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PGA News

The Professional Golfers’ Association of America

100 Avenue of the Champions

Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418

Tel: 561-624-8400

Fax: 561-624-8448

IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Heidi Wegmueller

October 13, 2006 561/624-7672

hwegmuel@

TWO NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS RETURN THIS MONTH

TO THE PGA GOLF CLUB

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. – In less than one week, golfers from around the world will travel to The PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Fla., to participate in one of two National Championships. The

18th Callaway Golf Senior PGA Professional National Championship, formerly the Senior PGA Club Professional Championship, will take place Oct. 19-22, 2006, followed by the 30th TaylorMade-adidas Golf PGA Assistant Professional Championship, Oct. 26-29, 2006.

The newly renovated and renamed Wanamaker Course (formerly the South Course); and Ryder Course (formerly the North Course) at The PGA Golf Club will host the 264 competitors at the Senior PGA Professional National Championship for the fifth-consecutive year.

Leading the field are six past champions including: Jim White (2004), of Lincoln, Neb.; Jeff Thomsen (2003), of Boise, Idaho; Wes Smith (1998), of Naples, Fla.; Bob Irving (1995), of Sarasota, Fla.; Roger Kennedy (1992, ’94), of Stuart, Fla.; and Tom Joyce (1990, ’91), of Huntington, N.Y.

“It is with great pride that The PGA Golf Club, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary, hosts both the Callaway Golf Senior PGA Professional National Championship and TaylorMade-adidas Golf PGA Assistant Professional Championship,” said Jim Richerson, Senior Director of PGA Golf Properties for

The PGA of America. “We look forward to welcoming the top Senior PGA Professionals -- as well as the best PGA assistant professionals and registered apprentices -- to their winter PGA of America home, and we envision that both Championships’ level of play will continue to increase.”

The winner of the Callaway Golf Senior PGA Professional National Championship will have his name inscribed on the Leo F. Fraser Trophy and also receive a first-place check for $20,000 -- out of a total purse of $285,000. Meanwhile, the Top-35 finishers will qualify for the 2007 Senior PGA Championship at Kiawah (S.C.) Island Golf Resort, May 24-27. The Top-8 finishers, including ties, will be exempted into the 2007 Callaway Golf Senior PGA Professional National Championship. In addition, the Top-10 finishers will be exempt into the Champions Tour National Finals at TPC Eagle Trace, in Coral Springs, Fla., provided their entry is submitted prior to the tournament’s registration deadline.

The TaylorMade-adidas Golf PGA Assistant Professional Championship, comprised of a field of 120, will be contested on the Wanamaker Course for the third-consecutive year. Defending Champion Kyle Flinton, of Edmond, Okla., hopes to capture his fourth Championship title in the past six years. With his win last year, Flinton became the first three-time winner (2002, ‘03, ‘05) of the National Championship.

“The PGA Golf Club is a ‘home away from home’ for my wife Tracy and me,” said the 40-year old Flinton, who is a PGA apprentice assistant at Quail Creek Golf & Country Club in Oklahoma City. “There is not any added pressure to defend this year, as I am extremely comfortable with this wonderful state-of-the-art facility, the staff and the National Championship.”

The winner of the TaylorMade-adidas Golf PGA Assistant Professional Championship will collect $9,000 of the $100,000 purse, and the low apprentice will be invited to participate in the 2007 Australian PGA National Futures Championship. The Champion, if eligible, will also earn a berth in the 2007 PGA Professional National Championship at Sunriver (Ore.) Resort, June 21-24.

Both the Ryder and Wanamaker Courses were designed by Tom Fazio. The updates to the courses include a conversion of all putting surfaces to Champion Ultra Dwarf grass; the refurbishment of bunkers; enhancement of drainage to improve the overall playing experience; and a major addition to landscaping.

The Ryder Course -- named in honor of Samuel Ryder, the namesake for the Ryder Cup -- was rated the past two years as one of the “Top 50 Courses for Women” by Golf For Women magazine.

The Wanamaker Course -- named after Rodman Wanamaker, the man who sparked the founding of The PGA of America in 1916, and the donator of the Wanamaker trophy annually awarded to the PGA Champion – was previously listed in Golf Digest’s “Best New Affordable Courses in America,” and GOLF Magazine’s “The Top 10 Courses You Can Play in Florida.”

Celebrating its 90th anniversary, The PGA of America was founded in 1916, and is a not-for-profit organization that promotes the game of golf, while continuing to enhance the standards of the profession. The Association is comprised of more than 28,000 men and women PGA Professionals who are dedicated to growing participation in the game of golf.

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