Grayhawk, Talking Stick golf clubs serve as backdrop
for season-culminating event in Scottsdale, Ariz.; 48 states, Canada and Puerto Rico represented, 29 previous national champions
48 States, Canada and Puerto Rico Represented, 29 Previous National Champions
ORLANDO, Fla., (Sept. 3, 2014) – Golf Channel announced a record field of 1,252 players qualified to compete in the 2014 Golf Channel Amateur Tour National Championships, Sept. 9-18 in Scottsdale, Ariz,. Tournament competitors range in age from 15 to 82, and represent 48 U.S. states, Puerto Rico and Canada.
The Golf Channel Am Tour National Championships are divided into two events – the Open National Championship, Sept. 9-12, and the Senior National Championship (age 50+), Sept. 15-18. Host courses for the National Championships will be Grayhawk Golf Club’s Talon and Raptor courses, and Talking Stick Golf Club’s North and South courses. Talking Stick Resort – Scottsdale’s premiere resort and casino – will be the host resort and tournament headquarters for the week. This is the first time Scottsdale will serve as the backdrop for the Am Tour National Championships, often touted as one of the world’s finest golf destinations, accounting for more than 200 golf courses, and home to numerous professionals on the PGA TOUR and LPGA Tour.
Several NBC Sports / Golf Channel on-air personalities will participate in the National Championship welcome dinners, with Golf Channel on NBC analyst Peter Jacobsen, and Golf Channel analyst Curt Byrum scheduled to attend the open division welcome dinner on Monday, Sept. 8. Golf Channel’s David Feherty is slated to attend the senior division welcome dinner on Sunday, Sept. 14, during which he will present a check to the Troops First Foundation on behalf of the Golf Channel Am Tour. Feherty is a co-founder of the Troops First Foundation, a non-profit organization that develops, operates and supports a synergistic group of wellness, quality of life, and sports-based initiatives in support of today’s military personnel.
In addition to the on-air personalities in attendance, Cleveland Golf / Srixon will feature a few of their Web.com Tour staff players on-site at the National Championships during competition play.
Twelve participants in six flights – six from the senior division (age 50+) and six from the open division – will be crowned national champions in official awards ceremonies immediately following the conclusion of their respective tournaments. Twenty-nine past champions are in the field, including eight defending champions. A few of the top performers and storylines from the 2014 season-long Golf Channel Am Tour schedule in the National Championships field include:
Hardeep Dhani (Poway, Calif.) – Dhani has won five of nine tournaments entered in 2014, including the Western Masters and Southern California Tour Championship, where he posted a 12-under par mark (65-67). Dhani has gone from a 3-handicap to a plus-1 over the course of the past two years on the Am Tour, and will likely turn professional in the next 12 months.
James and Jamie Smith (San Diego, Calif.; Vermont) – The father-son duo qualified for the National Championships at the Duel in the Desert. James competes in the Hogan Flight (8.0-11.9 handicap), while Jamie competes in the Sarazen Flight (12.0-15.9).
Rafael Rodriguez and Heather Taher (San Jose, Calif.) – The significant others have combined for an impressive run on the 2014 Am Tour schedule. Rodriguez won the National Championship last year in the Sarazan Flight, and will compete in the Hogan Flight in Scottsdale. Taher began competing in the Snead Flight (20+ handicap) and has improved her handicap to qualify to compete in the Sarazen Flight.
Kody Conover (Las Vegas, Nev.) – The son of Clifford Conover, who won three consecutive Senior National Championships in the Palmer Flight (2009-11), Kody has Down Syndrome and is competing on the Am Tour for the first time in 2014. He won a Major (Western Classic) and has improved his play throughout the season, beginning in the Snead Flight, and competing in the National Championships in the Sarazen Flight.
Shane Rutherford (Los Angeles, Calif.) -Rutherford proposed to his wife two years ago at the Hawaii Major and now the couple are expecting. His wife, Christie, plans to lend her support in person, following Shane during his final two rounds in the Championship Flight.
Jason Meijers (San Diego, Calif.) – Meijers has improved from a 10-handicap two years ago to a plus-2 handicap this season. Practicing at the same club at Gunn Yang (recent 2014 U.S. Amateur champion), Meijers has won three times on the Am Tour in 2014 and will likely turn professional in the next 12-24 months.
GOLF CHANNEL AM TOUR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS SCHEDULE:
Open Division National Championship Welcome Dinner Sept. 8
Open Division National Championship Competition Play Sept. 9-12
Senior Division National Championship Welcome Dinner Sept. 14
Senior Division National Championship Competition Play Sept. 15-18
ABOUT GOLF CHANNEL AM TOUR
As the largest amateur golf tour in North America, the Golf Channel Am Tour is open to the public and provides the most professional tournament experience for players of all ages and abilities, as well as offering unparalleled access to some of the most renowned and challenging golf courses across the country. Divided into 55 local chapters throughout North America, the Golf Channel Am Tour in 2014 will conduct more than 700 local championships and 33, two-day “Major” Championships throughout the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico. For more information about the Golf Channel Am Tour and the national championships, visit www.gcamtour.com.
ABOUT TALKING STICK RESORT
Talking Stick Resort (TSR) is an AAA Four Diamond Rated Resort and a central landmark within the emerging Talking Stick Cultural and Entertainment Destination (TSCED). Located in Scottsdale, Ariz., just east of the Loop 101 on Indian Bend Road, TSR is locally owned and caringly operated by the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. The property offers culturally rich experiences and luxury accommodations throughout its 496 deluxe rooms, 240,000 sq. ft. casino, 11 restaurants and lounges, world-class spa, 650-seat showroom, 25,000 sq. ft. grand ballroom, thriving cultural center and more than 100,000 sq. ft. of indoor and outdoor meeting space.
ABOUT GRAYHAWK GOLF CLUB
Located in Scottsdale, Arizona, Grayhawk is considered to be one of the state’s top daily-fee golf venues with 36 holes of exceptional golf in a spectacular Sonoran Desert setting. Since opening in 1994, Grayhawk has been honored with industry accolades including “Top 100 You Can Play in the U.S.” by Golf Magazine and “Top 10 in the State You Can Play” by Golf Digest. Grayhawk’s two golf courses – Talon and Raptor – have hosted several premier competitive golf events including the PGA TOUR (2007-2009) during the Fry’s Electronics Open, now known as the Frys.com Open. Other events include the inaugural Williams World Challenge (Tiger’s event), Anderson Consulting World Championship of Golf (WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship), Waste Management Phoenix Open Pro-Ams, The Tommy Bahama Challenge and the AJGA Thunderbird International Junior. For more information, visit www.grayhawkgolf.com, or call 480-502-1800.
Contact:
Jeff Szklinski
Golf Channel Communications
407-248-3267
Jeff.Szklinski@golfchannel.com
