PINEHURST TO HOST INAUGURAL TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP
PALM BEACH
GARDENS, Fla. — The inaugural PGA McGladrey Team
Championship, the PGA of America's first nationwide grass
roots best-ball amateur championship, will mark its debut
Sept. 10-12, 2007, at world-renowned Pinehurst (N.C.)
Resort.
NOTE: Gateway PGA McGladrey Team
Championship Sectional Qualifier will be held at Lockhaven
Country Club on Aug. 6, 2007.
The PGA McGladrey Team Championship, managed and operated by
The PGA of America, features a series of local and 41 PGA
Section Championships and a National Championship field of
41 four-person teams. PGA Professionals will compete for a
guaranteed purse of $20,000 at the Section Championship
level and $200,000 at the National Championship.
Competition is open to golfers of all ages and playing
abilities.The National Championship field will compete on
three of Pinehursts premier layouts, opening at Pinehurst
No. 8, which has hosted the 1997 and 1998 PGA Professional
National Championship.
The field concludes by playing
the final two rounds on Pinehurst No. 6 and Pinehurst No. 2,
which has been the site of some of golfs historic
championships, including the 1936 PGA Championship, the 1951
Ryder Cup and the 1999 and 2005 U.S. Open.
"The PGA of America is excited
that the PGA McGladrey Team Championship will make its debut
at Pinehurst Resort, one of the worlds most popular golf
destinations and the home of some of the games most historic
moments," said PGA of America President Roger Warren. "With
the teamwork of the staff at Pinehurst, we believe that PGA
Professionals and amateur golfers nationwide will find this
championship will rank as perhaps their best golf
experience."
The Championship is a result of
the new partnership between The PGA of America and RSM
McGladrey, the Official Accounting, Tax and Business
Consulting firm of The PGA of America. RSM McGladrey is the
fifth largest accounting, tax and business consulting firm
in the country when considered with McGladrey & Pullen LLP
(a partner-owned CPA firm).
"We are very pleased that
Pinehurst will serve as the venue for the championships
pinnacle event," said Art Smith, Chief Marketing Officer of
RSM McGladrey. "We believe this set of premier courses
reflects the quality services we provide our clients, and
celebrates the spirit of our team competition on a world
class stage."
The Local Championship will use
the best one net ball of the three amateur players. Each
amateur receives 50 percent of their handicap allowance from
the course and tees being played. Each players score must be
used on a minimum of three holes.
The Section Championships and
National Championship will feature the host PGA Professional
who will complete each winning teams foursome, and use two
best net balls of each hole, again with each amateur
receiving 50 percent of their USGA index handicap.
"Pinehurst has been known for
its exciting championships, and we look forward to welcoming
a strong field to three stellar courses," said Pinehurst
President Donald Padgett. "We feel extremely honored to team
with The PGA of America yet again in this new venture."
Nestled among the Sandhills of
North Carolina, Pinehurst Resort was founded in 1895 and
since 1898 has been the site of more single championships
than any other golf course in the country.
Designed by Tom Fazio and opened
in 1996, Pinehurst No. 8 is a par-72 layout that plays to
7,092 yards from its gold tees and at 450 acres is the
largest of the resorts courses. George and Tom Fazio
combined to design the par-71 Pinehurst No. 6, which opened
for play in 1979, and now plays to 7,008 from its gold tees,
following a 2005 Fazio renovation.
Pinehurst No. 2, the signature
layout at the resort, was designed by legendary architect
Donald Ross and opened in 1907. The course is a par-72
layout that measures 7,305 yards from its gold tees.
About RSM McGladrey
RSM McGladrey is a
leading professional services firm providing
accounting, tax and business consulting. RSM McGladrey and
McGladrey & Pullen (a partner-owned CPA firm) have an
alternative practice structure. Though separate and
independent legal entities they work together to serve
clients business needs. When considered together, the
companies rank as the fifth largest accounting, tax and
business consulting firm (Source: Public Accounting Report)
with nearly 8,000 professionals and associates in more than
120 offices nationwide.
RSM McGladrey Inc. and McGladrey
& Pullen LLP are member firms of RSM International, an
affiliation of independent accounting and consulting firms.
RSM McGladrey is a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of H&R
Block, Inc. (NYSE: HRB).
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