Three Champions Tour players had to get through Arnold Palmer designed course first to qualify
Biloxi, MS: The open qualifier for the PGA Champions Tour Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic completed play today at The Bridges Golf Club at Hollywood Casino in Bay St. Louis. The field consisted of many recognizable PGA Tour names. “This must be the toughest tour in the world to play on” said Chris Altese, PGA Director of Golf at The Bridges. “It is hard to believe you would have players of this caliber competing in an open qualifier.” Rod Spittle and James “Big Daddy” Mason took two of the three qualifying spots both posting 4 under par 68s to lead the field on this Arnold Palmer layout – one of the many courses dotted along this area nicknames the “Golf Coast.”. Jay Don Blake, Terry Burke, and Robin Freeman all shot 2 under par 70s in the perfect but breezy conditions and played off for the last remaining spot in this week’s Champions Tour field. All three players made par on # 10, a 352-yard par four, which continued the play off to # 17, a demanding 426-yard par four. All players struck perfect tee shots down the middle of the fairway. Blake and Burke both missed their 20 foot birdie attempts while Freeman center cut his 8 foot birdie putt to move on to the Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic field.
The Mississippi “Golf Coast” has courses by Palmer, Nicklaus, Love, Pate and McCumber to name a few and has 60 miles of Gulf of Mexico coastline. When you add the 11 Casino Resorts and the incredible seafood and cuisine with the Southern Hospitality – you have a destination with a little something for everyone. “I know of no destination in the country that has such a unique set of amenities as the Mississippi Coast – the golf quality of the Carolinas a and the attractions of Las Vegas with the weather of Florida and the food of New Orleans – it’s a awesome combination and I am glad the contestants and visitors to this week’s Champions Tour will see it first hand,” says Kevin Drum, Executive Director of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Golf Association.
For destination golf information go to www.GolfCoast.com or call 866-383-GOLF. For a Golf Package Quote go to www.GolfCoast.com/plan-your-trip.
For MS Gulf Resort Classic Champions Tour info go to www.golfcoast.com/champions/. For a complete results of the Monday qualifier go to: http://gulfpga.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/gulfpga10/event/gulfpga1029/contest/1/leaderboard.htm.
Contact:
Kevin Drum
Excective Director
MS Gulf Coast Golf Association
228-374-GOLF ext 5
evin@GolfCoast.com
