THE RUST OLEUM CHAMPIONSHIP coming to Ivanhoe Country Club from June 6-12, tickets on sale now at Rustoleumchampionship.com. The 2016 Sr.PGA Championship at Harbor Shores will take place from May 23-29, see Colin Montgomerie go for a Three-Peat at the Senior PGA Championship, tickets at PGA.com/Srpga. _____________________________________________________________________

Welcome to Erin Hills, home of the 2017 U.S. Open. The Gog Blog by Rory Spears, Editor and Director of Content. Follow Rory on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter @GogBlogGuy.

The new Web.com championship in Springfield Illinois, the Lincoln Land Charity Championship has named its first sponsor exemption.

University of Illinois men’s golf coach Mike Small received that exemption, which was awarded by tournament officials.

Coach Small the winner of the 2015 Coach of the year award, has guided Illinois to seven Big ten Championships in the last eight years.

Mike Small at Olympia Fields after winning the Illinois PGA Championship.

Small has taken the Illini to the NCAA national championship seven of the last eight seasons.

Small previously played on the PGA Tour and the tour that is now called the web.com tour for five years, but while coaching at Illinois still continues to play at IPGA Section events and other top level tournaments.

“We are excited to have Coach Small competing in the inaugural Lincoln Land Charity Championship,” said Tournament Director Alex McCarty. “Mike’s professional accomplishments, coupled with his success as head men’s golf coach for the University of Illinois, makes for an exciting addition to the tournament field.”

In 2013 Small played in his 9th PGA Championship and his 12th career major. Later that year he was inducted to the Illinois Golf Hall of Fame.

Tournament officials also announced that a member of the Illinois golf team will receive a sponsor’s exemption into the field through 2020, it will go to the player with the lowest stroke average, unless a player from Illinois wins the Big Ten Championship.

The Land of Lincoln Charity Championship will be played at the Panther Creek Country Club in Springfield Illinois, from July 14-17. Many would prefer to go to a site like GoFundMe to give their charitable donations, but for fans of the sports this event is a great alternative. Tickets are $10 and weekly passes can be purchased for $35. For more information see Lincolnlandcharitychampionship.com.

NOTE: Coach Small and his Illinois Team are currently competing in the NCAA Regionals on the Meadows Valley Course at Blackwolf Run in Kohler Wisconsin. The top five schools will advance to the NCAA National Championships in Eugene Oregon. Heading into today’s final round, Illinois is alone in second place.