Nationwide Children's Hospital Invitational

PRESS RELEASE
Columbus, Ohio - July 23, 2009 -

Military Appreciation Day-Jr Clinic
The Nationwide Children's Hospital Invitational announced today its dedication to Ohio's military members by designating Thursday, July 30th as Military Appreciation Day. In recognition of Military Families Month and in cooperation with all branches of Ohio's military, the Nationwide Children's Hospital Invitational will recognize both active and retired service members that provide a valid United States military ID (including immediate family members) with free admission to the tournament as well as access to an exclusive viewing deck located on the 13th hole. Gates open at 7:00 AM for this special day honoring the men and women of the United States Armed Forces.

In related news, Friday, July 31 the Tournament will host a free Junior Clinic open to kids of all ages and skill levels on the Ohio State University Golf Club Driving Range from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM. The clinic will feature appearances by Brutus Buckeye and Stinger along with both local teaching professionals and Nationwide Tour Professionals. The pros will provide personalized instruction to all junior participants. Free give-aways will be given to the first 500 kids in attendance, including Jeni's Ice Cream, seat cushions, tee shirts and more.

Additionally, the Nationwide Tour Wives Association (NTWA) is partnering with the Nationwide Children's Hospital Invitational to "Fill the Cart with Fun!" The NTWA is inviting Tournament attendees to team up to help fill golf carts with toys that will benefit the patients of the Pediatric Cancer Unit at Nationwide Children's Hospital. Donations will be accepted Tournament week, July 27-August 2. Needed items include: New DVDs, coloring books, hand-held game systems, Xbox 360 games, Wii games, Playstation II games, board games, books, LEGOs, Barbie Dolls, Playdough, and craft kits.  DVD and electronic games are especially needed for our teen aged patients.

Other events of note at the 2009 tournament include two Pro-Am's, the Safelite AutoGlass Celebrity Pro-Am on Monday, featuring Ohio State University and community celebrities, and the Official Tournament Pro-Am presented by The Wall Street Journal played on Wednesday, July 29, 2009. Birdie Time Tastes Great returns to the 13th hole this year where all day Thursday through Sunday Miller Light beer specials are available for 15 minutes every time a birdie is scored. The Buckeye Championship Tour will be onsite Friday from 1:00 PM to 7:00 PM featuring: four inflatable interactive sports games - football, basketball, baseball and lacrosse; free photo opportunities with Brutus Buckeye; a Register-to-win prize station; and a Buckeye Kids Club membership station. Jeni's Ice Cream will return on Saturday, August 1st, to give away free ice cream from 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM next to the 18th green. Also next to the 18th green Chris Cakes will offer a free pancake breakfast on Sunday from 9:00 AM to noon. Try your luck catching pancakes flipped from distances up to 30 feet.

In addition, Thursday - Sunday the tournament will host the Nationwide Children's Hospital Putting Challenge presented by Carrabba's Italian Grill. The contest will be conducted on the putting green located next to the main entrance gate. The cost will be $2.00 for one putt or $5.00 for three putts with one winner each day receiving free golf balls for a year. Germain Lexus of Dublin will supply a three-year lease of a Lexus for the grand prize, which will be determined by a putt-off of the four daily winners on Sunday, August 2nd at 2:30 PM.

 The third annual Nationwide Children's Hospital Invitational will feature a purse of $775,000, the third largest on the Nationwide Tour. The Golf Channel will broadcast 9 1/2 hours of coverage from Thursday's opening round to the trophy presentation on Sunday. The Invitational will be played July 27 - August 2 at The Ohio State University Golf Club - Scarlet Course, rated as the top collegiate golf course in the country by Golf Digest.  The tournament integrates the top professionals on the Nationwide Tour with the top players from the collegiate ranks to create a unique field of 144 of the best up and coming players in the United States.

For questions concerning ticket prices and availability, how to become a volunteer, and general Tournament information please call (614) 764-GOLF or visit www.nchigolf.com.

