NORRISTOWN, Pa. — (April 11, 2005) – The Montgomery County Amateur Championship has enjoyed amazing growth in each of its five years. Now, it takes another step forward with the announcement that the highly ranked Raven’s Claw GC in Limerick, Pa. has been selected for the opening round of the two-day championship.
Raven’s Claw, designed by award-winning architect Ed Shearon, opened in the summer of 2005 and was immediately ranked the eighth-best public course in Pennsylvania by Golfweek. Since opening, the course has matured nicely, added a practice range and opened a handsome clubhouse.
The tournament underscores a mandate of inclusiveness for all golfers in the county by holding the opening round at a public facility and the final round at a private country club, Blue Bell CC. For the first four years, the renovated Donald Ross course, Jeffersonville GC, served as an exciting opener but closing of the course’s practice range had tournament organizers looking for a new host.
"Raven’s Claw is a complete facility that should mark another step in our effort to make the Montgomery County Amateur Championship the premiere amateur competition in the area," stressed Tournament Director Brian Rogers. "It is truly a championship layout and the rest of the facility is first class. We appreciate the efforts of the Jeffersonville staff for the first four years of the event and look forward to the same kind of commitment from Raven’s Claw."
"The Montgomery County Amateur Championship is an event that is close to my heart," said Shearon, whose Plymouth Meeting-based company, Shearon Golf, was one of the founding sponsors of the championship. "I know a lot of the players who compete in the event. I love the fact that it shines the spotlight on golf in Montgomery County. But, most of all, I am proud of the fact that there are now nine college scholarship winners who are benefiting from money raised at the tournament."
"When Ed and the tournament committee first raised the idea of hosting the tournament, there was no hesitation on our part," said Bob Davis, Raven’s Claw owner. "The event has our total support."
The 5th Montgomery County Amateur Championship will take place on Saturday, August 5 at Raven’s Claw and Sunday, August 6 at Blue Bell. Montgomery County residents with qualifying minimum handicaps are eligible to compete in three divisions: Championship (USGA index of 7.0 or less), Senior (USGA index of 10.0 or less) and Women (USGA index of 15.0 or less).
On Friday, August 4, the Montgomery County Junior Championship will once again be held at Brookside CC in Pottstown. Boys and girls, who have not yet reached their 19th birthday by the day of the event, are eligible to compete. The winner of each the Boys Division and the Girls Division will receive a college scholarship from the Dave Marshall Memorial Scholarship fund. Also, a junior competitor will be chosen to receive a third scholarship based on academic record, sportsmanship and service to the community.
The Montgomery County Amateur Handicap Championship will also be conducted on August 5 and 6, allowing golfers of all handicap levels to compete in a championship style event. There is no residency requirement for the Handicap Division but all competitors must possess a USGA handicap. The overall winner of the event will win a spot in the 2007 PGA Tour Superstore World Amateur Handicap Championship in Myrtle Beach.
The sites for the Amateur Handicap competition have also been selected. The Women and Senior Divisions will open play on Saturday, August 5 at the newly renovated Linfield National GC. The two Men’s Divisions will open at Westover. The final day of competition for all Handicap Divisions will be held at Raven’s Claw on Sunday, August 6.
"This gives the players in the Handicap Division an opportunity to play where the best golfers in the county competed on Saturday, and under the same conditions," said Rogers. "That, plus the fact that everyone in the Handicap Division will be together at the same site should add some excitement."
After the final round of play, all golfers converge on Westover GC in West Norriton Township for the annual Celebration of Golf Festival. This popular event brings golfers and their guests together for an evening of awards presentations, putting and driving contests and a golf expo. Also, some of the finest food in the area is highlighted in the Taste of Montgomery County – a station-by-station taste tour of 20 outstanding restaurants and food purveyors in the county.
Entry forms for the tournament will be available in every pro shop in the county by May 1. For more information contact Tournament Director Brian Rogers at 215-364-5055 or the tournament office at 610-279-9220.
For more information or photos, contact TL Golf Services at 610-279-9220.
Contact:
TL Golf Services
610-279-9220
tleodora@aol.com
