THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, January 3, 1997 TAG: 9701030650
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JIM DUCIBELLA, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 39 lines
There may be a Senior PGA Tour event in Hampton Roads' future.
A Winston-Salem, N.C., promoter and the Hampton Roads Navy League announced Thursday that they will hold a one-day Senior PGA pro-am in Virginia Beach on May 12 - a step they hope eventually will lead to an annual stop on the Senior PGA Tour by 1999.
``Our goal, long-term, is to bring an event to Hampton Roads,'' said Peter Carpenter, president of Elite Sports Management Group of Winston-Salem, which is going to work with the Navy League to find corporate sponsors. ``What we hope to begin doing with the pro-am is to educate the local public about Seniors golf and educate the Senior PGA Tour about Hampton Roads. We think that, with 1.5 million people, it has the potential to enjoy and support a Senior event.''
The pro-am, to be held at the Aeropines course at NAS Oceana, will feature 25 Senior PGA pros in a charity event for the Navy League. Among those who already have committed to play are Jimmy Powell, 19th on the money list and the 1996 Brickyard Crossing champion; Bud Allin, who finished in the top-35 money winners in 1995; and David Oakley, a Virginia native and 1996 Senior Tour rookie. Others expected to participate are Hubert Green, Gibby Gilbert, DeWitt Weaver, Orville Moody and Jim Albus.
Representatives of the PGA Tour and representatives of the Navy League were unavailable for comment. The Navy League has issued a release announcing a Monday press conference for the pro-am event.
The Senior PGA Tour is for professional players 50 years or older and features some of the greatest names in golf history, including Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Lee Trevino, Ray Floyd, Tom Weiskopf and Chi Chi Rodriguez.
Aeropines was renovated recently by Tom Clark of Ault and Clark Associates. Ten of the holes Clark reconfigured will be used in the pro-am. Carpenter says Aeropines was chosen because of the reconfiguration, but also because it has superior spectator sightlines.