SILVIS — Former Illinois men’s golfer Charlie Danielson received one of five sponsor exemptions awarded to amateurs Wednesday to play in this year’s John Deere Classic, the lone PGA Tour event in Illinois in 2016.
Danielson, whose career with the Illini ended Tuesday evening with the team’s loss to Oregon in the national semifinals, joined NCAA individual champion Aaron Wise of Oregon, Beau Hossler of Texas, Lee McCoy of Georgia and Jordan Niebrugge of Oklahoma State as the five college players to receive exemptions.
Jon Rahm of Spain, the world’s top-ranked amateur, also was among the group receiving exemptions.