John Deere Classic Assistant Director Andrew Lehman Last week our speaker was John Deere Classic Assistant Tournament Director, Andrew Lehman. Andrew has been a part of the Classic for over 16 years. He also serves as the Executive Director of First Tee of the Quad Cities. Andrew gave us the latest news on this premier Quad Cities event held at TPC Deere Run in Silvis. For the first time in its 50-year history, the 2022 John Deere Classic will be played two weeks before The Open Championship, June 27-July 3, as part of a larger strategic alliance between the PGA Tour and the European Tour.  Andrew says that the new date will give the Classic the opportunity to attract players who historically have skipped the John Deere Classic to travel to the United Kingdom the week before The Open. Since 2004 the tournament has been scheduled the week before The Open Championship, except for 2016 when it was played concurrent with the Rio Olympics in August. From 1999-2002, it was played the week after The Open.
Since the PGA has the right to change dates at will, no one is certain that this arrangement will stay the way it is. Hopefully the Classic can keep those dates as there is good chance that some of the heavier hitters will now elect to test their skills out at TPC Deere Run. Lucas Glover won last year's John Deere Classic with a score of 19-under par. He came from four shots back at the beginning of the final round to eventually win by two. Prior to winning the 2021 Classic, Glover's last victory on tour was the 2009 U.S. Open Championship. The John Deere Classic, which includes Birdies for Charity, is a 501(C)3 non-profit organization. Since its founding in 1971, the tournament has helped raise more than $133 million for our local non-profits. John Deere’s title sponsorship agreement with the PGA Tour runs through 2023. |
Fellow Rotarian Rachel Savage, Superintendent of Moline-Coal Valley School District No. 40, will lead our club thru an activity to gather input on qualities, traits, and characteristics employers want most from their employees and how the District can help to better develop those skills in the students in our district prior to graduation. 
