2024 John Deere Classic: 4 Golfers Exempted Through Monday Qualifier Explored

After an exciting weekend spent in Michigan, the PGA Tour will be moving to the Quad Cities for the annual John Deere Classic. The event has been scheduled to start on July 4th at the historical TPC Deere Run. However, it could not be done without the field reaching its maximum number.

On Monday, July 2nd, The John Deere Classic completed the 156 players’ field through qualifiers held at the Pinnacle Country Club in Milan, Illinois. After this 18-hole qualifier, four names, young and old, will be joining the PGA Tour for the 25th edition of the John Deere Classic.

Chase Johnson makes fourth PGA Tour start in the 2024 season

Chase Johnson: The recipient of the Charlie Sifford Memorial Exemption, Chase Johnson played the Genesis Invitational as his first PGA Tour start in the 2024 season and shot his best finish of 51st, eventually. Johnson then played in the Cognizant Classic and the Corales Puntacana Championship after that.

Coming to Pinnacle CC, the Kent State alum carded five birdies with an eagle and after making a bogey, he finished 6 under 66 to be the second player receiving the John Deere Classic qualification. Although he has missed the cut in the last two PGA Tour events, Johnson would expect to play better at TPC Deere Run.

Joshua Creel: It is the current Korn Ferry Tour pro, Joshua Creel. The 1-time KFT winner shot a 7 under 65 and earned the medalist honor. Creel used to play on the PGA Tour in 2022; however, after missing the cut consistently, lost his membership and switched again to the Korn Ferry Tour.

The Wyoming native was the only one to shoot a bogey-free round with seven birdies to qualify for the 25th John Deere Classic. The last time Creel played John Deere Classic, after shooting 72-70, he disappointingly missed the cut. However, this year, Creel may hope that this time the luck and his skills work in his favor to card a better score than before.

Except for these two golfers who were given the exemption through the leaderboard, two other golfers had to go through a four-man playoff to earn a spot at the Classic. who were they?

Tennessee Tech junior makes it to John Deere Classic

There were four golfers who shot 5 under 67 at Pinnacle CC and then played the 4 for 2 playoffs to decide the winner of the JDC exemption. Anders Larson and Blake Hathcoat emerged triumphant as they secured the spots, while Jack Sparrow and Mike Van Sickle fell short.

Ander Larson: The 20-year-old golfer is a rising junior talent at Tennessee Tech and will be making his second consecutive start at the John Deere Classic. Larson qualified last year through Monday Qualifiers as well; however, after he shot 72 and 82 in the first two rounds, Larson had to miss the weekend at Deere Run.

Larson was named the Minnesota 2A State Champion and led his program at Pine Island High School to two consecutive conference titles. and was the MVP for his golf teams two years back-to-back. At the 2024 John Deere Classic, the 20-year-old may draw inspiration from the likes of Nick Dunlap and rise to his first PGA Tour victory.

Blake Hathcoat: The CA native made four birdies, an eagle, and only one bogey in his qualifying round to enter the playoffs. He eventually won there too, as said, but this is not Hathcoat’s first PGA Tour start. The 26-year-old played in the 2023 Fortinet Championship after going through a similar Monday qualifier.

He missed the cut there but has been a constant on the PGA Tour Canada since last season. Although a budding amateur when he played at St. Mary’s College and 2-time First Team All WCC, Hathcoat is still chasing his first career win after turning pro in 2021.

With just two days to go before the John Deere Classic tees off, with defending champion Sepp Straka, two-time JDC winner Jordan Spieth, and Jason Day in the field, it will surely be an enthralling watch to see who comes out on top.