The event will feature a field of 156 golfers competing over 72 holes of stroke play for a purse of $550,000. A Pro-Am will be played on July 14, with tournament play being held July 15-18.
“We are excited,” tournament director Thomas Federl said. “The support of the community and sponsors has been fantastic and the course is in great shape and ready for a great tournament.”
The Chiquita Classic is unique in that all revenue from ticket sales will go to charity. Over 45 charities have signed up to receive donations from the ticket revenue.
“That’s a great positive aspect of this tournament,” Federl said. “When people buy tickets, they note a charity to benefit. We’ve sold 18 thousand tickets so far and all of that money will benefit charity. We’re hoping the communities of Cincinnati, Dayton and Northern Kentucky will come out in full support of this event.”
The tournament is still in need of volunteers.
“We are operational, but we still need some standard bearers and marshals,” Federl said. “We need four to six marshals on every hole. That’s a lot of bodies.”
In addition to regular Nationwide Tour players, the Chiquita Classic has offered two sponsor exemptions — one to St. Xavier graduate Wes Homan and another to Arnold Palmer’s grandson, Sam Saunders.
The Nationwide Tour now has 29 tournaments on its annual schedule with the addition of the Chiquita Classic. At season’s end, the top 25 money winners on the Nationwide Tour will earn PGA Tour cards for 2011.
Contact this reporter at (513) 696-4526 or shayes@coxohio.com.
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