MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- The Scholarship America Showdown, an event on the Nationwide Tour, will move to Somerby Golf Club in Byron, Minn., in 2006 it was announced Wednesday by SFX Golf and the PGA TOUR. The $550,000 tournament will be held the week of July 10-16 and will be shown live on The Golf Channel with the winner taking home $99,000.

Somerby is a John Fought/Tom Lehman design that plays to a par of 72 and stretches 7,209 yards. The course meanders through trees and wetlands, and over a variety of creeks spread throughout the rolling property. The course is located just 8 miles from downtown Rochester and an hour south of the Twin Cities area. Somerby was voted one of the 10 Best New Private Courses in America by Golf Digest.

“We feel privileged to be able to host an event of this caliber,” said Brian Jones, general manager of Somerby. “It is a tribute to the unwavering commitment by the ownership and leadership of Somerby. This will be the largest sporting event ever held in this area and we look forward to the excitement generated from all local and surrounding communities.”

Jim Lehman, senior vice president of SFX Golf, said, "Somerby Golf Club is a fantastic course and will be considered one of the best golf facilities on the Nationwide Tour--the players are going to love it! We are excited about our new tournament venue and appreciate the support of the owners and staff of the Somerby Golf Community."

The Scholarship America Showdown will be contested for the third time this summer. Jason Gore, who later went on to win on the PGA TOUR, was the winner last year.

“The Nationwide Tour is excited about this change of venue and look forward to having our players challenge a great course at Somerby,” said Bill Calfee, chief of operations for the Nationwide Tour. “This move should help the tournament continue to grow and expand our ability to create additional funds for local charities.”

“Scholarship America is committed to helping young people achieve their dreams through higher education. We have distributed more than a billion dollars to more than a million students — thanks to thousands of volunteers and donations from those who share a commitment to our mission. As the title sponsor of the 2006 Scholarship America Showdown, we have a wonderful opportunity to share our mission with people across the country,” said Clifford L. Stanley, Major General, USMC (Retired), Ed.D, president and CEO of Scholarship America. “Existing partners of the tournament are enthusiastic of the change in venue and look forward to experiencing all there is in the Rochester area.”