THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, February 10, 1997 TAG: 9702100146
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C7 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JIM DUCIBELLA, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: 84 lines
Telecommunications giant AT&T agreed Saturday to become a major corporate sponsor of the Navy League Pro-Am Golf Classic, to be held May 12 at the Aeropines golf course at NAS Oceana.
Terms of AT&T's financial commitment were not released, but tournament director Peter Carpenter said it was large enough that the event will be recast as ``AT&T presents . . . the Navy League Pro-Am Golf Classic.''
The one-day tournament, proceeds from which will benefit the Hampton Roads Council Navy League, will feature 25 members of the Senior PGA Tour. Tournament organizer Peter Carpenter said he has 21 commitments, including J.C. Snead, Gay Brewer, Hubert Green and Lou Graham.
Individual tickets, priced at $10 each, will be available around the middle of March at the Aeropines pro shop and all other Hampton Roads bases through the Morale, Welfare and Recreation departments. Carpenter, president of Winston-Salem, N.C.-based Elite Sport Management Group, also plans to have a local telephone number through which tickets can be ordered and mailed.
Aeropines head pro Vinny Spagnuolo added that he hopes other course operators throughout Hampton Roads will agree to sell tickets.
Carpenter said he hopes to draw between 6,000 and 8,000 spectators and is confident the lack of a nearby Senior PGA Tour event works in his favor. The closest Senior Tour Pro-Ams are in Charlotte and Winston-Salem.
``People will come from all over to see this,'' Carpenter said. ``They're not going to come just from Suffolk, or just from Norfolk. They're going to come from Williamsburg, from parts of North Carolina, from all over to see this. They may come through the bridge-tunnel from Maryland, because these are players they know and now they've got a chance to see them in person.''
Other corporate sponsorship packages range between $3,000 (tee or green sponsorship) to $35,000 for an executive package featuring a 30-by-30 private hospitality tent, four invitations to play in the pro-am and 12 other amenities.
Spectator-only sponsorship packages range from $250-$675.
Individual amateur spots are priced at $1,025. With just 100 slots available, Carpenter said it is possible that only amateurs who are part of corporate-sponsorship packages will get to play.
Carpenter made his first visit to Hampton Roads to plan the pro-am on Dec. 9. That day, he saw all three service courses - Sewells Point, Eagle Haven and Aeropines.
``One of the reasons Aeropines was chosen is that it sits on 275 acres, more than enough for parking and tents and good crowd flow,'' Spagnuolo said. ``This place really sets up nicely for an event like this.''
The course was originally designed by pro Jack Harvey, who had a history of military-base course design. In 1994, Tom Clark of prominent design group Ault & Clark was hired to upgrade the existing 18 and add nine new holes. The course reopened in July, though some drainage work continues.
The course on which the pro-am will be staged will be set to Senior PGA Tour standards. It will measure 6,500 yards and play to par 72. ILLUSTRATION: PGA SENIORS IN TOWN
What: The AT&T Navy League Pro-Am Classic
When: Monday, May 12
Where: Aeropines Golf Course, NAS Oceana
Who's playing: 25 members of the Senior PGA Tour. Already
committed are Gay Brewer, Bobby Nichols, J.C. Snead, Walter Morgan,
Hubert Green, Larry Gilbert, Gibby Gilbert, Jimmy Powell, David
Oakley, Larry Ziegler, Buddy Allin, John Paul Cain, Jerry McGee, Jim
Albus, Lou Graham, Dick Hendrickson, Leonard Thompson, Tony Jackson,
Rives McBee, Bob Dickson, Mike McCullough.
Cost: All tickets are $10. Starting about March 12, they will be
available through the pro shop at Aeropines and all other Hampton
Roads bases, with other ticket outlets and phone-order details to be
announced.
Who gets the money: All proceeds will benefit the Hampton Roads
Council Navy League, a support system for the Navy, Marine Corps,
Coast Guard and Merchant Marines, as well as an educational liaison
between civilians and sea services.
For information: Call 757-433-2866/2588
To volunteer: Call Vinny Spagnuolo at 757-433-2866/2588
Schedule of events Sunday, May 11 - Golfers arrive, private
pairings reception
Monday, May 12 - 9 a.m.: Oceana gates open to public; 10-10:30:
Senior PGA golf clinic, featuring five Tour members; 10-11: Photo
and autograph session with Senior players; 11 a.m.: Pro-am
tournament begins, shotgun start; Victory ceremony and check
presentation to Navy League