College Stars and Walker Cup Candidates Van Sickle and Sucher Get the Nod
EAST MOLINE, Illinois (June 26, 2009) – The John Deere Classic today awarded sponsor exemptions to two up-and-coming young amateurs both of whom are postponing their professional careers in the hope of playing for the U.S. Walker Cup team later this summer when it takes on the amateur team representing Great Britain & Ireland.
First team All-American and Big East Player of the Year Mike Van Sickle, a recent Marquette graduate and winner of the prestigious Byron Nelson Award, and Alabama-Birmingham graduate Zack Sucher, an eight-time winner last season who tied for first at this year’s NCAA East Regional, were given spots in the Quad City-based tournament set for July 6-12 at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Ill.
“The John Deere Classic prides itself on awarding many of its sponsor exemptions to young players who have distinguished themselves with their play either in college or elsewhere in order to give them an opportunity to test their games against the best players in the world,” said John Deere Classic tournament director Clair Peterson. “Both Mike Van Sickle and Zack Sucher certainly have proven themselves on the golf course. What’s more is that both of these young men not only are great golfers, they also have tremendous character.”
Van Sickle, 21, is the fourth-ranked amateur in the world. He won seven times in 20 starts last season and finished top-five in six other tournaments. In 2008, Van Sickle won both the Pennsylvania Open and the Pennsylvania Amateur; the only other player to do that was Jay Sigel.
Suchar, 22, ended his UAB career as one of the top individual golfers ever to play at the school. He was a two-time All-American and three-time all-conference performer. In 2008, he earned Conference USA Golfer of the Year accolades.
Both Van Sickle and Sucher are putting off turning professional until after the 42nd Walker Cup scheduled for Sept. 11-13 at Merion Golf Club outside Philadelphia. Selections for the 10-man team are expected to be announced in early August.
Kenny Perry will defend his title at this year’s John Deere Classic. He will be joined in the field by three of the top four finishers in this year’s U.S. Open – champion Lucas Glover and co-runners up David Duval and Ricky Barnes. In addition, Chad Campbell, who, like Perry, was in the sudden death playoff at The Masters earlier this year, will play at the John Deere.
In addition to Glover and Duval (British Open), the field includes 11 other major champions, including Davis Love III and native sons Zach Johnson of Cedar Rapids and Todd Hamilton, originally from Galesburg, Ill. Visit www.johndeereclassic.com for more information about the field and to purchase tickets online.
Sucher and Van Sickle join Kyle Stanley of Clemson, Philip Francis of UCLA, Jack Newman of Michigan State, and Brady Schnell of the Dakotas and Gateway tours as next-generation players awarded sponsor exemptions for this year’s John Deere Classic. Danny Lee, who previously had been offered an exemption, will not be playing.
The PGA Tour began its run in the Quad Cities in 1971. John Deere, whose world headquarters is in Moline, Ill., assumed title sponsorship of the tournament in 1998. The tournament moved to TPC Deere Run in 2000.
The tournament helped raise $4.79 million for 500 charities in 2008, ranking it sixth on the PGA Tour overall and first in per capita contributions at $12.77 for each of the 375,000 residents of the Quad City area.
The John Deere Classic, which includes Birdies for Charity, is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization located in the John Deere Classic touranment offices at 15623 Coaltown Road, East Moline, Illinios. Since its founding in 1971, the tournament has helped raise $29 million for charity.
Contact:
Barry Cronin
Cronin Communications, Inc.
847-698-1801
bcronin@cronincommunications.com