As PGA TOUR professionals warmed up for the John Deere Classic last week, superintendents from across the world joined them for an exclusive Pro-Am tournament hosted by John Deere Golf. Winning the annual event was a team led by PGA TOUR Pro Chris Smith and included superintendents Mike Null, Norwood Hills Country Club, St. Louis, Mo.; Tom Feller, Cedar Rapids Country Club, Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Mike Nelson of Blue Top Ridge at Riverside, Riverside, Iowa; and Matt Armbrister, marketing manager, John Deere Golf. The team finished 18 under, with net score of 53.
“Playing in the John Deere Classic Pro-Am is a fun opportunity to spend time on the course from a different perspective and it’s also a great experience playing on a PGA TOUR course,” said Tom Feller, Cedar Rapids Country Club.
Four teams qualified for second place, coming in at net 57. The second place winner was determined by a scorecard playoff, based on a handicap hole four. The team included PGA TOUR Pro Ted Purdy, Brian Kimbrough of River Forest Country Club, Elmhurst, Ill.; Ryan Osborn of Wuskowhan Players Club, West Olive, Mich.; Randy DuPont of North Hills Country Club, Menomonee Falls, Wis. and Rob Wasser, regional sales manager, John Deere Golf.
The Pro-Am was held at the Tournament Players Club at Deere Run in Silvis, Ill., near John Deere’s World Headquarters in Moline. John Deere Golf also held a charity scramble on July 6 at the Davenport Country Club, Davenport, Iowa where John Deere Credit donated $2,500 towards Birdies for Charity.