Fall Series begins with busy week at Turning Stone

text size

The Turning Stone Resort Championship, with its strongest field to date and a host of activities that will entertain the entire family, kicks off the PGA TOUR Fall Series this week at Atunyote Golf Club at Turning Stone Resort in Vernon, N.Y. Additionally, the Kodak Challenge race tightens as only five events remain in the first-of-its-kind competition for PGA TOUR players that offers $1 million to the winner.

The 2009 Turning Stone Resort Championship field is headlined by defending champion Dustin Johnson, who won his first PGA TOUR event last year at Turning Stone. In February, he won his second event at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, joining Anthony Kim as the only players under 25 with two PGA TOUR victories. On the season, Johnson finished 14th in the final FedExCup standings, highlighted by his first-ever start in THE TOUR Championship.

Two players that will compete for the International Team in The Presidents Cup next week are in the field, six-time PGA TOUR winner Adam Scott and fellow Australian Robert Allenby, who finished runner-up to Johnson at the 2008 Turning Stone Resort Championship. Scott has played in three previous Presidents Cup competitions while Allenby is a veteran of four Presidents Cups. Davis Love III, winner of 20 PGA TOUR events, looks to win his second Fall Series event in as many years, having captured the 2008 Children's Miracle Network Classic.

Joining Johnson, Scott, Allenby and Love III in the Turning Stone Resort Championship field are five players with TOUR wins in 2009 -- Nathan Green (RBC Canadian Open), Ryan Moore (Wyndham Championship), John Rollins (Legends Reno-Tahoe Open), Rory Sabbatini (HP Byron Nelson Championship) and Mark Wilson (Mayakoba Golf Classic).

The first of four rounds begins on Thursday, Oct. 1.

The Kodak Challenge is gearing up for its climactic finish with over 30 players within four strokes of one another. With just five events remaining in the 30-tournament series, the competition that celebrates beautiful holes and memorable moments on the PGA TOUR continues with the 230-yard, par-3 11th hole as the featured hole at Atunyote Golf Club this week.

Players must play at least 18 of the 30 Kodak Challenge holes throughout the season to compete for $1 million and the Kodak Challenge title. A player's lowest score relative to par on his best 18 Kodak Challenge holes will be counted. Through 25 events, Kevin Streelman leads the Kodak Challenge at 13-under by one stroke over J.J. Henry. Seven players are tied at 11-under.

There is a host of events that will take during tournament week, including a "Pink Out" on Oct. 1 to kick off National Breast Cancer Awareness month, as the Carol M. Baldwin Breast Cancer Research Fund of Central New York is one of the primary tournament charity beneficiaries. Breast cancer survivors will be admitted free on Thursday, with 18 survivors serving as honorary hole captains for the day. Players, fans and officials are encouraged to wear pink during the first round to bring awareness to the cause.

In conjunction with the Turning Stone Resort Championship, country music artist Trace Adkins will perform a concert at the Event Center at 8 p.m. on Oct. 1 with special guest, Julianne Hough. Adkins, who has three No. 1 hits in America, will also play in the Wednesday pro-am with actor, Stephen Baldwin and Syracuse men's basketball coach Jim Boeheim. Adkins and Baldwin appeared together in last season's "Celebrity Apprentice" television show.

A unique Fall Series "Smile & Win" spotter promotion will award instant prizes to fans wearing Kodak lanyards throughout the course at Turning Stone Championship. The free lanyards can be picked up at the Kodak Fan Photo Zone on No. 13 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day of the tournament. Winners will be randomly spotted throughout the tournament. A variety of instant prizes will include Kodak Zi8 Pocket Video Cameras, Turning Stone Resort merchandise and one lucky grand prize winner will receive a $1,000 Frys.com gift card. Frys.com is the title sponsor of the third event in the PGA TOUR Fall Series, the Frys.com Open, Oct. 19-25. The Kodak Photo Zone also gives fans the opportunity to pose for and receive a free souvenir photo.

With nearby Syracuse University hosting the Orange's annual Homecoming football game on Saturday, Oct. 3, the Turning Stone Resort Championship is encouraging fans to wear orange in support of the school, and the game will be shown on-site via the tournament jumbotron.