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 Soboba Springs will host the California State Open for the first time. “With its tradition and history, a tournament like this can really springboard someone to greater things,” said Southern California PGA Director of Tournaments and Rules Gerald Wong. “We get the top golfers in California, including players from the Nationwide Tour and PGA Tour, as well as some top college players and our own PGA members — a kind of mix we normally don’t have in our tournaments.” This year’s event will be held Nov. 4-6 at the Country Club at Soboba Springs in San Jacinto. The final two qualifiers are set for Oct. 27 at East Valley Golf Club in Beaumont and Oct. 31 at the tournament site. The final field will consist of 144 professionals and amateurs competing for a portion of the anticipated $100,000 purse. An amateur winner would receive $750 in scrip and the honor of joining an elite group of California State Open champions such as Walter Hagen, Horton Smith, Olin Dutra, Lloyd Mangrum and Gene Littler. Drew Scott of Henderson, Nev., is the defending champion. For the first time since 2001, the SCPGA will handle all aspects of the tournament — from soliciting sponsors to recruiting volunteers. No significant changes are planned, meaning players and spectators can count on the event being run “in an outstanding manner,” Wong said. “It’s definitely one of our top events, and our philosophy is that it’s a major championship,” he said. This will be the first time the tournament has been held at the Country Club at Soboba Springs. The 42-year-old facility east of Palm Springs underwent a major renovation in 2006 and opened a spacious clubhouse earlier this year. “They have done some really nice things to that golf course,” Wong said. “It’s never looked better and we’ll stretch it to more than 7,000 yards this year. It will definitely be in championship form and set up to reflect that same level of quality.” Wong is confident the setup will be attractive and challenging. “That’s important to us because our goal is to fill the field with the best possible golfers, which is why you basically have to be a scratch golfer and most have to play their way into the final,” he said. The tournament is open to males and females with a handicap index of 4.4 or less. About half the field makes it through qualifying, with the other half gaining exempt status by being a past champion, finishing among the top 20 last year, or being an SCPGA Class A professional. The majority of golfers each year are touring professionals. “These are the guys who are trying to make the PGA Tour and play the Nation-wide or mini-tours,” Wong said. “We also get a number of aspiring golfers from the college ranks,” meaning that future PGA Tour stars could be in action this month. For more information on qualifying, visit scpga.com. The deadline for exempt players to commit is Oct. 17. |
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| Comment at 10/16/2009 |
