GREENSBORO, N.C. – – Only one week remains until the first round of the 2005 Chrysler Classic of Greensboro. Below are some pre-tournament notes:
· Free Park and Ride from Downtown: For this year’s Chrysler Classic of Greensboro, free shuttle service on air-conditioned buses is available from downtown Greensboro. Chrysler Classic fans can park in the Bellemeade Parking Deck at the corner of Bellemeade and Elm Street. The pickup location will be in front of the Wachovia Tower on the Bellemeade side. This free shuttle service will begin departing downtown at 7:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 29 – Sunday, Oct. 2. The last bus will leave Forest Oaks for downtown 30 minutes after tournament play concludes.
· Parking at Forest Oaks Country Club: Parking lots are located around Forest Oaks Country Club for spectators and sponsors. The charge is $5 per vehicle, and all public parking is in the Blue Lot and the Green Lot. Shuttle service will run from the lots to the Chrysler Classic main entrance from 7:00 a.m. until one hour after the end of play each day. From Greensboro, take Highway 421 South and follow the signs for public parking.
· Items Prohibited at the Chrysler Classic: Cell phones, radios, TVs, signs, banners, coolers, chair bags, knapsacks, backpacks or any bags larger than six inches in length are prohibited. No alcoholic beverages may enter or leave the course. Cameras and video recorders are allowed Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday but are prohibited following Wednesday’s UPS Pro-Am. All items are subject to search prior to boarding any of the parking lot shuttles.
· Forest Oaks is Ready: PGA TOUR Tournament Director John Mutch is onsite at Forest Oaks Country Club for next week’s Chrysler Classic. He is definitely impressed with what he sees. Mutch says the Forest Oaks layout is in the “best shape he’s ever seen.”
· Latest Player Commitments: The latest players to commit to the Chrysler Classic include two former winners. Steve Elkington won in 1990 while Mark O’Meara took top honors in 1996. Tom Lehman, a contender for the win in 2004, is also returning to Forest Oaks Country Club. The field for the Chrysler Classic of Greensboro will not be officially set until tournament play begins on Thursday, Sept. 29, but players have until 5 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 23 to commit to the tournament. The official field, as of Friday at 5 p.m., will be available at www.pgatour.com
· Chrysler Classic Exemptions: The Chrysler Classic of Greensboro has four exemptions to fill. This year’s exemptions will go to Ryan Moore, Jay Delsing and Greensboro resident John McGinnes. The fourth exemption will be decided by Monday, Sept. 26.
· Gore Withdraws: Citing fatigue from a schedule that became increasingly hectic after receiving the “Battlefield Promotion” from the Nationwide Tour, Jason Gore has withdrawn from the Chrysler Classic of Greensboro. Gore won last week’s PGA TOUR event, the 84 Lumber Classic and is currently No. 81 on the PGA TOUR’s official money list.
· Father – Son Team: For the first time in the history of the Chrysler Classic of Greensboro, a father – son team is leading the Greensboro Jaycees effort for the tournament. Justin Conrad is the 2005 General Chairman of the Chrysler Classic. Justin’s father, Ken, is serving as this year’s honorary chairman. The elder Conrad is a 40-year volunteer for the Chrysler Classic. This year’s tournament marks his 41st Chrysler Classic of Greensboro in a volunteer role.
· A Caddy with a Whistle: A Caddy is a professional golfer’s closest ally during tournament play; a successful player –caddy relationship is vital to a PGA TOUR player’s success. One caddy in this year’s tournament will probably have a close eye on the rules. Steve Lucas is also an NCAA Men’s Basketball official. Lucas has officiated NCAA Divisions II and III and hoped to move up to Division I. However, his son-in-law, Sean O’Hair, needed a caddy for his first season on the PGA TOUR. Lucas made O’Hair’s TOUR career a priority and became his son-in-law’s caddy. O’Hair is 17th on this week’s official PGA TOUR Money List and is favored to garner rookie-of-the-year honors this season. He won the 2005 John Deere Classic in just his 18th career start shooting four rounds in the 60s and erasing a five-shot final-round deficit.
· SunCom treats kids to Golf: SunCom Wireless will host 40 kids from the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greensboro and High Point at the Chrysler Classic of Greensboro. As SunCom VIPs, the Boys and Girls Clubs kids will be treated to lunch and snacks in the SunCom VIP tent while watching golf legends on the thirteenth green. Every kid will receive a goody bag stuffed with items such as balls and notebooks. SunCom is a Chrysler Classic Tournament Partner through 2008.
· Tournament Tickets: Chrysler Classic of Greensboro tickets are available at all Triad-area Chrysler Locations, all Triad-area Harris Teeter locations, the tournament office at 401 North Greene Street or by calling (336) 379-1570.
