Memorial Health Championship presented by LRS: Field, tournament facts, storylines to follow and more

The Korn Ferry Tour returns to Springfield, Illinois, for the ninth playing of the Memorial Health Championship presented by LRS at Panther Creek Country Club, the 16th event of the Tour’s 26-event season.

John Pak claimed his first career Korn Ferry Tour victory at last week’s Compliance Solutions Championship in Norman, Oklahoma. Pak, who entered last week No. 51 on the Korn Ferry Tour Points List, moves inside the top 10 to No. 9 on the points list after his victory at Jimmie Austin OU Golf Club.

Here are three things to know:

1. Past champions return

Three past championships return to Springfield this week: Paul Haley II (2022), Brett Drewitt (2020) and Xinjun Zhang (2019). Haley set the 72-hole tournament scoring record en route to his victory with a 27-under 257. Reigning champion Paul Barjon claimed his first victory of the 2023 season at last year’s Memorial Health Championship presented by LRS. The Dumbea, France, native went on to win the 2023 Korn Ferry Tour Championship presented by United Leasing & Finance to finish No. 8 on the 2023 points list and return to the PGA TOUR.

2. A new face in the field

University of Illinois rising senior Jackson Buchanan, who is playing on a sponsor exemption this week, will make his first career start on the Korn Ferry Tour this week. The 22-year-old made his first career start on the PGA TOUR earlier this month at the U.S. Open (MC). Buchanan was named to the 2023 NCAA All-Championship Team with a T2 in the stroke play at the NCAA Championship and was named Big Ten Golfer of the Year this past season.

3. Will the trend of multi-winners continue?

Tim Widing sits No. 1 on the points list, riding on the strength of back-to-back wins in April, and was the first Korn Ferry Tour member to achieve #TOURBound status and secure PGA TOUR membership for the 2025 season. With a T4 finish at last week’s Compliance Solutions Championship, Harry Higgs became the second player on the season to be declared #TOURBound, securing his return to the PGA TOUR. The Dallas native captured back-to-back victories at the 2024 AdventHealth Championship and 2024 Visit Knoxville Open to fuel his return to the TOUR and climb to No. 2 on the points list. Winthrop product Taylor Dickson became the third multi-winner on Tour this season with his win at the 2024 Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Kansas Wichita Open Benefitting KU Wichita Pediatrics. Can another winner in the field join this club?

Tournament facts:

• Course: Illinois Panther Creek Country Club, par 71, 7,228 yards
• Field: 156 players (72 holes)
• Defending champion: Paul Barjon
• Purse: $1,000,000 ($180,000 to winner)
• Scoring records
  • 18-hole record: 60, Rob Oppenheim (2022)
  • 72-hole record: 257, Paul Haley II (2022)