SILVIS, Ill. — A familiar face tops the leaderboard at the 2025 John Deere Classic in Friday’s second round.
Davis Thompson, who secured his first PGA Tour victory at this very event last year, fired an 8-under 63 to join a tie with Brian Campbell for the clubhouse lead at 11 under early Friday afternoon, one shot ahead of Camilo Villegas.
The 26-year-old from Atlanta went bogey-free with eight birdies.
“Just tried to not let anything bother me,” Thompson said. “Just tried to just play I guess nonchalantly. Just go about my business and give myself a lot of chances.”
Even when he hit poor shots, Thompson made up for it. He found the bunker in front of the green on No. 6 after having just 112 left to the hole from the fairway, but got up-and-down to save par.
“Just felt like I hit a lot of fairways and a lot of greens. It was a pretty stress-free round today with the exception of No. 6. Even on 14 I was in kind of an awkward position and was able to hit a really good pitch and make birdie there. It was nice to kind of keep the momentum going from 17 yesterday.”
Thompson’s 2025 season has been disappointing compared to how he performed 2024. Last year, he racked up five top 10s and two runner-up finishes to go along with his win at the John Deere Classic. This season, he has just one top 10.
But there’s no better cure for a struggling player than competing in an event at a course where they feel comfortable.
“I feel like I love tree-lined golf courses and there are a lot of trees out here. I love bent grass greens and that’s kind of good recipe for me,” Thompson said. “Hopefully I can keep it rolling this weekend.”
Meanwhile, Campbell went on an absolute heater down the stretch Friday to put himself firmly in contention entering the weekend. He was even through 13 holes before making birdie on five of the last six, ultimately signing for a 5-under 66 to follow up his bogey-free 65 on Thursday.
Asked what flipped the switch in the latter half of his round, Campbell said, “Honestly, no idea. Just told myself to keep getting birdie looks. Didn’t make anything on my front nine, but I knew it was doing the right stuff, putting it in play. I guess I opened the lid there and made four in a row, so that definitely felt good.”
Like Thompson, Campbell only has one win on the PGA Tour so far, which this year at the Mexico Open at VidantaWorld in February. The 32-year-old University of Illinois alum is feeling right at home in Silvis.
“It’s been awesome. Friends and family out here and people I haven’t seen since college coming out. So it’s been really special. I went over to campus on Sunday before coming here. Didn’t get to see coach, but got to hang out with a few of the team members and get some practice in.”
While Thompson and Campbell each seek their second victory on Tour, Villegas is looking to earn his sixth win, but only the second since 2014.
The seasoned veteran from Colombia shot 5-under 66 to follow up the 66 he signed for on Thursday, putting him at 10 under and in contention entering the weekend. Aside from a T-7 at the American Express, Villegas has failed to crack the top 30 in any other event this season, missing eight cuts in 16 starts.
“It’s been a frustrating year,” said Villegas. “I’ve struggled with my ball striking. I guess couple weeks ago I kind of told myself to stop thinking so much crap and try it simplify things. Last week I hit the ball a little bit better. This week I hit some nice shots, rolled the putter good, and I am trying to keep it a little more simple than normal.”
That simplified approach has kept Villegas, at 43 years old, in contention among a field full of young guns like Aldrich Potgieter, Luke Clanton and World No. 1 amateur Jackson Koivun.
“I was one of them, too, back in the day,” Villegas said. “But it goes quick, so to all those youngsters, enjoy it. I’ve been fortunate to play out here for 24 years or play as a pro for 22 years, I guess. I feel good. I work on my body. I work on my nutrition, flexibility and stuff. Yes, the game has changed. There is guys that are ripping it, hitting it very, very far. You try to keep up when it comes to that, but you try to just use your experience and then play some good golf out there.”
And while he made birdie after birdie on Friday, his daughter, Mia, was on his mind. She always is, according to Villegas. In 2020, Mia passed away a few months before her second birthday after a battle with brain tumors.
“She’s always up there, man. Going back to Bermuda when I won [in 2023], looking up in the sky and thinking about her was very special. Having Mia’s Miracles Foundation has been really healing and it’s been really cool to see the support. This country is unbelievable when it comes to charity.”
The charity work has provided Villegas fulfillment away from the golf course.
“We got a chance to do it in connection with the PGA Tour and just raise a lot of dollars for people that need it. Now my wife and I and the whole Mia’s Miracle team gets a chance to do it more personally.
“Our donors have been unbelievable. The energy, my peers have been great when it comes to my event. Yeah, we’re trying to turn what was a tricky story into something very positive, bring smiles to those in need. Like I said, it kind of fills our hearts.”
With Mia in his thoughts, Villegas hopes to carry his momentum into the weekend and come away with another victory.
“[I’m going to] keep doing what I’ve been doing the last couple days,” Villegas said. “I’m going to have a later tee time. Kind of nice to be in contention. I haven’t been in that position recently. Last few times I was it was in Mexico, which I finished second and Bermuda which I won. So I was very proud of the way I performed those two events. Looking forward to just trying to do the same thing this week.”
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