AAGT adds former PGA Tour player Jimmy Wright to the governing body and implements a guaranteed 100% purse payback for their Oct. 29 – 31 event in Tempe, AZ
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (October 1, 2013) – The All-American Gateway Tour (AAGT) announced today that the first event of their new season, scheduled at ASU Karsten in Tempe, AZ on October 29 – October 31, 2013, will have a GUARANTEED 100% payback. This announcement comes just two weeks after announcing that additional sponsorships has also allowed for a GUARANTEED 100% payback at their final event of the National Series, scheduled at Southern Dunes in Maricopa, AZ on October 1 – October 3, 2013
Equally as impactful is the announcement of adding former PGA TOUR player Jimmy Wright to the AAGT player led Governing Body as he adds a combination of playing experience, operations experience, and sponsorship growth to the tour.
“AAGT is committed to providing standards in line with the PGA TOUR to ensure our members are truly developed in an environment that mirrors what they can expect if they reach their ultimate goal,” said Governing Body member Dusty Dean. “We have been focused on finding someone that has played on the PGA TOUR and is experienced in tour operations to work with the players on our Governing Body to deliver the standards our members deserve. I believe Jimmy Wright has the understanding and passion for the game, as well as the shared vision of what AAGT wants to create in the developmental tour industry.”
Wright, who made 48 starts between 1968 and 1972 on the PGA TOUR, participated in 13 PGA Championships and ten U.S. Opens as well as the Masters in 1970. Wright also played in a total of 25 major championships and placed fourth in the 1969 PGA Championship, which still stands as the best finish by any club professional since the championship changed its format to stroke play. In addition to playing the PGA TOUR, Wright has held a variety of positions at prominent golf clubs, including Winged Foot and most recently, The Concession Golf Club in FL, a Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course designed in association with Tony Jacklin.
“Jimmy Wright has experience in all facets of the golf business. He has both played in and ran hundreds of tournaments and is fully capable in helping us with our day-to-day operations,” said Dean. “Most importantly, he is well respected by the industry because of his reputation, integrity, and relationships.”
When the All-American Tour and the Gateway Pro Tour merged together earlier this year to create a united tour in the West, the goal was to create a tour built by the players, for the players. Adding a member to the Governing Body that has a wealth of experience with both the PGA TOUR and tournament operations, and who understands AAGT’s commitment to its members and the industry at large, is a big step towards achieving this goal.
“I am excited about this opportunity with AAGT and how I can help improve the developmental tour system,” said Wright. “The current system does nothing to leverage the tremendous asset of having a large group of very talented athletes on a stage. The existing model generally requires a person to run both the tour operations and the business operations but we don’t believe that is the right way to approach it. At AAGT, players are going to work alongside, and in conjunction with, business and marketing professionals. Allowing each person to focus on their areas of expertise will be far more effective and is more in line with the model of other major tours.”
In addition to Wright’s responsibility to work with the Governing Body on tournament operations, he will also help grow the AAGT through strategic relationships. One of the ways this will be accomplished is by working with a number of large capital companies to support AAGT through a unique combination of sponsorships and access to capital. Thanks to the relationships Wright brings to the table, the tour is already looking at course options that will serve as home practice facilities for AAGT members. The Governing Body will work collectively to determine the final details.
AAGT’s upcoming season will feature a slate of fifteen 54-hole tournaments throughout the Phoenix area, plus a season-ending Tour Championship that boasts a growing first-place prize. Each series will consist of five tournaments, featuring 100% purse payback program, a cumulative “Points Race” to award a Web.com Tour playing exemption, as well as a one-day, 18-hole Sponsorship Event prior to each series that will award the winner with free entry into all five tournaments.
To learn more about AAGT, and the details of their upcoming series, where players can register for a tournament for free and will not be charged until a minimum of 75 players have registered for the event, please visit www.aagtgolf.com.
About All-American Gateway Tour (AAGT)
Established in 2001, the All-American Gateway Tour (AAGT) was created to help aspiring PGA TOUR professionals fine-tune their skills in competitive golf tournaments. In its 12-year history, the tour has maintained a leading position as the premier developmental professional golf tour on the west coast and has paid out more than $43 million to players over that period. AAGT has served more than 3,400 players, with 168 AAGT alums currently playing on the Web.com and PGA Tours. These players represent 32 PGA Tour wins and 78 Web.com Tour wins. Today, AAGT continues to provide the ideal competitive environment as well as significant financial opportunities for aspiring PGA TOUR and Web.com Tour professionals. For more information on sponsorship opportunities or information for the 2013-2014 season, please visit www.AAGTgolf.com. You can also follow the tour on Twitter at www.twitter.com/AAGTGOLF or like them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AAGTProGolf.
About Jimmy Wright, AAGT Governing Body Member
In 1960, Wright won the Oklahoma State Amateur Championship. In 1961, he turned professional and won the first professional tournament he entered. After graduating from Oklahoma State University, where he was a three-time All-American, he played the PGA TOUR until 1963 when he joined the National Guard. After completing his active duty, Wright resumed his golf career and was selected for the number one assistant position at Winged Foot Golf Club in NY, where he worked under respected golf instructor Claude Harmon. In 1965, Wright was selected as the head professional of the Inwood Country Club in NY while continuing to play the PGA TOUR part-time, making 48 starts between 1968 and 1972. From 1976 through 2002, Wright held a variety of positions at prestigious golf clubs including The Fenway Golf Club in NY, The Falls Country Club in FL and The Oaks Club in FL. In 2002, Wright opened a golf retail store in FL called The Wright Approach. In 2005, after closing the store, Wright became the director of golf, and eventually tournament director, at The Concession Golf Club in FL, a Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course designed in association with Tony Jacklin. Wright’s background also includes being voted into two golf hall of fames and winning an unprecedented seven Metropolitan New York Player of the Year titles from 1969-1980. He also holds 12 course records, the lowest of which is 59.
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