Dutch golf alum plays at John Deere Classic

Central Dutch Athletics

SILVIS, ILL. — An All-American golfer while at Central College, Darin Fisher ’97 played with the best men’s golfers in the world after earning an exemption to play at the John Deere Classic last weekend.

Fisher, the PGA Professional at The Preserve on Rathbun Lake in Moravia, qualified for the PGA Tour event after winning the Iowa PGA Section Championship.

“I love the thought of being inside the ropes with the guys I try to emulate,” Fisher told the Iowa PGA before the tournament. “They are truly the greatest in the world at their craft and I relish the opportunity to rub elbows, even if only for a week.”

Held annually on the Illinois side of the Quad Cities in Silvis, the John Deere Classic features some of the top professional golfers, including Iowa native Zach Johnson who won the Masters in 2007 and the British Open in 2015. Johnson has won 12 PGA Tour events, including the John Deere Classic in 2012.

Fisher missed the cut after shooting 77 in the first round and 76 in the second round. Bryson DeChambeau won his first PGA Tour event by one stroke at 66-65-70-75–266

At the 1997 NCAA Division III Championships in Westerville, Ohio, Fisher received All-American honors, placing 11th after shooting 79-72-79-74—304. He was the top finisher for the seventh-place Dutch.