THE EVANS SCHOLARS INVITATIONAL at the Glen Club. Free Admission come see the future stars of tomorrow on the PGA Tour. ESInvitational.com Concludes on Sunday. ______________________________________________________________________
THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation. Follow Rory on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter @GogBlogGuy. At Rich Harvest Farms, home of the 2019 Western Junior Golf Championships. June 17-20.
THE NEW WEB.COM Tournament the Evans Scholars Invitational (ESI), played it’s first round on what turned out to be a sunny, but windy day at the Glen Club.
When Day 1 was complete, Tyler McCumber had posted a 7 under par 65, and held a 2 shot lead over 3 players, including Deerfield native and reigning Illinois Open Champion, Vince India.
McCumber is the son of former Western Open Champion, and 10 time PGA Tour winner Mark McCumber. McCumber broke out quickly making birdies on three of the first five holes, and never looked back.
U of I alum and Northbrook Illinois native Nick Hardy, recalls his round play to the media, at the Glen Club.
India, the reigning Illinois Open Champion after winning at the Glen Club in 201. India told BIG 3 Partner Len Ziehm, he would play this week, and use it as his Illinois Open for 2019. And won’t likely play in this years Illinois Open, while playing on the Web.com Tour.
The Western Golf Association (WGA), gave four exemptions into the field this week. They included former University of Illinois players Nick Hardy (72-E), and Dylan Meyer ( 74 +2). Northwestern alum Chris Wilson ( 75 +3), and 2018 Western Amateur runner-up Davis Riley (72-E).
Click here to hear interviews with Chris Wilson, Dylan Meyer and Nick Hardy.
Former University of Illinois standout, and Web.com regular Luke Guthrie, was 3 shots off the lead at 4 under par.
NEWS and NOTES: Hardy told Golfers on Golf that he has applied for a sponsors exemption, for this years John Deere Classic on the PGA Tour. But after receiving two exemptions at the JDC in the past, Hardy is not hopeful to get a third.
Wilson Golf Staff professional Ricky Barnes was asked, if he plans to add the Wilson Golf Driver vs Driver 2 winner, the Cortex Driver to his bag. Barnes said he hasn’t had time to really test the club yet. But loves the new Wilson D7 Irons, in his bag.
Because the wind picked up by mid-day, pace-of-play really slowed to a crawl. The final groups of the morning session, took nearly 5 hours and 15 minutes to complete the round.