LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Once again, the official name of the most prestigious annual golf tournament in Kentucky is the PowerBilt Kentucky Open. Returning as the title sponsor is PowerBilt, the golf division of Louisville-based and family-owned Hillerich & Bradsby Co., which has been a primary sponsor for the event many times in the past and more than any other company.
“We’re always proud to put our name next to the Kentucky Open,” says Larry Edlin, president of PowerBilt. “Supporting the pro golfers around the state, as well as the top amateurs, is so important to our brand. These players have supported us over the years and this is one way we can give something back to them.”
This will be the 90th consecutive year for the tournament, which was even played during World War II, a time when many professional sports ceased operations. In the 1930s, Bill Kaiser, who was the general manager of PowerBilt, won the event three times. The great Byron Nelson won in 1943. In the ’50s, Gay Brewer was an amateur when he won, then went on to have a great career on the PGA Tour. In the ’60s, Frank Beard was a winner. Larry Gilbert won twice in the ’70s and had tremendous career on the Senior Tour. At the start of the ’80s, Jodie Mudd won for the second straight time. Ted Schulz won twice in the ’80s and figures to be a top contender this year. Current PGA Tour player Steve Flesch is a two-time winner from the ’90s. One of the Ryder Cup heroes, J.B. Holmes, won the open twice in a row earlier this decade.
“The history of the Kentucky Open is incredible,” says Mark Hill, executive director of the Kentucky Golf Association (KGA) and the Kentucky Section PGA (KPGA). “So many great players have won it. One name that we know will be on the trophy this year is PowerBilt and we’re thrilled to have them back as the title sponsor.”
The site for this year’s PowerBilt Kentucky Open is The Club at Olde Stone in Bowling Green (www.olde-stone.com). Designed by renowned golf-course architect Arthur Hills, The Club at Olde Stone has quickly gained national prominence by making some impressive lists: Golf Digest’s “America’s Top Ten Private New Courses” and Golfweek Magazine’s “America’s Best New Course” and “America’s Top Residential Golf Courses”. Earlier this year, Old Stone hosted the NCAA Men’s Regional Golf Tournament. It was also the home of the 2008 Junior Ryder Cup.
The PowerBilt Kentucky Open is a three-day tournament, August 11-13. Qualifying locations and dates are: July 20 at Drake Creek in Ledbetter; July 21 at Crooked Creek in London; July 22 at Lafayette GC at the Falls of the Rough, Lakeside GC in Lexington and Persimmon Ridge GC in Louisville.
Hillerich & Bradsby began making golf clubs in 1915. Nearly a century later, it’s still getting accolades for performance and innovation. Earlier this year, PowerBilt introduced the Air Force One driver, the only golf club on the market using nitrogen to maximize performance. PowerBilt clubs are currently used on the Champions Tour by Fuzzy Zoeller.
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