Columbia, SC - (August 13, 2008) - The Columbia Regional Sports Council is proud to announce the National Golf Association's Hooters Professional Golf Tour is returning to Columbia. The 2008 Capitol Chevrolet Classic at Woodcreek Farms presented by Time Warner Cable and SportsRadio 1400 "The Team" will be played September 8-14, 2008.
The total purse for the Capitol Chevrolet Classic will be $200,000 with $34,000 going to the winner. 168 NGA Tour Professionals will tee-off on Thursday with the lowest 60 golfers plus ties making the cut after Friday's second round.
Admission for the Capitol Chevrolet Classic is free of charge and open to the public. There will be a free junior golf clinic on Tuesday afternoon for all local boys and girls interested in learning the fundamentals of golf. A Pro-Am is scheduled for Wednesday that gives amateurs the chance to play with future stars of golf. For additional information on the Capitol Chevrolet Classic please visit http://www.ngahooterstour.com or contact David Ford at (803) 239-0285. For more information on Woodcreek Farms Country Club please visit www.wildwoodwoodcreek.com.
Jenn Hufler, NGA Hooters Tour Regional Tournament Director says, "We are excited to bring the Hooters Tour back to the Columbia area. Once again, the players are going to love the golf course and the great community support. I expect the tournament to be a first class event on a first class golf course."
David Ford, General Manager for Woodcreek Farms Country Club says, "The Country Club at Woodcreek Farms is proud to be hosting the second annual Capitol Chevrolet Classic, presented by Time Warner Cable and Sports Radio 1400 "The Team", benefiting the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Columbia. The Capitol Chevrolet Classic is the only professional golf event in the Columbia area.
We would like to invite the entire community out to Woodcreek Farms to participate in the activities and support these young professional players as they strive to reach their goal of the PGA Tour and join Zach Johnson, Jim Furyk, and John Daly, former NGA Hooters Tour Players, as PGA stars."
The NGA/Hooters Tour is the 3rd largest men's 72-hole professional golf tour in the country behind the PGA and Nationwide Tours, and boasts alumni like 2003 PGA Champion Shaun Micheel, 2003 British Open winner Ben Curtis, 2003 US Open winner Jim Furyk, two time U.S. Open winner Lee Janzen, British Open and PGA Champion John Daly, as well as British Open winner Tom Lehman, PGA Champion David Toms, 2003 Tour Championship Winner Chad Campbell, 2004 BellSouth Classic winner Zach Johnson, 2004 & 2005 Reno Tahoe Open winner Vaughn Taylor and TPC winner Craig Perks to name just a few. All told, the NGA/Hooters Tour's alumni have an incredible 9 "Majors" to their credit. The NGA/Hooters Tour has helped more than 100 professionals acquire their PGA, Senior PGA, and Nationwide Tour cards. In fact, 50% of the players that earned their 2007 PGA Tour card, and 47% of the players that earned full exempt status on the Nationwide Tour started their careers on the NGA/Hooters Tour.
The Columbia Regional Sports Council is a non-profit organization committed to serving as the central clearinghouse for information regarding the sponsorship, promotion, and coordination of sporting events, facilities and associations in the Columbia Riverbanks Region. If you would like additional information on the Columbia Regional Sports Council, please visit our website at www.columbiasportscouncil.com or contact Scott Powers at (803) 545-0009.