PGA Champions Tour Announcement Met with Excitement

Excitement filled the TPC Sugarloaf clubhouse Tuesday when local leaders talked about the PGA Champions Tour coming to Gwinnett, with a four-year run beginning next April.

Everyone who spoke was excited about the return of championship golf to Gwinnett County and TPC Sugarloaf. Its departure had left “a huge void,” said Stan Hall, executive director of the Gwinnett Sports Commission.

“We’re so excited to have the PGA Tour back in Gwinnett and back at the beautiful TPC Sugarloaf course,” Gwinnett Sports Commission Executive Director Stan Hall said during a press conference. “I believe the event will serve as an important injection to our economy."

“I can’t tell you how excited we are about this,” Gwinnett Commission Chair Charlotte Nash added.

The excitement surrounded the announcement that the Greater Gwinnett Championship will be a Champions Tour event at Sugarloaf through 2016. The first tournament is scheduled April 15-21, 2013.

It will be one of 24 Champions Tour events in 2013 and 26 the following year.

The Gwinnett Sports Commission will operate the 54-hole stroke play tournament with 81 Champions Tour professionals competing for a $1.8-million purse. The Champions Tour is for golfers over 50.

Read more about the tournament at Duluth Patch.