GOLFWEEK STAFFPoint O’Woods Golf & Country Club has hosted the Western Amateur for 38 years, but that tradition will end after this year’s championship, Western Golf Association vice president of tournaments John Kaczkowski said Monday.
The Western Am is considered by many to be the country’s second-most prestigious amateur tournament, behind only the U.S. Amateur.
The WGA’s five-year contract with Point O’Woods, located in Benton Harbor, Mich., expires following the 2008 tournament. The association is exploring the possibility of rotating the Western Am among a handful of Chicago-area clubs and Point O’Woods.
“ Our goal is to move it around to a select group of clubs that support the Western Golf Association and the Evans Scholarship Program,” Kaczkowski said, “and also feature quality, championship venues capable of challenging the world’s top amateur golfers.
“We’re looking forward to bringing the Western Amateur to the Chicago area for the first time since 1952.”
Point O’Woods first hosted the Western Amateur in 1963. The championship returned to Point O’Woods in 1965 and then was anchored at the club starting in 1971.
“Point O’Woods continues to enjoy its relationship with the Western Golf Association and the Western Amateur,” club president Mike Piraino said. “The club’s board feels that hosting the event on a rotating basis will benefit both the tournament and the Point. Local attendance at the event has declined in recent years. We’re hoping this new arrangement will result in higher attendance at each venue.”
Past Western winners at Point O’Woods include Tiger Woods (1994), Phil Mickelson (1991), Justin Leonard (1992-93), Chris DiMarco (1988), Scott Verplank (1985), Hal Sutton (1979, 1980), Curtis Strange (1974), Ben Crenshaw (1973), Andy North (1971) and Tom Weiskopf (1963). Central Florida freshman Jhared Hack (pictured) won the 2007 tournament to become the second-youngest champion in tournament history behind Woods.
Information from the Western Golf Association was used in this report.
Posted: 1/14/2008
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