The Nationwide Tour and Athens Regional Foundation
announced Tuesday that professional golf will be coming to Athens in 2006.
The Athens Regional Foundation Classic will be held the week of April 19-23 at Jennings Mill Country Club in Bogart. The event will offer a
$500,000 purse with all profits going to support the Athens Regional
Foundation.
"Athens has a proud golf history, and the community deserves its own
professional event," said Len Sapera, chairman of the Athens Regional
Foundation. "We have no doubt that this event will be a hole-in-one for
the golfers, the community, and our patients at Athens Regional."
In 2006, the Nationwide Tour will compete in 22 states as well as
Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Panama. The expected economic impact of
the local event is estimated to be $5 million.
"The Nationwide Tour is very pleased to be coming to Northeast Georgia and
to the city of Athens," said Bill Calfee, chief of operations for the
Nationwide Tour. "This Tournament will provide local golf fans with
major-league competition while benefiting the community as a whole."
Several hospitality events and Pro-Ams will be held in association with the
event. More information on the Tournament, including daily schedules,
additional sponsors, probable participants, and volunteer opportunities
will be announced in coming months.
For many players, Jennings Mill will offer familiar surroundings. The Bob
Cupp-designed course plays to a par of 72 and stretches 6,924 yards.
Jennings Mill was constructed in the style of a Scottish links course,
featuring treacherous pot bunkers and strategically placed mounds that
provide visual definition and easier depth perception around the greens.
The course has also drawn praise for its superior bentgrass greens,
regarded as some of the finest in the nation. Golfweek ranks this layout
among the top 25 in the state. Since it opened in 1986, it has been the
site of numerous events, including PGA Tour qualifying Tournaments, the
Georgia Mid-Amateur Championships, and others.
Former UGA players Ryuji Imada and Franklin Langham played on the
Nationwide Tour in 2004 before moving to the PGA Tour this season. Other
Bulldogs who have competed on the Nationwide Tour include Chip Beck, Nick
Cassini, Erik Compton, Bryant Odom and Tim Simpson. Current University of
Georgia GC head professional Matt Peterson is also a former Nationwide Tour
competitor.
The Athens Regional Foundation Classic is the first professional Tournament
in Athens. However, the city of Athens and Northeast Georgia have a proud
golf history. Golf legend Arnold Palmer played collegiate matches in
Athens and returned for a Pro-Am with 2,000 spectators in 1971. Bobby
Jones dedicated the Donald Ross layout at Athens Country Club in 1926.
Athens is still home to several NCAA and Georgia State Amateur golf
champions.