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An Update on the John Deere Classic & Birdies for Charity

Pie chart shows sources of revenue from the Birdies for Charity "Bonus" fund for 2019.
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As the PGA Tour adjusts to the coronavirus, those in charge of the John Deere Classic are prepared to be flexible. In April, the tour announced four tournaments will be held without spectators in June. Then the second week of July, the Deere Classic in Silvis might be the first tournament with fans. 

Tournament Director, Clair Peterson (file)
Credit Michelle O'Neill / WVIK News

Clair Peterson, Tournament Director, says PGA Tour officials will make the call.

He says they're focusing on those first four tournaments, and what happens there will affect the Quad Cities event.

But Birdies for Charity is "full speed ahead." 

The fundraising campaign usually kicks off with a press conference and packet pickup at Deere and Company headquarters. But COVID-19 changed that, and birdies business is being handled online and remotely. 

Peterson is confident in this year's success for Birdies for Charity because of the commitment of the Deere Foundation and other large organizations have already made donations. 

John Deere Classic staff are planning for both a tournament with fans and one without. Either way, hundreds of volunteers will be needed.

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Officially, Michelle's title for 28 years was WVIK News Editor. She did everything there is to do in the newsroom and whatever was needed around the radio station. She also served as Acting News Director from September 2023 - January 2024.