The Callaway Golf Senior PGA Professional National Championship, formerly the Senior PGA Club Professional Championship, is set to produce much exciting golf Oct. 19?22, 2006, at The PGA of America's first owned and operated facility, PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Fla.
The field of 264 players will consist of the top PGA Professionals who are at least 50 years of age. Several past Champions are set to compete, including Jim White (2004) of Lincoln, Neb., Jeff Thomson (2003) of Boise, Idaho, Wes Smith (1998) of Naples, Fla., Bob Irving (1995) of Sarasota, Fla., and Roger Kennedy (1992, '94) of Stuart, Fla.
Mike San Filippo of Hobe Sound, Fla., who won the Championship last year, as well as in 2002, is not eligibile to play this year due to his new classification of A-3.
"I am anxious to see the changes that have been made to both the North and South Courses this year," says White, a PGA Master Professional at Wilderness Ridge Golf Club in Lincoln, Neb., since 2001. "After finishing in a tie for 47th place last year, I left the Championship with a bad taste in my mouth. I am much more comfortable with my golf swing and my entire golf game this year, so I am looking forward to returning to this national Championship and determined to improve on finish last year."
For the sixth consecutive year, PGA Golf Club will host the Championship. The actual courses will be determined on Oct. 1, following the completion of the renovations of the North and South Courses, to be renamed the Ryder and Wanamaker Courses, respectively. The field will be cut to the low 70 players, including ties, following the completion of the second round.
"With the new changes to PGA Golf Club this year, it allows all the players to be in the same boat without any advantages of having played it before," says White. "Winning the Championship will come down to putting and I am looking forward to traveling to South Florida to attempt to win for the second time in three years."
The winner of the Callaway Golf Senior PGA Professional National Championship will have his name inscribed on the Leo F. Fraser Trophy and will receive a first-place check for $20,000 out of a total purse of $285,000. In addition, the low 35 finishers will qualify for the at Kiawah Island (S.C.) Golf Resort, May 22?27. The top eight finishers, including ties, will be exempt into the 2007 Callaway Golf Senior PGA Professional National Championship. In addition, the top 10 finishers will be exempt into the Champions Tour National Finals at TPC Eagle Trace, provided they have filled out an entry by the entry deadline.
