Event has new name, date, host and venue The 2010 Prince George’s County Open was a chance to catch a rising star. Six of the golfers in the field advanced to the PGA Tour and won events in 2011, including major champion Keegan Bradley.
Washington-area golf fans will have the opportunity to see more up-and-comers next fall, when the tournament has a new name, date, host and venue.
| Neediest Kids Championship |
| When » Oct. 4-7 |
| Where » TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm |
| TV » Golf Channel |
Tuesday at TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm, organizers explained how the changes to the 5-year-old event came about. The Neediest Kids Championship will be played Oct. 4-7 at Avenel.
“It’s awesome — a lot of changes, but all good,” said Teo Sodeman, the tournament director since the Nationwide Tour established it in 2007. “Love the date. Host organization is incredibly excited and strong, and the golf course — what can you say about the TPC — it was built for a professional golf tournament.”
The reason for the date change was two-fold. With the AT&T National returning to nearby Congressional on June 28-July 1, after a two-year run in Philadelphia, organizers wanted some separation. The P.G. County Open was previously played the first week of June.
With the move to the fall, Sodeman also hopes to take advantage of changes in the Nationwide Tour that could bring more interest and prestige to the event.
Commissioner Bill Calfee said on Tuesday that in 2013 he expects to debut a season-ending, three-tournament series that will decide which players advance to the PGA Tour. The playoff would include those from the PGA in danger of losing their playing privileges.
The plan is in conjunction with a move to make December’s Q-School tournament a qualifier for the Nationwide Tour instead of the PGA. Currently, 25 players each year graduate to the PGA via the Nationwide and 25 more advance via Q-School. With the new plan, all 50 will come from the Nationwide.
“It makes a lot of sense,” Calfee said. “Over the years, graduates from the Nationwide Tour have had a greater chance for success on the PGA Tour than the players who come out of Q-School.”
With a successful first year at Avenel, the best-case scenario for the Neediest Kids Championship would be to slide into one of the final three slots on the schedule when the changes go into effect in 2013, Sodeman said.
The agreement with Avenel and Neediest Kids extends through 2014. Neediest Kids was started 40 years ago by former WJLA general manager Tom Cookerly to provide academic assistance to low-income students in the Washington area. The organization held an annual charity golf tournament for 24 years which was discontinued in 2011.
“It kind of ran its course,” Neediest Kids board chairman Todd Brickman said. “This came along and we said this is what we’ve been looking for. We have a history on the board of being golf-centric.”
Despite a move from the University of Maryland Golf Course, former Terrapins basketball coach Gary Williams will remain as tournament host.
“I’m having a good year so far. It’s January 10th and I’m still undefeated,” Williams joked. “I have been a chairman on the Nationwide Tour, and they keep inviting me back no matter how poorly I play.”
