Championship event coming to Northwood

Published 8:30 am Thursday, April 22, 2010

    For several years Northwood Country Club in Meridian has hosted an Adams Golf Pro Tour Series event. But this year in October, the venue and The First Tee of Meridian made a hole in one by securing the year ending championship tournament which is a first.

    “This is the second year The First Tee has been the title sponsor for the Adams Tour and for us to get the championship tournament here is a great accomplishment,” said Robert Ford, who is the tournament director. “This will mean the cream of the crop in terms of professional players and more prize money.”

    This event was formerly held at The Winddance on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. More than 130 tour players from throughout the U.S., Australia, Guatemala and other countries will travel to Meridian for their Championship Tournament.

    The Championship Tournament will be held at Northwood Country Club Oct. 4-9. Proceeds from this professional event will go to The First Tee of Meridian, a local nonprofit organization whose mission is to impact the youth of Meridian/Lauderdale County by providing learning facilities and educational programs that promote character development and life-enhancing values through the game of golf.

    Porter Frazier, clubhouse director for Northwood Country Club, said the club enjoys the relationship between it and the First Tee and the Adams Tour. He said the opportunity to be a part of encouraging area youth to play the game of golf is rewarding.

    “It is really great to see the young players develop from a golfing standpoint as well as in character,” Frazier said.

    A Pro-Am Draw party will be held Monday evening, Oct. 4 at Northwood. During this party a drawing will be held for the purpose of assigning a professional player to each team of amateurs participating in the Pro-Am. The Pro-Am will take place, Tuesday, Oct. 5, at Northwood Country Club with a Sponsor and Awards Gala Reception that evening.

    The opening round of The Championship Tour begins Wednesday, Oct. 6. The tournament is a four-day event with the final round being played Saturday, Oct. 9. The Championship Tour is free to the public and several levels of corporate sponsorship are available to promote area businesses.

    “We want to encourage golf fans to turn out for the event as they will be able to see up close some of the best golfers in the world,” said Gary DeSerrano, president of Adams Golf Pro Tour Series. “This is a premier event and some very good golf on a beautiful course will be on display.”