2009 Nationwide Children's Hospital Invitational Schedule of Events

Monday, July 27 Safelite AutoGlass Celebrity Pro-Am 1:00pm Shotgun
 Scarlet Course

Practice Rounds All Day

Tuesday, July 28 Practice Rounds All Day
Amateur Instructional Challenge
 Columbus Country Club 10:00am

 
 
Wednesday, July 29 Official Pro-Am Tournament (Scarlet course) Morning Tee Times from 7:00am
 presented by The Wall Street Journal Afternoon Tee Times from 12:15am

Practice Rounds All Day

Thursday, July 30 First Round Official Tournament Competition First Tee Time 7:00am

First Shot to Fight Cancer                         6:50am

Military Appreciation Day - Free Admission for all active and retired service
 members with a valid U.S. military ID (includes
 immediate family members).

Ohio State University Day - Free Admission for all Ohio State University  faculty, staff and students with a valid BUCK-I-D.
 
 
Friday, July 31 Second Round Official Tournament Competition

Junior Golf Clinic, OSU Golf Club 5:00pm

Upper Arlington Civic Association Day
Saturday, August 1 Third Round Official Tournament Competition

Jeni's Ice Creams Day (free ice cream) 12:00pm-5:00pm

Nationwide Children's Hospital Day
Sunday, August 2 Fourth Round Official Tournament Competition                                                                                Awards Ceremony Following Play of Final Round

Free Pancake Breakfast presented by Chris Cakes 9:00am-12:00pm

Nationwide Day - Free Admission for all associates and agents (includes  immediate family members) with a valid Nationwide ID or
 business card.
*All times subject to change

2009 Nationwide Children's Hospital Invitational Television Schedule

Date Network Times Show Description
Thursday, July 30 Golf Channel 6:30 - 8:30 P.M. First Round Coverage
      
Friday, July 31 Golf Channel 6:30 - 8:30 P.M. Second Round Coverage
      
Saturday, August 1 Golf Channel 6:30 - 9:30 P.M. Third Round Coverage
      
Sunday, August 2 Golf Channel 7:00 - 9:30 P.M. Final Round Coverage

ABOUT THE NATIONWIDE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL INVITATIONAL

The Nationwide Children's Hospital Invitational is owned and operated by Champions of the Community, Inc., an Ohio non-profit corporation. The event is the only tournament on the Nationwide Tour to operate as an "invitational", providing a unique platform in which the best players on the Nationwide Tour will be joined by a select number of the country's top collegian/amateur golfers in a limited field of 144 players. Featuring a purse of $775,000 the tournament is conducted to showcase the best golf on the Nationwide Tour on one of the most challenging venues in the world for the enjoyment of spectators and to benefit charitable organizations in central Ohio. For more information, call 614-764-GOLF or visit our website at www.nchigolf.com.

ABOUT NATIONWIDE

Nationwide, based in Columbus, Ohio, is one of the largest and strongest diversified insurance and financial services organizations in the U.S. and is rated A+ by A.M. Best. The company provides a full range of personalized insurance and financial services, including auto insurance, motorcycle, boat, homeowners, life insurance, farm, commercial insurance, administrative services, annuities, mortgages, mutual funds, pensions, long-term savings plans and health and productivity services. For more information, visit www.nationwide.com.
Nationwide, the Nationwide Framemark and On Your Side are service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company.

ABOUT THE NATIONWIDE TOUR

Founded (1990), owned and operated by the PGA TOUR, the Nationwide Tour identifies those players who are ready to compete and win on golf's biggest stage.  As the "official proving ground" of the PGA TOUR, two out of three PGA TOUR members are Nationwide Tour alumni.  As of July 20th, Tour alumni have won 252 PGA TOUR titles, including 13 majors and three PLAYERS Championships.  Twenty-five PGA TOUR cards and total prize money of $18.5 million will be at stake over the course of 29 events in 2009.  Recognizing the Tour's growing stature, Nationwide Insurance has renewed its umbrella sponsorship of the Nationwide Tour through 2012.  The PGA TOUR, through the efforts of its three tours and their tournaments, sponsors, players and volunteers, supports over 2,000 local charities and has surpassed $1.3 billion in charitable giving.  To learn more about the PGA TOUR and Nationwide Tour and to follow the season-long quest for a PGA TOUR card, visit PGATOUR.COM.

ABOUT THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS DEPARTMENT

The Ohio State University Department of Athletics is completely self supporting and receives no university monies, tax dollars or student fees. The Department of Athletics sponsors 36 fully funded varsity teams - 17 for women, 16 for men and three that are co-educational - and is committed to providing the very finest in academic and athletics support in an effort to provide its more than 1,000 student-athletes with a quality, life-changing experience at Ohio State.  

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