Illini Golfers in the Pros

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#1      

DRS

D
DRS
Over the years Illinois has had its share of professional golfers, most notably Steve Stricker who is still a contender on the Champions tour. However, this next wave is a golden age of young golfers just poised to make an impact and with the recruits and current players more will join this list. I’ve had a good amount of fun following these guys as they work their way through the gauntlet of Tours and this thread is gonna be a breakdown of how each of them are doing. I may have forgotten some people that are still kicking around just let me know,

Thomas Pieters-
OWGR-74
Pieters is a legitimate European star. 4 wins to his career already with a couple top 10s in majors. He is a major win away from being a star. Form is good of Late, has only missed one cut in last 22 starts with a win and a couple of top 5s in that stretch. A 77 in the final round of the U s Open kept him out of another top 10 in a major. Incidentally, followed him around at the PGA Championship at Baltusrol a few years back and man did he have a temper. Perturbed the entire round.

Thomas Detry-
OWGR-83
Detry has gotten his career off to a very solid start. After blazing through the challenge tour he has maintained his card and multiple top 5s. 2020 was his best year yet with 2 second place finishes. I think Detry is due a win in this coming season.

Nick Hardy
OWGR-406
Nick is one of the reasons I’ve been following so closely of late. He had a great run on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2020. It is unfortunate for him that this season has become a combo with 2021 because he was squarely in the top 25 after the season and his card was ensured. Nick has continued his steady if not spectacular play by churning out top 25 after top 25 keep his point totals high and is sitting at 16 on the tour. It is going to be a fight throughout the year but his play has been impressive.

Luke Guthrie
OWGR-791
Luke’s career got off to rip roaring start with 2 KFT wins his first season and then followed by a 2 year run on the tour. In ’15 he lost his form and now is fighting to stay on the Korn Ferry Tour. There is such a fine line between these tours and I am hoping he regain his previous game. All it takes is one good week and things look entirely different but right now he has missed the cut in 11 straight KFT starts.

Brian Campbell
OWGR-799
Often the forgotten player, at least by me, but Brian has got a cup of coffee on the tour which didn’t go well but he has had success. On the Korn Ferry now in fairly poor form, like Guthrie and Langley he needs to kick it into another gear. I will say he has had flashes and decent rounds but has yet to put it together for all 4 rounds. I do sense that a breakthrough is around the corner.

Scott Langley
OWGR-786
Langley’s has had much success but can’t quite stick on the tour. After a solid ’18 on the KFT, which saw him exempt for the ’19 season, he could not take advantage of his card outside of a lone top 10. Back to the KFT and is really struggling this year. After some very spotty play in 2020 he has made 3 straight cuts in ’21 season but bad weekends had him finishing at the bottom of the field. Is in the category of needing a win to get this year back on track and make a push for the top 25.

Charlie Danielson
OWGR-811
Charlie might be the most talented of this group and when he gets on the course dude has quality results, he is just constant injured and I am not sure when/if he is coming back. Hoping he can shake the injuries and become of force.

Dylan Meyer
OWGR-1701
Dylan came out with a bang and is possibly my favorite of the bunch. However, due to injuries AND poor play he has lost status on the tours and is currently on a mini-tour down in Florida and not challenging for wins. He needs to breakthrough and soon to regain his once super promising status.
 
#3      
whatahack
Thanks for the info. I've been trying to keep track of our guys.
 
#4      
BRucks
Hardy struggled today in Savannah, Shot a 70 but that only puts him in a tie for 86th place. Will need a good round tomorrow to make the cut.

Meyer struggles with Crohn's disease. I don't know how you can play golf when that flares up.
 
#5      
DRS
They are tearing that course up in Savannah but hardy is only probably a stroke or two off the cut. Campbell and Guthrie are -3 so we could have good representation for the weekend.
 
#6      
DRS
Well Hardy squeaked through on the number but another chance to put together a weekend and gain valuable points. He is playing so consistent right now I wouldn't be surprised with two rounds in the 60s this weekend.

Brian Campbell also made the cut is is two stokes ahead of Hardy at -8. He has yet to follow through on these opportunities this year so this one could be big.

