Pro PGA Golfers Participate in Pro-Am Series at Ballyowen

Hardyston n National attention was drawn to New Jersey as the PGA Championship was contested at the historic Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield. Two PGA professionals entered in the championship extended their visit to Hardyston to participate in what the PGA Web site describes as "The Saturday Series Pro-Am, a PGA Tour official event pairing amateur participants with PGA Tour professionals who miss the cut in that week's PGA Tour event." The site description continues: "Each 18-hole event is made up of teams that include two PGA Tour players with four amateur partners in a "total net birdies" point format. The Saturday Series, which has been part of the Tour for eight years, has gained a reputation with the pros for being fun and relaxing, and the pros are always willing to share their knowledge of the game with the amateurs in their groups. Each Tour pro plays nine holes with one group, and then nine with another, so each amateur plays with two different Tour pros." This year's participants at Ballyowen qualified by participating in the Crystal Springs Golf Resort League and Rewards Program. Early Saturday morning found eight local golfers on the practice range at Ballyowen hitting golf balls into the early morning mist. They would shortly be introduced to the two PGA Tour Professionals selected to play in the day's event, 64th-ranked Mark Brooks, who tied for 10th in the EDS Byron Nelson Championship, and newcomer Dave Tentis. Proceeds from the Saturday Series Pro-Am benefit charities throughout North America. Hallberg Golf Productions, which owns the Saturday Series Pro-Am, has committed 25 percent of its profits to The First Tee, which is dedicated to making golf more accessible to children of all economic backgrounds. The Saturday Pro-AM was created by PGA Tour veteran Gary Hallberg and has fast become a favorite of amateurs for several reasons. The tournament field is limited to a maximum of 88 amateurs and 22 PGA Tour pros to create a more intimate atmosphere and increase pace-of-play. PGA Tour players are involved in all of the day's activities. Saturday's event was contested between the Red Team made up of local golfers Ted Brennan, Joseph Abraham, Brian and Thomas Randall and the Blue Team Jeff Stack, Roy Stanley, Hany Farag and Glen Petkos. The Red Team emerged as the winner, collecting prizes and a trip to Las Vegas to compete in the National PGA Tour Saturday Pro-Am Series Championship to be held later this year. Saturday's PGA Tour Pro-Am Series at Ballyowen was photographed by Golf Event Photos. The photographs of the event can be viewed by visiting the Golf Event Photos web site at golfeventphotos.com. Article and photos submitted by John T. Whiting