THE MEN’S NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP’S ARE UNDERWAY AT RICH HARVEST FARMS IN SUGAR GROVE, Illinois is in 5th place. Come support your school or Illinois as only 15 schools remain. Tickets at the gate and parking of course is FREE. #NCAAGOLF       ______________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Editor and Director of Content. Follow Rory to Rich Harvest Farms, and on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter @GogBlogGuy

Today we thank those who have served, those who have made the ultimate sacrifice, and those who are still with us and were fortunate to make it home safely.

They are the reason we can enjoy the golf course today, watching the NCAA Championships at a place like Rich Harvest Farms, or just flipping burgers, steaks, chicken or ribs on the grill. That cold one we enjoy the most.

It’s a day we salute those like Major Ed Pulido of Folds of Honor, and closer to home tomorrow, is the Illinois Patriot Day at Medinah Country Club lead by founder Mark Slaby whose golf outing to help our Illinois vets is among the best charity golf outings in Illinois and the Chicago area. Support those groups if you can, and if you enjoy golf, you can do it through golf, a great way to give back.

BREAKING NEWS-TIGER WOODS ARRESTED FOR DUI. Some stories just write itself. Moving right along…..

THE NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS at Rich Harvest Farms have been a success, in spite of weather that has limited the crowds a bit. During week one the Northwestern women made a great run to the national championship match, only to come up just a little short of a national title. Now in day 4 of the men’s championship Illinois finds itself in the hunt for a title as well. Illinois Coach Mike Small has paid his dues and had several close calls in winning the title, hopefully this is that year.

THE ILLINI players are making it clear that they are not at Rich Harvest for another close but no cigar trophy, they expect to win the championship this year. Why not make the trip to Rich Harvest the next few days and see if they get it done.

Dylan Meyer in front of the Illinois Men’s Golf hardware at the teams practice facility.

Golf fans may have heard the name Dylan Meyer, Illini golf fans sure have. The junior from Indiana has been a big part of the team, and just returned from Colonial Country Club last week, where he was one of three finalists for the Ben Hogan Award (won by Maverick Mcnealy). The Hogan award in college golf is like the Heisman Trophy Award in college football, yes it’s that big.

After putting behind him the fact he did not win the award, the B1G Ten player of the year is moving forward with his team and trying to win a national title. On Thursday this week he will be at the Skokie Country Club for the Western Amateur media day, since he is the defending champion after winning last year at the Knollwood Club in Lake Forest. Meyer along with his teammate Nick Hardy of Northbrook, will address the press and room full of golf VIP’s and Western Golf Association officials.

But the story that has come out of national championship week is that Meyer now has a healthy issue in front of him to deal with. After spending three nights in a hospital right before regionals, Meyer was diagnosed with with Ulcerative Colitis and will now have to have treatment about every eight weeks. Perhaps for a lifetime. Hardy went to the hospital everyday to see Meyer, he brought food and other things to help Meyer. But in the end all Hardy could do was keep Meyer company through out the ordeal, at times sleeping on the front of Meyer’s hospital bed.

The good news is that Meyer sits in third place in the individual part of the championship and with a great round today, could be NCAA national champion by the time the sun sets tonight. Go low Dylan, the Illini nation and a few more are all pulling for you.

THE MEDIA, it’s really appalling to see the lack of media support for the NCAA Championships from the Chicago media. Yes it’s a holiday weekend, but there is no excuse when Northwestern was competing for a national championship last week and Illinois is in the hunt this week. If the Illini continue, let’s hope there is a better showing of local press as this week moves forward.

15 teams left, it will be down to eight after today. Go Illini !!!!

WITH THAT, I’m off to Sugar Grove, see you there. RS