Detry made the cut at the Scottish open and was in good shape for the weekend, then just got done firing a 77 and is at the back of the field.
 
#7      
BRucks
DRS said:
Well Hardy squeaked through on the number but another chance to put together a weekend and gain valuable points. He is playing so consistent right now I wouldn't be surprised with two rounds in the 60s this weekend.

Brian Campbell also made the cut is is two stokes ahead of Hardy at -8. He has yet to follow through on these opportunities this year so this one could be big.

Detry made the cut at the Scottish open and was in good shape for the weekend, then just got done firing a 77 and is at the back of the field.
Click to expand...
Detry did something similar at the U.S. Open. He was in good shape and then fired something like an 11 over in the final round.
 
#8      
DRS
Derty had a great final round, tied for low with a 64, but too little too late. Weather was bad on Saturday but others held it together. Nonetheless his form is solid and I see a positive year for him.

Both Hardy and Campbell had disappointing -3 weekends on course where the average of the top 10 for the week was basically -20. Thats not gonna cut it, but Hardy held his spot at 16th on the tour and gained a few points. Campbell really needs a big finish, along with Guthrie and Langley who both missed the cut.

Only other guy in action was Dylan who is playing on the LocalIQ mini-series(not sure the parameters of that tour but it is affiliated with the Latino PGA). again makes the cut with 3 par or better rounds but nowhere near the leaders.
 
#10      
DRS
Found this blurb from Danielson over the summer:

"After months of rehab following my January knee surgery, it was decided that I need another procedure. Last week I was notified that a Donor graft is ready and surgery will be coming up soon. Excited to begin my recovery and aiming for a spring '21 return."

Thats worrisome for sure. He is such a good player, got his 1st PGA tour top 10 and then injuries started popping up. He is still very young but is going to have to put in the work on the mini-tours. I think he can do it. Top shelf player but has to get right.
 
#13      
DRS
Dylan Meyer is having a nice tourney through two rounds tied for 11th(these are only 3 day events). Seems to finding a groove and win would go long way. There are exemptions attached to winning on this tour.
 
#14      
whatahack
Pieters and Detry both make the cut at the BMW PGA Championship in England. But 11 strokes off the lead. They will be playing together for the third day in a row.
 
#15      
BRucks
Hardy in tie for 28th after two rounds at Orange County National Championship.
 
#16      
DRS
I love how the Thomas's are playing together pretty much the whole tourney. Unfortunately neither are making a move, Detry is having a bad Saturday for the second week in a row and Pieters is treading water at par. Crisp day at Wentworth(all three courses are on the personal bucket list by the way) 1 or 2 on the day will get you moving in the right direction.

Hardy playing well again, despite not having a win last season and this one he is in position for another strong finish. This guy is playing the most consistent golf on the KFT.

Dylan with a mediocre final round and couldn't crack the top 10.
 
#17      
Travis1173
Didn’t see DA Points on the list. I don’t know where he’s ranked in OWGR, but he’s still kicking around on the PGA Tour.
 
#18      
DRS
Kinda forgot about DA, but he form is truly off. I think he hasn't made a cut in almost 2 years. Last time I looked he had missed like 20 cuts in a row and is without a card. But has been a quality Illinois golfer over the years. Probably 3 alltime behind Goalby and Strick.
 
#19      
BRucks
DRS said:
Kinda forgot about DA, but he form is truly off. I think he hasn't made a cut in almost 2 years. Last time I looked he had missed like 20 cuts in a row and is without a card. But has been a quality Illinois golfer over the years. Probably 3 alltime behind Goalby and Strick.
Click to expand...
Where would Small fall?
 
#21      
DRS
BRucks said:
Where would Small fall?
Click to expand...

interesting, he has a couple Nike tour wins and then a bunch of non-big time tourneys. Illinois level tournaments are quality golf but not anywhere near even low level pro-tour fields. He did make a handful of cuts in majors...He is below those three and Peters for sure, behind Detry and possibly Langley. somewhere in that area ? right?
 
