Nationwide Tour announces new event in Kansas City

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Kansas City, Mo. -- The Nationwide Tour and Christmas In October announced on Tuesday that a new Nationwide Tour event will be played in the greater Kansas City area beginning in 2009.

The "Christmas In October Classic" will be played August 17-23 at the Nicklaus Golf Club at LionsGate in Overland Park, Kan., with a purse of $625,000 and first prize of $112,500.

Christmas In October will be the beneficiary of the tournament. Christmas In October is a Kansas City-based organization that "rebuilds houses, lives and neighborhoods in greater Kansas City" with the help of thousands of volunteers from various Kansas City-area organizations. Christmas In October was founded in 1984 by Dick Miller and John McMeel when they worked on 20 houses. Currently the organization is working on 400 houses. It is one of the largest volunteer programs of its kind in the United States and benefits the elderly, disabled and homeowners with young children who lack the skill and resources to make necessary household repairs.

The Nationwide Tour and Christmas In October have entered into a three-year agreement.

"We are asking the Kansas City-area business community to assist Christmas In October in restoring the homes of the elderly, handicapped and financially disadvantaged through our tournament sponsorship of this Nationwide Tour event," said Christmas In October co-founder John McMeel. "As a 501(c)(3), Christmas In October provides a great opportunity for businesses to contribute to the community in a very direct and positive way. The money will be used to repair homes, schools, churches, public service buildings, day care centers and neighborhood recreation centers. The golf tournament will provide sponsors with a number of marketing and entertainment platforms to successfully retain business relationships and develop new opportunities and customers."

"The PGA TOUR couldn't be more pleased to partner with Christmas In October to bring the Nationwide Tour to Kansas City," said Nationwide Tour president Bill Calfee. "When we come to a new market like Kansas City, most fans are surprised to learn that two out of every three PGA TOUR players are Nationwide Tour alumni and that they have amassed more than 230 TOUR wins and 11 major championships. Kansas City's own and 2007 graduate Michael Letzig is a great example of the Nationwide Tour's position as the official proving ground of the PGA TOUR and the impact the Tour has. By August the week-to-week pressure cooker to earn one of the 25 coveted PGA TOUR cards for 2010 will be reaching a critical phase. Golf fans of Kansas City will get to see the next round of PGA TOUR stars up close and personal in a much heightened competitive environment. We invite them to mark their calendars for not only a great week of golf at the Nicklaus Golf Club at LionsGate but a series of fun events for the entire community that will benefit a unique and wonderful organization in Christmas In October."

"This is wonderful news that the Nationwide Tour is coming to Kansas City," said Kansas City native and World Golf Hall of Fame member Tom Watson. "Over the years I've seen how the Nationwide Tour has grown. It now has a very strong impact on the PGA TOUR with a number of its players going on to stardom on the PGA TOUR. Michael Letzig, who is from our area and graduated from the Nationwide Tour last year, is off to a very solid start on TOUR this year. The level of play I see out of Nationwide Tour players is certainly impressive. I have no doubt they will enjoy LionsGate and the many challenges Jack's course presents. I encourage golf fans of Kansas City to head out there next August to see how really good this next generation of players is."

Letzig, a native and resident of nearby Richmond, Mo., finished 12th on the Nationwide Tour money list last year to earn his 2009 PGA TOUR. Letzig is enjoying a very good rookie campaign on the PGA TOUR. The 28-year-old former Missouri Amateur champion (28) has earned $851,385 and has four top-10 finishes in 24 starts.

The Nationwide Tour visited the Kansas City area once before. In 1990, the Tour's first season, Trevor Dodds defeated Jeff Maggert, Eric Manning and Dennis Trixler by one shot in the Deer Creek Open at Deer Creek Golf Club in Overland Park, Kan.

"I am happy to hear that the Nationwide Tour is coming to Kansas City," said former Kansas City resident and 1998 Nationwide Tour graduate Woody Austin. "I lived in Kansas City for six years and have lived in the Midwest for over 20 years. Personally, I don't think there's a better place to play golf than in the Midwest. The people are great and the golf is fantastic. Kansas City is a great city and they really support their golf. The fact that the Nationwide Tour is bringing an event to town is great for the Tour and great for the city."

The Nicklaus Golf Club at LionsGate previously hosted the Champions Tour in 2005 and '06. Both events were won by Dana Quigley. The 2005 event featured Jack Nicklaus' last start in an official Tour co-sponsored event.