Click here to hear today’s Rich report with Jerry Rich, hosted by Rory Spears.

The Rich Report returns on Thursday.

It’s International Crown Week from Caves Valley CC in Owings Mill MD. Catch some 30 hours of coverage on the Golf Channel, and more right here on this website.

It seems to be Hawkeye month, as yet another member of the University of Iowa Golf team is stepping up big in tournament play.

Brian Bullington (a) shot a five under par 67 in the second round to hold a 1-shot lead over Medinah teaching professional Travis Johns who shot a six under par 66.

Bullington is teammates at Iowa with Raymond Knoll who won the Illinois State Amateur at Cantigny last week. While Bullington is playing steady golf over two days 70-67, Johns lit it up in round two. The 2010 Illinois PGA Match Play Champion, started rolling in big putts on the back nine to make his charge. Including three 20+ footers late in the round.

Tied for third place two shots back is Kyle English (68) and Daniel Stringfellow (69). Michael Schachner played even par golf in round two and is in 6th place.

First round leader Michael Davan struggled in with a 76, he is tied for 7th place with 2012 champion Max Scodro at -2.

The players at tied for ninth at 1 under par are Knoll, 2011 champion Erick Meierdierks and Illinois golf coach Mike Small the four time champion. Small might have to much ground to make up after carding an opening round 77, but you can’t count him out.

IPGA player of the year point leader White Eagle CC professional Curtis Malm missed the cut. Johns with good final round could surpass Malm in the point lead.

57 players made the cut and tee times for round three will start at 7:30 Am. Admission is free and public is welcome.

Special thanks to BIG 3 partners Len Ziehm and Tim Cronin for their help in coverage from the Glen Club.

The Gog Blog will have a wrap of the 65th Illinois Open on Wednesday night. Stay clicked in.

Visit Startechglass.com Avid Golfer Thomas Startek invites you to see the showroom at 1835 N. Major in Chicago. (773)-745-0800. Celebrating 25 years in the commercial glass business.

By: Rory Spears Lead Writer and Assistant Editor.

(Owings Mill MD.)  Live from the Caves Valley CC outside of Baltimore it’s the first LPGA International Crown.

Several of the 32 players were in for pre-tournament press conferences and it is obvious the excitement is building. The atmosphere around Caves Valley is one that is giving everyone some great expectations of the golf that will be played here.

Chicago golf fans should watch the over 30 hours of TV time provided by the Golf Channel on this event, the International Crown will becoming to Jerry Rich’s Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove. The Gog Blog will be speaking with Rich all week long, getting his observations on the event he helped create.

Watch parties are happening this weekend in Chicago in Hoffman Estates and Naperville, check out the Crown.

Rich Harvest Farms Owner Jerry Rich has been the driving force behind the International Crown. Rich Harvest Farms will host the matches in 2016.

THE RICH REPORT: Right here on the Gog Blog.

On Tuesday Jery Rich arrived in Baltimore to see the fruits of his hard work for over three and half years. It’s a week he has been waiting for, for a long time. On Tuesday night right before the International Crown’s gala dinner in downtown Baltimore, I spoke with Rich about the week that is starting to unfold and Caves Valley the host club for the matches.

“It’s kinda cool,” said Rich about Caves Valley. “The clubhouse is very nice and there are places where you get some nice views of several holes from around the golf course.”

Rich will join LPGA Commissioner Michael Whan and LPGA Player Lindsey Wright from Australia in a 12:06 (EST) tee time on Wednesday for the pro-am. But he is more excited to see this week and this event finally tee off.

“I am excited,” said Rich. ” 3 1/2 years of work coming together. There is lots of energy here, and the girls are very excited about having a chance to play for their countries.”

Rich will be on site here at Caves Valley for a few days before returning home to attend a watch party in Hoffman Estates on Saturday.

Rich was hoping to announce a title sponsor this week for 2016, but at this time he is not sure if that will happen or not. But it still could, stay clicked in.

The next segment of the Rich Report will be back on Wednesday after the completion of the pro-am. We will hear from some of the players as well.

 BY: RORY SPEARS

THE GOG BLOG is headed to the first LPGA International Crown at Caves Valley Country Club outside of Baltimore. Stay Clicked in for updates all week, and a wrap up of the 65th Illinois Open.

The Rich report with interviews of Rich Harvest Farms owner Jerry Rich, as he views the event coming to Rich Harvest farms in Sugar Grove in 2016 all week long right here. Stay Clicked in.