#22      
DRS
Hardy again with a very steady week. T-30 with 4 rounds in the 60s. His weekend was fine, did a great job keeping bogeys off the card with only 1 from Saturday and Sunday, but didn't our in the birdies. Nonetheless, Moved up a spot in the coveted top 25 to 15. Long way to go but he is in a strong position.

Detry again with a nice final round but moving day had him move right out of the mix. Pieters was even worse over the weekend.
 
#23      
Illini in OC
DRS said:
Over the years Illinois has had its share of professional golfers, most notably Steve Stricker who is still a contender on the Champions tour. However, this next wave is a golden age of young golfers just poised to make an impact and with the recruits and current players more will join this list. I’ve had a good amount of fun following these guys as they work their way through the gauntlet of Tours and this thread is gonna be a breakdown of how each of them are doing. I may have forgotten some people that are still kicking around just let me know,

Thomas Pieters-
OWGR-74
Pieters is a legitimate European star. 4 wins to his career already with a couple top 10s in majors. He is a major win away from being a star. Form is good of Late, has only missed one cut in last 22 starts with a win and a couple of top 5s in that stretch. A 77 in the final round of the U s Open kept him out of another top 10 in a major. Incidentally, followed him around at the PGA Championship at Baltusrol a few years back and man did he have a temper. Perturbed the entire round.

Thomas Detry-
OWGR-83
Detry has gotten his career off to a very solid start. After blazing through the challenge tour he has maintained his card and multiple top 5s. 2020 was his best year yet with 2 second place finishes. I think Detry is due a win in this coming season.

Nick Hardy
OWGR-406
Nick is one of the reasons I’ve been following so closely of late. He had a great run on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2020. It is unfortunate for him that this season has become a combo with 2021 because he was squarely in the top 25 after the season and his card was ensured. Nick has continued his steady if not spectacular play by churning out top 25 after top 25 keep his point totals high and is sitting at 16 on the tour. It is going to be a fight throughout the year but his play has been impressive.

Luke Guthrie
OWGR-791
Luke’s career got off to rip roaring start with 2 KFT wins his first season and then followed by a 2 year run on the tour. In ’15 he lost his form and now is fighting to stay on the Korn Ferry Tour. There is such a fine line between these tours and I am hoping he regain his previous game. All it takes is one good week and things look entirely different but right now he has missed the cut in 11 straight KFT starts.

Brian Campbell
OWGR-799
Often the forgotten player, at least by me, but Brian has got a cup of coffee on the tour which didn’t go well but he has had success. On the Korn Ferry now in fairly poor form, like Guthrie and Langley he needs to kick it into another gear. I will say he has had flashes and decent rounds but has yet to put it together for all 4 rounds. I do sense that a breakthrough is around the corner.

Scott Langley
OWGR-786
Langley’s has had much success but can’t quite stick on the tour. After a solid ’18 on the KFT, which saw him exempt for the ’19 season, he could not take advantage of his card outside of a lone top 10. Back to the KFT and is really struggling this year. After some very spotty play in 2020 he has made 3 straight cuts in ’21 season but bad weekends had him finishing at the bottom of the field. Is in the category of needing a win to get this year back on track and make a push for the top 25.

Charlie Danielson
OWGR-811
Charlie might be the most talented of this group and when he gets on the course dude has quality results, he is just constant injured and I am not sure when/if he is coming back. Hoping he can shake the injuries and become of force.

Dylan Meyer
OWGR-1701
Dylan came out with a bang and is possibly my favorite of the bunch. However, due to injuries AND poor play he has lost status on the tours and is currently on a mini-tour down in Florida and not challenging for wins. He needs to breakthrough and soon to regain his once super promising status.
Click to expand...
Don't forget DA Points
 
#24      
DRS
Illini in OC said:
Don't forget DA Points
Click to expand...

I do keep forget D.A. and I am not sure why except that he hasn't been playing well at all, missed the cut this week again. Playing on a major medical exemption. I actually have been a fan of his for years, golfing, fishing, wine and a personal friend of Bill Murray. Seems like the most interesting man in the world!
 
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