THE INN ON WOODLAKE IN KOHLER, renovation and addition to start this fall, Inn will remain open during the process see DestinationKohler.com. McWethy’s Tavern in the new clubhouse at Mistwood, fine dining in a golf environment. See Mistwoodgc.com.       _____________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG by Rory Spears. Editor and Director of Content. Follow Rory on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter @GogBlogGuy. At Olympia Fields prior to the 2015 US Amateur.

The U.S. Amateur at Oakland Hills will be along in just a week and a half. The final tune up for that championship for the U.S. Amateur is the Western Amateur this week at the Knollwood Club.

Northbrook’s Nick Hardy a member of the University of Illinois Men’s golf team, and recent winner of the Illinois State Amateur is in the field and hoping to win a Western Amateur title.

***Editors note*** As this story was near completion, Hardy was eliminated from the championship in the match play round of 16, losing to Davis Riley by a score of 4 & 2.

Nick Hardy in 2015, lending his support to an Illinois Junior Golf Event at Valley Lo.

Hardy has had an incredible summer, winning the Illinois State Amateur with a score of 28 under par at St. Charles Country Club. Runner up Tee-K Kelly was 10 shots back.

Hardy went back to St. Charles the following week, and played in the Illinois Open, where at Royal Fox and Royal Hawk he was the low-amateur in the field.

Hardy started out the week at Knollwood shooting under par scores, and making not only the first cut, but survived the second cut and made it into the match play. From Knollwood, Hardy will begin to prepare for the U.S. Amateur in Oakland Hills.

Click here to hear the interview with Nick Hardy this week during the Western Amateur at Knollwood.

The final four matches start at 8 Am tomorrow, and the championship match that will be 18 holes will be teeing off in the noon hour.