2016 LPGA INTERNATIONAL CROWN LEAVES RICH HARVEST FARMS

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The Gog Blog by Rory Spears, Editor and Director of Content. Follow Rory on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter @GogBlogGuy. With the LPGA International Crown Trophy.

The 2016 LPGA International Crown needs a new home. It will not be played at Rich Harvest Farms as had been planned next July.

The question now is where does it go.

The LPGA issued a statement late Wednesday saying that the LPGA and Rich Harvest Farms have mutually agreed to relocate the 2016 UL International Crown. Both parties say they remain open to working together again the future, citing past success with the Solheim Cup at Rich Harvest Farms in 2009.

The release states that the LPGA is working to find a new home in the Chicago area for 2016, and the event will be played as scheduled in Korea in 2018.

When reached by Golfers on Golf last night at Rich Harvest Farms, owner Jerry Rich confirmed the relocation of the event he helped create.

Rich said he “wished the LPGA well and hoped the International Crown would play out well at another Chicago area course.”

Rich did not rule out working with the LPGA again the future.

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Jerry Rich (L) with LPGA Commissioner Michael Whan at the 2014 International Crown at Caves Valley CC near Baltimore.

In the meantime Rich said he and his staff are now “full speed ahead on the 2017 NCAA Men’s and Women’s National Championships,” that will be played at Rich Harvest Farms.

Rich added that he and Rich Harvest Farms are looking forward to hosting the 2018 WGA Western Golf Association Junior Championship. And that he and his staff are working closely with the golf team at his alma-mater Northern Illinois University on the NIU Invitational, that is played at Rich Harvest Farms every fall.  Rich says that the event is gaining popularity in the college golf ranks, as more and more high profile college golf teams attempt to earn invitations.

Rich, who has strong connections with many veteran LPGA players, could not say if he would seek a U.S. Women’s Open, or attempt to land the new U.S. Sr. Women’s Open that will be launched in 2018 by the USGA.

When reached in Mexico City, LPGA Chief Communications Officer Kraig Kann could not add much more that what was sent out in a very thin the press release.

Kann said the LPGA hoped to have more announcements regarding the future of the International Crown in a few weeks. Kann did confirm that the LPGA still plans to hold the event in 2016, and would like to keep the event in the Chicago area if they can.

There has already been speculation on where the LPGA could move the event to. Some courses that have surfaced are the Chicago Highlands Golf Club, the Merit Club that hosted the 2000 U.S. Women’s Open, or Cog Hill.

Olympia Fields is already hosting the 2017 KPMG LPGA Championships and Kemper Lakes is hosting the same event in 2018, are not likely candidates. But could opt to change events and dates. Kemper Lakes would be a more likely choice, since Olympia Fields is not likely to give up their courses for major events two years in a row after hosting the U.S. Amateur this past August. There is no word on whether or not Medinah Country Club would have an interest, but the answer there is likely no.

If the LPGA could not reach and agreement in the Chicago area, they could look north to Wisconsin and the American Club courses in kohler. It’s been rumored that Herb Kohler has an interest in hosting the International Crown at some point.

Kohler Company has not yet responded to a request for comment.

Underwriters Lab (UL) the sponsor of the International Crown has not yet commented on the situation either, but apparently will remain as title sponsor.

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About Rory Spears

Rory spent over 8 years growing up working at Rob Roy Golf Club in Prospect Hts.IL, then two years at Chevy Chase in Wheeling. He has covered golf in Chicago since 1986. Rory was one of the initial members of WSCR all-sports radio Chicago and covered golf there for 5 seasons, before moving on to work for ESPN/Sportsticker and ESPN Radio. In addition to hosting Golfers on Golf Radio on WCPT AM820 Chicago, he writes for both the Chicago District (CDGA) Magazine, and formerly Chicagoland Golf. Rory has played over 525 courses in 39 states, and rates golf courses. He does golf course management and communications consulting, within the golf industry.