Todd Fischer, Ricky Barnes To Compete In Northern California’s Only Nationwide Tour Stop
Livermore, CA (January 26, 2007) – Hometown favorite Todd Fischer of Pleasanton and Stockton’s Ricky Barnes headline the list of Nationwide Tour players who have confirmed to play in the 2007 Livermore Valley Wine Country Championship at Wente Vineyards, March 29-April 1.
Fischer and Barnes are two of the most prominent Northern California-bred golfers of recent years. Fischer has won more than $2.5 million playing on the PGA Tour the past four years, while Barnes won the U.S. Amateur Championship in 2002 and was a two-time all-American at Arizona, being named the college player of the year in 2003. Barnes has competed on the Nationwide Tour the past two years.
Fischer and Barnes will be two of the favorites in the international field of 144 for the fifth event of the 2007 season. Another player with strong local ties is Peter Tomasulo, a former University of California all-American who led the Golden Bears to the 2004 NCAA Championship.
While the field of tour pros fills, so are spots in the two pro-am tournaments, March 27 and 28, each day featuring teams of four amateurs are paired up with a touring profesional. There are a limited number of amateur spots available for indivudals and groups. For more details, call 925.456.2027 or e-mail tournament director Chris Conway at chris@winecountrychampionship.com .
The Wine Country Championship is Northern California’s premier golf, food and wine event, where tour pros play for a total purse of $625,000. Competition is 72 holes and features top players on the tour at their only Bay Area stop of the year. The family oriented event is expected to attract an anticipated 40,000 spectators for the week, with event proceeds benefiting The Taylor Family Foundation and The Livermore Valley Performing Arts Center. Proceeds from ticket sales for the tournament will benefit The Safeway Foundation, Save Mt. Diablo and other Northern California non-profit organizations and education foundations. For more details contact (925) 456-2014.
About Wente Vineyards
Founded in 1883, Wente Vineyards is the country’s oldest continuously operated family-owned winery. Owned and managed today by the fourth and fifth generations of the Wente family, the winery draws from nearly 3,000 acres of estate vineyards located in the Livermore Valley and Arroyo Seco regions of California. A global wine brand, Wente Vineyards exports wines to more than 50 countries. The Wente Vineyards Estate Winery is located at 5565 Tesla Road, Livermore, CA 94550. For more information, call (925) 456-2300 or visit www.wentevineyards.com .
About The Golf Course at Wente Vineyards
Opened in 1998, The Course at Wente Vineyards is one of California’s finest golf destinations, laid out along the Wente family estate vineyards in Livermore, 45 minutes east of San Francisco, where 18 championship holes play through the vineyards, rolling hills, and scenic valleys. Bentgrass greens, rye grass fairways, classic-style bunkers and water hazards add to the challenge of the par 72 that includes more that 200 feet of elevation change. The clubhouse is modeled after an Australian station house, reminiscent of Greg Norman’s childhood in The Outback. The Course is located at 5050 Arroyo Road, Livermore, CA 94550. Contact the golf shop at (925) 456-2475 or visit www.wentegolf.com .
About the Livermore Valley Winegrowers Foundation
The Livermore Valley Winegrowers Foundation was founded in 1994 as way for the Valley’s wine industry to give back to the community and increase awareness of this generous wine region. Though its primary activities, the Livermore Valley Wine Auction and now the Wine Country Championship, the Foundation has contributed over $2.4 million dollars for local charities ranging from providing funds for the pediatric unit at ValleyCare Medical Center, to funding the Oakland East Bay Symphony’s programs for underserved children, and to supporting Camp Arroyo, a summer camp for children with life-threatening illnesses.
About The Nationwide Tour
Formed in 1990, the Nationwide Tour has been recognized as a virtual extension of the PGA Tour with its excellent level of play. It was conceived when former commissioner Deane Beman saw the need to provide up-and-coming young players, along with veterans looking to sharpen their skills for the Champions Tour, a place to ply their trade.
The Nationwide Tour is owned and operated by the PGA Tour and will be in its 18th season in 2007. The 2006 season saw the Tour play in three countries and 22 states with the 31 tournaments playing for nearly $17 million in prize money.
Contact:
Ed Vyeda
Hunter Public Relations – West
(831) 375-1747
evyeda@hunter-pr.com
