Kurtis Luedtke
Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, Ill., the “Home of the Huskies,” will be the site of a NCAA Division I Men’s Golf Regional hosted by Northern Illinois University from May 15 to 17, 2014, the NCAA announced Thursday.
The NCAA Regional will be the second held at the course, which was rated No. 58 on Golf Digest’s list of America’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses for 2011-12.
Northern Illinois previously played host to the 2007 NCAA Central Regional at Rich Harvest Farms, and the course was the site of the 2003 and 2012 Mid-American Conference Men’s Golf Championships, and annually hosts NIU’s Northern Intercollegiate tournament.
Rich Harvest Farms gained international renown in 2009 when it hosted the LPGA Solheim Cup, a team competition between the top 12 LPGA members from the United States and Europe. The event attracted more than 120,000 spectators, making it the most-attended event in the history of the LPGA.
“As our golf teams can attest, Rich Harvest Farms is a remarkable venue and we are extremely pleased that the NCAA has selected Northern Illinois’ home course for a 2014 NCAA Regional,” said Jeff Compher, NIU associate vice president and director of Athletics. “Jerry Rich and his family have been such wonderful supporters of Northern Illinois University and of amateur golf, and we are thrilled to work with him, his staff, and the NCAA to stage a first-class event for some of the best college golfers in the country.”
Rich, who designed the 18-hole, par 71, 7,100-yard layout of the 15-year-old course on land owned by he and his wife, Betty, said he is pleased to welcome the NCAA back to Rich Harvest Farms.
“Betty and I are proud alums of Northern Illinois and have supported the Huskie men’s and women’s golf programs for many years,” Rich said. “For the past decade, we have had a strong partnership with NIU in trying to bring championship tournaments to Rich Harvest in an effort to grow the game, and are extremely pleased that our hard work paid off. We are very excited to have the NCAA returning to the `Home of the Huskies’ and look forward to hosting a great event!”
The NCAA announced host sites for 73 future championships in 18 sports Thursday. Rich Harvest Farms was the lone Illinois location announced as a future host.
For more information on NIU golf and Huskie athletics, visit www.niuhuskies.com.
