BLACKBERRY OAKS GM/PRO CHAD JOHANSEN holds the Blackberry Am Trophy, the Blackberry Am will be contested on June 23-24. Johansen will sit in as the Golfers on Golf Radio Celebrity host this Saturday on Am 750 WNDZ, Chad will talk about the BB-AM, Blackberry Oaks Course imprrovements, the CJ Golf Academy and his golf inventions that include the Perfect Putting Aid and the Guide for Golf, Saturday morning between 10-11 am, TICKETS NOW ON SALE for the U.S. Sr. Women’s Open visit USGA.org for this historic event in golf at the Chicago Golf Club July 12-15 #USGA. ______________________________________________________________________
THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy, Linkedin and Facebook, with soon to be pro Nick Hardy.
University of Illinois Senior Nick Hardy of Northbrook, is about to end his college career in just a few weeks.
Hardy will then begin his professional career in Mundelein at the Rust-Oleum Championship on the Web.com Tour, from June 4-10 at the Ivanhoe Country Club. Hardy was granted a special exemption along with Wheaton native and Ohio State alumnus T-K Kelly to play in the championship.
Kelly is already a professional and is competing on the Latinoamercia Tour.
See Rustoleum.com for more tournament information
“I’ve had a great college experience at the University of Illinois and have learned a lot from Coach (Mike) Small,” said Hardy. “I look forward to a strong finish with my teammates and then move on to the next phase of my golf career. I know how valuable a sponsors exemption is and I am very appreciative to the Rust-Oleum Championship for giving me this great opportunity.”
Kelly also expressed his gratitude to the championship for providing him with an exemption into the field.
“I am very thankful to have received a sponsor exemption to play in the Rust-Oleum Championship,” said Kelly. “I look forward to coming back to Chicago and playing in front of my friends and family.”
Kelly earned his first professional victory last year, and has conditional status on the Web.com Tour.
“The Rust-Oleum Championship is thrilled to be able to award sponsors exemptions to Nick Hardy and T-K Kelly-two of the finest young players to come out of the state of Illinois in decades,” said Tournament Director Scott Cassin. “We know both players plan to compete at the highest level and use the tournament as a springboard to future success.”
Hardy has played in both the 2015 and 2016 U.S. Open’s and made the cut in the 2017 John Deere Classic. Kelly in 2017 won the Puerto Plata DR Open in the Dominican Republic and had four other Top 10 finishes. Kelly is a two-time Illinois State Amateur champion.