TPC Scottsdale is host for '09 Champions Tour q-school

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PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. -- The PGA TOUR announced today that TPC Scottsdale in Arizona has been selected as the host venue for the 2009 Champions Tour National Qualifying Finals.

The culmination of two stages of regional qualifying, the Champions Tour National Qualifying Finals will be held Nov. 17-20 on the club's Champions Course. The top-five finishers will receive fully-exempt status on the 2010 Champions Tour, with finishers 6-12 receiving conditional cards.

Built in 2007 on the former site of the Desert Course by golf course architect Randy Heckenkemper -- who served as part of Tom Weiskopf's original design team in 1987, the par-71, 7,124-yard Champions Course rivals its more famous sister course, the Stadium Course, in both beauty and playability. Named by Golfweek among its list of the "Top 30 Municipal Courses for 2008," the course features the only Emerald Green greens and tee boxes in the state. Even before its opening, the Champions Course was chosen by the PGA TOUR to serve as the host site of the First Stage Qualifying Tournament in November 2007 when the tournament was relocated from San Diego due to wildfires in the region.

"The Champions Course continues to distinguish itself among the best resort golf courses in the nation, and is fast becoming a favorite tournament venue as well," said David Pillsbury, President of PGA TOUR Golf Course Properties. "From Randy Heckenkemper's fabulous design to the outstanding work of our maintenance, agronomy and guest service teams at TPC Scottsdale, the Champions Course is destined for even more greatness as it matures."

TPC Scottsdale's Stadium Course will enter its 23rd year as host of the FBR Open -- the largest spectator golf event in the world -- when it returns Feb. 26- March 1, 2009. Several members of the 2009 Champions Tour rookie class have found success in the form of an FBR Open title at TPC Scottsdale including Steve Jones (1997) and Tom Lehman (2000). Current Champions Tour player Sandy Lyle also earned a victory on the Stadium Course in 1988.

The Champions Tour Qualifying Tournament Finals will return to TPC Eagle Trace in Coral Springs, Fla., site of the 2006-08 events, for 2010.

Additional information on TPC Scottsdale can be found at tpc.com/scottsdale.