Five Americans will get the what Arnold Palmer called a “once in a lifetime experience” when they play for the right to advance to the 16th World Golfers Championship in a 36-hole U.S. finals qualifying Sept. 10-11 at the Wigwam Resort in Litchfield, AZ.
Tournament director James McAfee reports that exempt players and qualifiers, including 25 per cent of them women, will play on two of the three courses at The Wigwam–The Red, designed by Robert (Red) Lawrence, and The Gold, designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. Both are Parkland rather than desert designs.
“With an assist from Ed Gowan, executive director of the Arizona Golf Association, the courses will be set up to play fairly, but challenging, for all golfers, ranging from Paul Goering of Dallas at 0 to Lisa Kapsh of Grand Prairie, TX at maximum of 25.4,” said McAfee.
The net winner from each of five handicap categories-0-5, 6-10, 11-15, 16-20 and 21-25-will advance to the world finals, scheduled Oct. 30-Nov. 6 at the Black Mountain Golf Club, the Banyan Golf Club, the Palm Hills Golf Club and the Springfield Royal Country Club in the Hua-Him resort area of Thailand. They will join golfers from 35 other countries for this 72-hole competition.
The winners will receive golf bags from LT Golf in Kerrville, TX, umbrellas from Gustbuster in Farmington, NY, sunglasses from Sundog Eyewear in Calagary, Alberta, Canada and a Zoom Boom training aid from 15 Minute Golf in Colleyville, TX plus all expenses to Thailand.
“This is once in a lifetime opportunity for an avid golfers to have a chance to feel like a pro for one full week and represent their country on an international level”, said Anders Bengtson of World Golfers USA who has previously played in the event. ” I wish everybody could have this chance at least once.
“The true Olympic golf event takes place at the World Golfers Championship. It’s where amateurs compete on equal terms just the way Pierre de Coubertin visioned it when he created the Olympics.”
Three members of the 2009 U.S. team that participated in Marbella, Spain-Parker Smith of Sun City, AZ, Tony Ott of West Palm Beach, FL and John McInerney of Yonkers, NY—will be back, trying to earn repeat trips.
“I can’t tell you what a wonderful experience it was, ” Smith said. “All expenses paid (yes!) to Marbella, Spain, competing every day against my peers from 31 other countries, being paired with women and men from Poland, Portugal, Spain, Malaysia, Sweden, Qatar, India was unforgettable, a lifetime experience.”
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