Preferred Health Systems Wichita Open

PUBLISHED: Tuesday, April 17, 2007

By: Mark Schnabel
Newton Kansan
After being open just less than a year, Newton's Sand Creek Station golf course has landed its first major pro event. The 2007 Preferred Health Systems Wichita Open will host a pro-am tournament July 31 at the course.

The tournament will pair area amateurs with members of the PGA TOUR's Nationwide Tour participating in the Wichita Open. Proceeds from the pro-am will benefit the Greater Newton Community Foundation.

"Being in the golf business, it's a very competitive industry," Sand Creek Station general manager Chris Tuohey said. "... We have a relationship with the Nationwide Tour now. It puts us in a class with nobody else. It's a special moment for the golf course. I know that city officials are ecstatic. I know that the citizens of Newton are ecstatic. It's a great opportunity. When I first saw the golf course, I knew it could host special events."

 
Officials discuss the upcoming Newton Pro-Am Golf Tournament this morning at Sand Creek Station Golf Course. From the left are Chris Tuohey, Sand Creek general manager; Dennis LeFevre, executive director, Greater Newton Community Foundation; Willis Heck, Newton mayor; and Roy Turner, Wichita Open Tournament director.

 
"It's an incredible venture for us," Wichita Open tournament director Roy Turner said. "This is the first time ever we've gone off site - 18 years - and it's the first time we've ever gone off the host site. We're excited about it. We think it's going to be great. If anyone wants to know about the quality of player who will be here at Newton, last year's Masters Champion (Zach Johnson) played in Wichita in '03. Yesterday, the PGA TOUR's Verizon Heritage was won by a gentleman called Boo Weekley, who for the previous five years played here. He beat Ernie Els. So you will see some of the best players in the world, and you will have the opportunity to play with them."

Tuohey said he met Turner through a mutual friend. Turner said he was "blown away" by the course.

"I've been in sports a lot of years," said Turner. "To have everyone come together for one event like this is the reason why we've gone off site for the first time."

Tuohey said planning and execution of the tournament shouldn't be a problem. Kemper Golf, which operates the course for the city, holds a Nationwide Tour event in Chicago.

"I thought the course had the potential to host an event like this," Tuohey said. "Normally, you have to build a portfolio before hosting an event like this. Our portfolio is building very fast. Certainly Nationwide coming on board is helping our effort. We've been working to host a state or collegiate conference championship. I didn't think it would happen so soon."

"We're very honored to have this event in Newton, Kansas," Newton mayor Willis Heck said. "Our hats are off to Chris, and all his hard work, to make this event possible."

The Greater Newton Community Foundation, until recently called the Newton Community and Healthcare Foundation, began in 1995. It has nearly $5 million in accumulated assets. It awarded grants to about 50 organizations in 2006, totaling $226,897.

 
Turner says the pro-am in Newton will attract players who can perform at the level of Zach Johnson, the 2007 Masters Champion.
 
 
"We're delighted to be the title sponsor for this event," Greater Newton Community Foundation executive director Dennis LeFevre said. "We feel like this will put Newton and the greater Harvey County community on the map in terms of visibility. The dollars that are generated from this event will stay in the community. This is a community event. We have hosted our own golf tournament for the past 12 years. When Chris came to us and asked if we would help with it, we were star-struck initially. We didn't actually know what the opportunity could be in terms of actual numbers, and the impact on the community."

Amateur entry includes Gold Sponsor Partners, who contribute $3,000 to enter a team of four players. Twelve have already entered, including First Bank, Regier Title, Central National Bank, Newton Medical Center, Stucky and Associates, Excel Industries, Midland National Bank, Hutton Construction, Sand Creek Station, The Newton Kansan, Citizens State Bank and T-Mobile.

Spots not taken by the partners will be open to the public at $350 per player, which includes greens fees and a cart, a $200 gift package, two meals and beverages and 18 holes of play with a Nationwide Tour player.

The day will start with an 8 a.m. junior clinic. The driving range opens at 10 a.m. Registration begins at 11 a.m., followed by lunch and a presentation by city officials and the title sponsor. Play begins with a 12:05 p.m. shotgun start.

The format will be one-person, best net ball of the foursome. The team may play from the pro's drive.

Hole sponsorship is still available. For information, call LeFevre at 283-5474 or Bill Regier at 283-2750.

Entry information is available at Sand Creek Station.

The Nationwide Tour is professional golf's "Class AAA" tour. Winners have the opportunity to advance to the main PGA Tour. There are 33 tournaments on the tour this season.

The Wichita Open has been played since 1990. This year, it will be Aug. 2 through 5 at the Crestview Country Club, north and east of Wichita. The tournament has been at Crestview since 2001. The tournament has a $500,000 purse with the winner receiving $90,000.

Kevin Johnson is the defending champion.

Friday, Wichita Open officials reached a two-year agreement with the Nationwide Tour. Tickets for the tournament go on sale June 1. Ticket information is available at www.wichitaopen.pgatour.com.