JERRY RICH HAS ROLLED OUT THE RED CARPET and welcomes everyone to the 2017 Men’s and Women’s NCAA Golf Championships at his Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove. The ladies are on the tee this Friday, and the men start one week later. It’s two weeks of championship golf, and two final-fours. See the future tour stars of tomorrow, today up close and personal. Cheer on your school, or Alma-mater, well priced tickets are on sale now at NCAA.com/Tickets and of course Parking is Free. _____________________________________________________________________
THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Editor and Director of Content. Follow Rory on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter @GogBlogGuy on the 18th hole at the Preserve (formerly Oak Meadows GC in Addison-for more see DuPagegolf.com).
I just drove past the new Preserve at Oak Meadows in Addison. It’s not open for play yet, but it will this summer and likely under 60 days. It looks great right now, so I’m sure it will be in real good shape coming opening day whenever that is.
Last week I sat down for a round-table with DuPage County FPD Interim Executive Director Ed Stevenson, and project architect Greg Martin. The story will run in the June issue of our print partner Val Russell’s Chicagoland Golf, do look for it in your pro shops and golf retail stores.
THIS WEEK THE NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove get underway. The ladies are on the tee first, starting Friday, with the national championship match off the first tee on Wednesday afternoon the 24th. The men follow starting two days later. Do you have your tickets yet, you should. Do remember this is a much better buy than heading down to the ball parks and or the United Center, and the NCAA and Mr. Rich would never think of charging you to park your car. If you want an adult beverage for under $10, that’s not a problem either. Burgers are not $12, bring the family and see the future stars of professional golf today.
CONGRATS TO THE LADY CATS… The Northwestern Lady Wildcats will be in the field at Rich Harvest after a second place finish at the Athens Georgia regional.
THE MEN-round one today is underway. Illinois in good shape, in the house at even par and 1 shot off the lead of UNLV. Nick Hardy -1 but Dylan Meyer at +3, expect him to bounce back in round 2. Northwestern could move up yet today, but sitting now in eighth place. Dylan Wu with a slow start, that is not helping NU.
SI WOO KIM at age 21 is your Player Championship Champion. How, why did he win. Well for one he hit fairways, something the big names did not do. Then like any big tournament winner, he made putts. The big names all faded. Is this the start of something for Si Woo, like the 1997 Masters was for Eldrick Woods. Or might he fade away like other players have, who became one-hit wonders. Si Woo might be a good guy, but he speaks zero English, a nightmare for the media. Hopefully he will learn a few short English phrases by the time he wins again.
RORY MCILROY has a new equipment deal for big bucks with Taylor Made, or is it really Nike in disguise. The KSP Capital Partners who purchased Taylor Made, have some folks believing they are a shell company for Nike. Former Nike players are jumping to Taylor Made, and still wearing Nike garb in the tournaments. Hmm!
WARM WEATHER IS HERE, so go play the courses are looking for your business after a slow April. Warm temps on tap this week, that makes for great golf.
THE MEDIA hits Olympia Fields tomorrow and Erin Hills on Wednesday for media and preview days of the KPMG/PGA for the ladies and the men’s U.S Open. more reports on that later in the week.
CONGRATS to Deerfield’s Vince India on advancing out of U.S. Open local qualifying after an even par 72, earned him the last spot in his U.S. Open local qualifier at the Bull at Pinehurst Farms in Wisconsin last week.
Many local players are trying to qualify today at Cantigny Golf in Wheaton.
The Gog Blog returns this week. RS