Wednesday, April 30, 2003 | 9:48 a.m.
Peter Benton's golf column appears Wednesday.
The American Amateur Golf Tour, now beginning its 18th season, is the oldest and largest amateur tour, playing in six different regions in more than 40 cities across the country. This year they will debut a full season of events in Las Vegas.
Sponsored by Nike Golf, the AAGT is the tour for every amateur, regardless of age or skill level. There are 10 different flights. Each city hosts a season consisting of 12 to 15 tournaments. Competing players are eligible to earn gift certificates, golf equipment and golf vacations along with Order of Merit points based on their finish in each event.
These accumulated points can ultimately earn the player a spot on their local match play team plus advancement to a 36-hole regional qualifying. From this qualifying event, players then qualify for the 54-hole national team championship where a national champion will be crowned in each of the 10 flights.
The flight champions, along with two captains, will then represent the American Amateur Tour against an International team in Ireland. This event will be a match play tournament over some of the best layouts in Ireland and will be completely funded by the AAGT.
Interested golfers can obtain further information by calling Fred Gallegos at 641-8419 or by visiting www.aagolftour.com
Irwin, 57, has played in 33 Opens and won the championship in 1974, 1979 and 1990. Watson, 53, competed in 29 consecutive U.S. Open championships, the last being in 2000 at Pebble Beach, the site of his historic 1982 victory, which was punctuated by his spectacular chip-in on the par-3 17th hole on the final day for a two-stroke cushion over Jack Nicklaus.
Kite, 53, has played in 31 U.S. Open championships and also won his at Pebble Beach. In 1992 his chip-in at the par-3 seventh hole on the final day propelled him to a 2-stroke win over Jeff Sluman.
This 36-hole stroke play event has an entry fee of $125 per person and is limited to the first 100 entries received.
Women of at least 50 years of age as of May 20 with a verifiable USGA handicap issued by the SNGA are eligible to compete, and although there is no handicap index limit, the maximum stroke handicap will be 36.
Players will be flighted by age and first-place gross and net may come from any flight.
For information, call Dianne Jett at 255-2286.
archive
