Q&A with reigning UI Open champion Derek Meinhart

Derek Meinhart is looking to win his third consecutive UI Open title, and fourth overall, this weekend for the the event that kicks off Saturday.News-Gazette copy editor JOE VOZZELLI JR. caught up with Derek Meinhart before the Mattoon native tries to win his third straight UI Open — and fourth overall — when the annual tournament tees off today at the University of Illinois course in Savoy:

How cool is it to be called a three-time UI Open champion after last year's victory?

I think it's something I look forward to every year is playing in this tournament. It's always been a special tournament in Champaign. You know, I've won it the past two years and three times overall now. But to win this…