The Nationwide Tour will be coming to Maryland for the first time next season for the Melwood Prince George’s County Open the week of May 21-27, 2007, it was announced Wednesday by the PGA TOUR and Melwood.

The event will be held at the Country Club of Woodmore in Mitchellville, Md., offering a $108,000 top prize to the winner and a total purse of $600,000.

Melwood, a 501 (c) (3) organization that serves over 2,100 people with developmental disabilities throughout the Capital Region, will serve as the host and charitable recipient of the event.

"Prince George's County has become the crown jewel for the State of Maryland. As such, we are bringing a magnificent event into the state, showcasing the county and a championship facility worthy of a professional golf tournament," said Prince George's County Executive Jack B. Johnson. "With the Nationwide Tour, we are helping to raise the profile and resources for Melwood, an outstanding non-profit organization employing and training individuals with developmental disabilities."

Melwood President and CEO Earl Copus said, “We are excited about the opportunities this major new sports event offers for people who have disabilities. We can meet the needs of many more individuals in job training, employment, housing and recreation with support from the sponsors and fans who attend this tournament.”

The Nationwide Tour is owned and operated by the PGA TOUR and will be in its 18th season in 2007. The 2006 Tour consisted of 31 tournaments in the U.S., Panama, Australia and New Zealand, playing for nearly $17 million in prize money.

“The Nationwide Tour is very excited to be coming to the Capital Region for the first time,” said Bill Calfee, Chief of Operations for the Nationwide Tour. “This is a great golf area and we think the prospects for a very successful event are very strong.”

The Country Club of Woodmore is a par-72, 7,049-yard course designed by Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay, and was selected by Golf Digest in 2005 as one of the Mid-Atlantic's Top Ten Golf Courses. The club opened in 1981 and should provide an excellent test for the players from the Nationwide Tour.

“Maryland continues to be a great golf destination, playing host to a number of world-class tournaments over the years, including the U.S. Open, U.S. Senior Open and the McDonald’s LPGA Championship,” said Dennis Castleman, assistant secretary for Maryland Tourism, Film and the Arts. "The state of Maryland is pleased to support the Melwood Prince George’s County Open and we welcome this opportunity to host another great golf event in Maryland.”