Columnist Victoria Sun: World Golf League event gives amateurs a day in the spotlight

Victoria Sun

Wednesday, July 25, 2001 | 10:37 a.m.

Victoria Sun is a Las Vegas Sun sportswriter. Reach her at 259-4078 or by e-mail at victoria@lasvegassun.com.

If you're an amateur golfer, you will most likely never be able to experience what it's like to play in a PGA Tour or LPGA Tour event.

You can pay to get into a tournament as a spectator and follow around your favorite player along with hundreds or even thousands of others, but you won't be treated like a professional unless you shell out a few thousand dollars to participate in a pro-am.

Even then, the spotlight won't be on you.

For one weekend out of the year, the World Golf League changes that.

Now in its second year, the World Golf League is open to men and women of various USGA handicaps.

Members compete in a local one-day qualifier and the top 25 percent from each qualifier advance to a regional competition. Those who emerge from the regional get to participate in a 54-hole final competition being held Nov. 1-3 at Ocean Ridge Plantation in Sunset Beach, N.C., for a total purse of $1 million.

Golfers are divided into eight flights and the winner of each flight will pocket $45,000. The top 10 in each flight will win prize money.

But according to WGL CEO and founder Mike Pagnano, the possibility of taking home a cash prize is secondary.

"When they come to the event, they get treated the way a PGA Tour pro would be treated when he plays an event," Pagnano said. "The finalists will play three different golf courses. The golf courses are outstanding.

"We have a PGA Tour event company run the event. So you've got the big scoreboards, the starters, rules officials, gallery control and a press center. Then the Golf Channel comes out and interviews players."

The $95 it costs to join the WGL and participate in the local qualifier goes toward the prize money and amenities showered on the finalists.

When the league started it had 7,800 golfers competing in qualifying events in only Florida, New Jersey, southern Michigan and Texas for a purse of $200,000. This year the league expanded nationwide with an estimated 75,000 golfers.

The Las Vegas qualifier will be held Aug. 22 at the Tournament Players Club at the Canyons.

For those who can't make it to the qualifier, all they have to do is put together a foursome, alert the WGL and the person with the low net score will advance to the regional based on the 25 percent rule.

Las Vegans Sam Trenche, Frank Arko and Doug Grodesky are among the locals who have joined the World Golf League.

Pagnano thought of the idea based on the concept of his men's senior baseball league, which provides a baseball outlet for amateurs 30 and over. The baseball league features local tournaments, then regional tournaments culminated by a World Series in Phoenix played at an official spring training site.

"The market is 50,000 times greater in golf than in baseball," Pagnano said. "Adding prize money is the real value. Not only playing the national tournament under PGA Tour conditions, but playing for prize money."

Golfers forfeit their amateur status only if they make it to the finals. Even then, they can keep their amateur status if they choose not to accept the prize money.

Call the WGL at 243-7801 for information.