SOUTHERN PINES, N.C. – A strong field of senior professionals will once again gather at National Golf Club for the fifth annual National Patriot Senior Invitational. The tournament takes place Oct. 21-23 on the Jack Nicklaus-designed course.
Tom Parsons, National’s director of golf, has announced this year’s field will be strictly invitational and limited to 32 professionals. The list of pros includes: Ken Green, Rex Caldwell, Pat McGowan, George Burns and Rocky Rockett, currently on the Big Break VI television show.
"Our purse is pretty high in relation to senior events outside the Champions Tour, so we’re able to attract some of the top names," said Parsons. "The golf course helps, too, because everybody loves the layout here at National. It is a true test of golf."
Green, a five-time PGA Tour winner, is the defending champ. Green captured last year’s National Patriot Senior Invitational by shooting back-to-back 69s in the final two rounds of the 54-hole event. That left him at three-under 213, the only player in the field to break par.
As in past years, the National Patriot Senior Invitational includes a pro-am to raise funds for two military-related charities. However, the duration of the event has been shortened. Instead of spreading the competition over the course of a week, everything will be concentrated into a three-day stretch, with practice rounds available beforehand.
The 36-hole pro-am portion of the tournament will run concurrently with the professional competition. The pros will play the first two rounds with two amateur partners. Each pro will post an individual score, while teaming with his partners in the pro-am portion of the event.
The final round, on Oct. 23, will be strictly for the professionals vying for the $33,000 total purse, including $7,500 for first place, $5,000 for second place and $4,000 for third.
"We’re continually improving the event," Parsons said. "We’ve tweaked the format to make it better for the participants so that they don’t have to make a week’s commitment."
There is no charge for admission, and Parsons encourages fans to come and watch.
For info on the National Patriot Senior Invitational, call the golf shop at (910) 295-5340.
Contact:
Tom Parsons
(910) 295-5340