Illini Seniors Meyer, Hardy in field at John Deere Classic
13 Jul 2017
by Sam Dostaler of AmateurGolf.com
see also: Dylan Meyer Rankings
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Nick Hardy (L) and Dylan Meyer (R) are ready for the John Deere Classic
(Illinois Athletics Photo)
SILVIS, IL (July 13, 2017) - This week at the John Deere Classic it is an Illinois golf reunion of sorts. Three past Illini are in the field; Brian Campbell, D.A. Points and three-time tournament winner Steve Stricker while also in the field are current Illinois seniors
Nick Hardy and
Dylan Meyer.
Meyer, making his PGA Tour debut this week, is currently the second ranked player in the Golfweek/AmateurGolf.com Rankings and he is coming off a junior season that saw him win the Big Ten Championship, Robert Kepler Intercollegiate and 3M Augusta Invitational. Recently Meyer made his professional debut when he tied for 63rd in the Web.com's Lincoln Land Charity Championship.
"Yeah there is nerves, there is definitely nerves but I expect to be here," Meyer told 44 News. "This is kind of the moments that I have been wanting to look forward to, you know I'm excited to be in this position and you can't look at it to much like wow this is a PGA event and just prepare for it like it is another tournament and do the best you can."
Meyer will begin his week at TPC Deere Run at 8:50 am CDT on the first hole when he tees off alongside Brandon Hagy and Max Homa.
Teeing off ten minutes later at 9:00 am on the opening will be Meyer's teammate, Nick Hardy the 32nd ranked player in the Golfweek/AmateurGolf.com Rankings. Hardy will be playing in his first regular PGA Tour event this week after playing in the 2015 and 2016 U.S. Open's.
"Not too many college players get the opportunity to do what I am doing here," Hardy told the Chicago Tribune. "I'm here to see how I stack up against the best competition. I know I have work to do, and I'm still a year or so removed from being a pro. Right now, I am an amateur who will be playing against a bunch of pros who are proven."
At the 2015 U.S. Open at Chambers Bay Hardy made the cut and finished tied for 52nd. During the first two days of the John Deere Classic he will be playing with Sam Saunders and AGC alumnus Richy Werenski.
Maverick McNealy
Also in the field this week representing the amateur game is recently graduated Stanford star Maverick McNealy who played in last months U.S. Open at Erin Hills.
The winner of a program record tying 11 tournaments while at Stanford, McNealy is currently the second ranked player in the World Amateur Golf Rankings.
McNealy will begin his week at 9:10 am going off the backside paired with Willy Wilcox and Ryan Armour.