OUTDOOR DINING WITH A VIEW-The Highlands Restaurant at Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa in Galena. 63 holes of golf, and the new spa opens July 13th See EagleRidge.com
THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation for Golfers on Golf. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy or connect on LinkedIN and Facebook.
HARRY HALL of ENGLAND wins the 2022 NV5 Invitational at The Glen Club in Glenview IL.
WHAT A FINISH!
Playing in very windy conditions, the worst of the week England’s Harry Hall outlasted local favorite, Northbrook’s Nick Hardy.
Both players shot (65 -6) amazing final rounds in the blustery conditions to finish at 22 under par.
Then Hall and Hardy headed to a playoff, that took three more holes. The playoff went holes 18-18 and 17. But after birdies by both players on the first two playoff holes, Hall rolled in an 8 foot birdie putt on the par 3 17th hole for the win.
Nick Hardy tee’s off on the 1st hole of Round 4.
Hall hadn’t had much recent success on the Korn Ferry Tour. But the UNLV alum pulled it together on Sunday.
It was Hall’s first top 10 of the year, after 12 starts in 2022.
“This year has been a little bit stale as far as performances and outcomes. But I played some good golf this week,” Hall said. “To birdie all three playoff holes-and shoot 30 on the back nine, is some of the best golf I have played. I hit some good putts and I think my best is good enough to beat anybody.”
Hall admitted that this win was tougher than his first title.
Harry hall hits his opening tee shot during the third round.
“Playing in a playoff for starters,” Hall said. “But the fact I had to play three holes against a great player like Nick, in front of his home crowd, that wasn’t easy. But I dealt with it and played some good golf.”
So with the win Hall picked up 500 points and moved from 94th to 17th on Korn Ferry Tour points list. Hall earned a $135,000 for his first place finish.
Hardy earned $67,500 for being the runner-up.
The week ended in disappointment for Hardy, even though he didn’t know on Monday or Tuesday if he could play. Still going through a wrist injury. But Hardy admitted that 65 on a windy Sunday and 22 under for the week, was pretty good playing. Even though his Gap-Wedge on the third playoff hole on his tee shot, coming up on the front edge of the green was still surprising.
Hardy will now prepare for his U.S. Open Sectional qualifier on Monday June 6th in Ohio, where he has played before.
CLICK HERE to hear the full interview with Northbrook’s Nick Hardy.
University of Illinois Alum Dylan Meyer shot 4 under on the back-nine to make this weeks Korn Ferry Tour event in Raleigh North Carolina. Meyer needed a top 25 and was T-23.
THE WEEK was pretty good overall for local players, or ones with local ties.
Hardy was 2nd, University of Illinois alum Dylan Meyer mounted a great back nine comeback.
Meyer was +3 on the front nine, but -4 on the backside to finish T-23 and make this coming weeks Korn Ferry Tour field in North Carolina.
Highwood’s Patrick Flavin finished with a 69 (-2), and a T-32 at 9 under par. Deerfield’s Vince India was also at -9 for the week after a 72 on Sunday. David Perkins from East Peoria and a Illinois State alum was also at 9 under par and T-32.
CLICK HERE to hear the full interview with University of Illinois alum Dylan Meyer
Brad Hopfinger from Lake Forest started the final round at -10, but after a three-putt bogey on the par 5 first hole, things didn’t go well for Hopfinger. A (+6) 77 dropped him down to -4 for the week.
The NV5 invitational offered a purse of $750,000 that will be come $1,000,000 in 2023, when the championship returns to the Glen Club.
The Gog Blog Speaks out returns tomorrow. RS