DeKALB — NIU Athletics and Rich Harvest Farms hosted a media day Thursday at Rich Harvest Farms, 2330 Granart Road in Sugar Grove, the site of the 2017 Division I men’s and women’s golf championships.

Media entities from NBC, the Golf Channel, NIU and others met to discuss the event, watch the regional selection show on the Golf Channel and listen to the panel of speakers for the event.

The panel of eight speakers was led by Brandt Packer, NCAA men’s and women’s golf championships producer. The panel included several people such as Jerry Rich, owner and founder of Rich Harvest Farms, Brad Hoey, NIU Marketing & Communications specialist, Emily Fletcher, Northwestern University women’s golf head coach and Carol Reep and Donnie Wagner, associate directors for the men’s and women’s championships.

Rich said the idea of trying to get a National Championship on his golf course never occurred to him until 16 years ago when the commissioner of the Big 10, Jim Delany, was playing at Rich Harvest Farms as a guest and pitched the idea to Rich.

Rich talked about the overall planning of this event and what it means to him to have it.

“It was quite a process to go through to put [Rich Harvest Farms] in a position to host the National Championships, and I’ll tell you, I cannot be more excited,” Rich said. “[Rich Harvest Farms] is where it can be done, and we’re going to set the bar high. We’re hoping in the near future, the NCAA will possibly come back, but who knows.”

Rich said he is working with the NCAA to bring the NCAA Championship to Rich Harvest Farms for three consecutive years in 2020, 2021 and 2022.

Hoey also spoke on behalf of NIU, saying there is a tremendous amount of pride and appreciation for NIU to be able to host a National Championship such as this.

“It is truly exciting, and we are looking forward to having some of the best amateur golfers in the world and some of the top collegiate teams come to Rich Harvest Farms,” Hoey said. “One of the exciting things about it is how engaged the NIU community is and how excited they are to have a National Championship at the home of the Huskies.”

The panel included senior women’s golfer Sydney Brickey and freshman men’s golfer Michael Mattas. Brickey said hosting this event is great for NIU and the community.

“It’s amazing exposure for what NIU has to offer,” Brickey said. “Rich Harvest Farms is an amazing facility, and being able to practice here 365 days out of the year is such an amazing experience. This course is so challenging and one of the most beautiful courses you’ll ever witness.”

Mattas shared similar feeling as Brickey and said players who come here for the tournament are in for a challenge.

“You can hit a perfect shot and … be in a tough spot, so staying patient is the most important thing,” Mattas said. “The positioning off the tee is by far the most important because you have to be able to place your ball in the correct spots. If you get to the wrong side of some of these greens and these pins, you’re in big trouble.”

The challenge for the best amateur and collegiate golfers in the country begins May 19-24 for the women and May 26-31 for the men. Both events will be fully covered and televised by the Golf Channel.