Tiger, Jack, Phil, Ben — Who Will Be Next Western Amateur Champion?
The history of golf is etched deeply in the Western Amateur Championship trophy — and the name of the next champion will be added Aug. 8 right here in Kane County, IL.
In less than a week, the best amateur golfers will converge in Sugar Grove for a shot at a trophy that has carried the names of past champions Tiger Woods (‘94), Jack Nicklaus (‘61), Phil Mickelson (‘91), Ben Crenshaw (‘64) and many other golf greats who have participated during the tournament’s 110-year-plus history.
The 2015 Western Amateur will be played Aug. 4-8, 2015 at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, IL – one of Golf Digest’s “America’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses.” A full schedule of events is posted below.
Between the format of the tournament and the challenge Rich Harvest Links will provide, the Western Amateur will put the top amateurs from around the globe to the ultimate test.
“The caliber of talent in this field is truly remarkable and we are honored to host the future of professional golf,” said Jerry Rich, President of Rich Harvest Farms. “Truly, for me, that’s what this is all about, growing the game [of golf]. I’ve been involved with the Western Golf Association for more than 20 years, so it means so much to me that the WGA is bringing their highest amateur event to Sugar Grove.”
The field is made up of 156 players including last year’s champion, Beau Hossler of Texas. Hossler was a part of a victorious Team USA at June’s Palmer Cup, also held at Rich Harvest Farms. Joining him will be Illinois sophomore Nick Hardy of Northbrook, who recently made the cut in his first U.S. Open. Texas sophomore Doug Ghim of Arlington Heights who was last year’s Western Amateur medalist, Hardy’s Illinois teammate, Charlie Danielson, and another Longhorn, Big 12 Freshman of the Year Scottie Scheffler — both Sweet 16 players in ’14 — will again vie for the Western Amateur Championship.
Also in the field will be the 2015 NCAA Division I National Champion, Bryson DeChambeau, 2015 Low Amateur at the British Open and 2013 Western Amateur Champion, Jordan Niebrugge, and 2015 Palmer Cup participants Jack Maguire, Robby Shelton, Hunter Stewart, Carr Vernon, and Max Rottluff, in addition to Hossler.
“As it has since its founding in 1899, the Western Amateur continues to attract the finest amateur players in the world to compete in one of the game’s most challenging formats,” said Vince Pellegrino, Senior Vice President of Tournaments for the Western Golf Association. “Four rounds of stroke play, followed by four rounds of match play, produces a champion befitting the rich history of our championship.”
Members of the NIU Huskie Men’s Golf Team Joo-Young Lee of Hillard, OH (junior) and Salvador Rocha (incoming freshman) of Mexico City, Mexico will also play in the tournament on the Huskie’s home course. Lee recently won the Ohio Amateur Open in Zanesville, OH. Rich and his late wife Betty Ann both graduated from Northern Illinois University in 1961.
Both general admission and parking at the event will be free of charge. No ticket is needed; visitors can simply park in the lot at 2330 Granart Road and walk onto the grounds of Rich Harvest Farms. Spectators will also be able to walk the fairways with the players during the tournament. For more information on the tournament, please visit thewesternamateur.com or richharvestfarms.com.
About the Western Amateur
Hosted by the Western Golf Association, the Western Amateur has been a prestigious national golf tournament since its inception in 1899. Each year, 156 players from around the globe are invited to play one of the most challenging formats in amateur golf. In its 100+ years of history, many of golf’s greatest names have won the Western Amateur, including Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, and more. For more nformation visit www.thewesternamateur.com. Follow the tournament on Twitter: @WesternAmateur and on Facebook by liking “Western Amateur.”
About Rich Harvest Farms
Consistently ranked in Golf Digest’s America’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses, Rich Harvest Farms is an ultra-private, members-only club located in Sugar Grove, Illinois. Owned and built by Jerry Rich, the course consists of 18 holes and is a 1,820-acre showcase of nature and agriculture. In addition to the 2015 Western Amateur, the course will also host the 2016 LPGA UL International Crown (July 19-24) and 2017 NCAA Division I Golf Championships (May 18-31). The course also hosted the 2009 LPGA Solheim Cup and 2015 Palmer Cup in June. For more information visit www.richharvestfarms.com and follow Rich Harvest Farms Tournaments on Twitter at @RHFTournaments.
