| by: WebMaster - 11/6/2005 9:50:09 AM |
| DeKALB, IL — Northern Illinois University in partnership with Rich Harvest Farms Golf Course have been chosen by the National Collegiate Athletic Association to host the 2007 NCAA Central Regional Men’s Golf Championships.
In selecting NIU and Rich Harvest Farms, the NCAA viewed the application as the best fit for providing a quality and competitive event. The Sugar Grove, IL, facility — which officially became home to the Huskie men’s and women’s golf teams this fall — was ranked No. 45 in Golf Digest’s “100 Greatest Golf Courses” and has served as the location to an ever-increasing resume of championships for all levels.
The 2007 NCAA Central Regional — one of three regional meets featuring 27 teams and six individuals, from which the top 10 teams and top two individuals not on an advancing team qualify for the finals — is scheduled to take place May 17-19. The 2007 NCAA Championships are scheduled for the Golden Horseshoe Golf Club’s Gold Course in Williamsburg, VA, with Virginia Commonwealth University as host school.
“We’ve been very fortunate to have so many great courses bid for our regional events,” explained NCAA Men’s Golf Committee Chair and Niagara University Athletics Director Mike Hermann. “In the central region, Rich Harvest Farms stood out primarily for a couple of reasons. No. 1, it will be a terrific test of golf and I believe a real thrill for our student-athletes to participate in an event on a course like that. No. 2, the support NIU and Rich Harvest Farms have put behind the event leads us to believe it will definitely be a first-class event.”
Founded and designed by Jerry Rich in 1989, Rich Harvest Links opened to rave reviews in 1999, earning fifth place on Golf Digest’s list of “Best New Courses.” Its reputation — like its rolling fairways and fast greens — has grown in stature with each golf season and with the many prestigious events added annually and scheduled for the future.
Most recently, Rich Harvest Farms was chosen by the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) as the site for the 2009 Solheim Cup.
“We are honored to be hosting an NCAA Regional,” Rich said. “This is an accumulation of 15 years of working with junior programs and amateur associations. I’ve been fortunate, through the events held at Rich Harvest Farms, to watch the quality of amateur golf improve over the years. The quality of golf makes hosting an event such as this extremely exciting.”
Northern Illinois and and Rich Harvest Farms previously partnered to host the 2003 Mid-American Conference Men’s Golf Championships.
“Initially, we were thrilled to be able to add a course of this caliber to our improving stable of facilities,” said NIU Director of Athletics Jim Phillips. “Jerry Rich and his wife Betty have been great supporters of Northern Illinois as an academic insitution as well as an athletic entity. We feel truly fortunate to have them as part of our Huskie family and certainly thank the Rich family for sharing with us the dream of hosting such a high-calibre golf event. We believe that hosting the NCAA Regional further exemplifies the strength of Rich Harvest Farms as a golf course and NIU as a destination for the Midwest’s best golfers.”
Rich, a four handicapper who fell in love with golf in the ‘50s when he worked as a $2.50-a-bag caddie, remains one of the game’s greatest promoters when it comes to young golfers. He started the foundation that funds the Hook A Kid On Golf Program which has quickly spread throughout the U.S. and Canada.
“We’ve always been a strong proponent of amateur golf, youth golf as well as the collegiate game,” said Rich Harvest Farms General Manager Dan DeBruycker. “While we’re proud to be the home of the Huskie men’s and women’s teams, we’re thrilled to have the opportunity to host the regional tournament, and it remains our desire to some day host the NCAA Championships.”
For Rich himself, he views hosting NCAA events as a continuation of his commitment to youth golf, which is best represented by his extensive involvement with the Hook A Kid On Golf Program.
“The student-athletes who will be participating in the Regional have reached a certain level, of which they should be extremely proud. What they learn in their golf programs, in competition and at their universities sets the stage for the rest of their life,” Rich said. “In our Hook A Kid On Golf Program, we emphasize sportsmanship, staying in school and many other life lessons. Hosting an event like this will allow us an opportunity to show our youngsters what is possible and hopefully give some of them something to work toward. Rich Harvest Farms is thrilled to have a small part in all of this and continue our amateur tradition.”
This past summer marked the second straight year Rich Harvest Farms was the locale for the American Junior Golf Association’s (AJGA) Championship meet. In addition to having been the location for Illinois Junior Golf Association finals for the past decade, RHF was the site for the 2003 Western Junior Golf Association title event and that group will return in 2017 to stage its 100th anniversary event. Among the other events held at Rich Harvest Farms are a series of U.S. Open Qualifiers since 2003 and the Chrysler Celebrity Shootout since 2000.
“Rich Harvest Farms is a golf course that will identify the best teams and student-athletes in the college game,” NIU head men’s golf coach John Cleary said. “Jerry Rich is understandably very proud of his facility and it’s a privilege to have Rich Harvest as our home course. It’s a great honor to host the 2007 NCAA (Central) regional and another example of how he’s been such a great friend to NIU golf.”
Huskie head women’s golf coach Pam Tyska certainly concurs.
“It’s great to know NIU was awarded the 2007 NCAA Men’s Golf Regional. It’s a powerful vehicle to showcase our golf programs and Rich Harvest Farms, which is a spectacular home to Huskie golf,” Tyska stated. “Our athletics department staff is second to none in terms of the heart and soul put into hosting a championship, so I’m certain the NCAA will be pleased with the effort put forth by Northern Illinois.”
Northern Illinois did serve as an NCAA Men’s Golf Regional host back in 1960 when the Huskies — under long-time coach Jack Pheanis — took first place in the College Division on the Glenwoodie Golf Course located in Glenwood, IL.
Unfortunately for the Huskies, finances kept the team from filling the berth they earned in that year’s NCAA Championships. Pheanis was instrumental in working with Rich Harvest Farms in landing the 2003 MAC Championship meet and was ecstatic to learn his alma mater would be hosting an NCAA regional.
“Jerry Rich simply loves amateur and collegiate golf. Between him and Jim Phillips, I know the NCAA won’t have a better regional anywhere,” Pheanis insisted. “He worked diligently on a proposal that had to impress the selection committee. From letters of support ranging from mayor (Richard) Daley to Speaker (of the House Dennis) Hastert, a DVD showcasing each hole, every base was covered.”
Rich Harvest Farms boasts a staff of 45 who meticulously maintain the 7,601-yard layout which bears a 153 slope and 78.5 course rating. Much of the RHF layout is modeled after some of the most challenging holes from other famous courses, and it features green sizes ranging from 1,700 to 12,000 square feet with a premium on accuracy.
The other two regional sites for 2007 will be the ASU Karsten Golf Course in Tempe, AZ, with Arizona State University as the host, and The Golf Club of Georgia in Alpharetta, GA, with Georgia Institute of Technology serving as that host.
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