TEE TO GREEN  - AT&T CHAMPIONS CLASSIC

Weekly Update #5

VALENCIA COUNTRY CLUB, MARCH 10-16, 2008

February 18, 2008

COUNTDOWN – 3 WEEKS

SCOTT HOCH WINS IN FLORIDA – AGAIN!:  An 8-foot birdie putt on the last hole of regulation moved Scott Hoch into a four-way playoff to see who would prevail in The Ace Group Classic in Naples, Fla.  Tom Jenkins, Tom Kite and Brad Bryant then ventured out with Hoch for what would be a quick playoff, thanks to another 8-foot birdie by Hoch on the first extra hole, giving him two consecutive Champions Tour wins in as many weeks.  Hoch won the Allianz Championship the week before in Boca Raton, Fla.  The foursome was deadlocked after 54 holes at 14-under, with Kite and Bryant both shooting 65s on the final day to get into the mix.  Nick Price, who committed last week for the AT&T Champions Classic, was one shot back of the group at 13-under.  Jenkins, Kite and Bryant have committed to participate in this year’s event at Valencia Country Club.  Kite is a two-time winner of the event (2002 and 2006) at Valencia Country Club.  He owns nine Champions Tour victories and his second place finish over the weekend is the 16th time he has finished in the runner-up position.

UP NEXT ON THE CHAMPIONS TOUR:

It’s an early season Skins competition for eight of the greatest names in golf this week in Hawaii, while the remainder of the Champions Tour field gets some early rest or some time on the practice range.  The tour does not resume regular full-field play until March 7-9 when the group heads to Southern California for back-to-back events, the Toshiba Classic in Newport Beach, followed by the AT&T Champions Classic in the Santa Clarita Valley March 14-16.

Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson defend their title in the Wendy’s Champions Skins Game at Royal Kaanapali Golf Course in Lahaina, Hawaii.  The February 23-24 event also features the teams of Arnold Palmer and reigning Champions Tour Player of the Year Jay Haas; Gary Player and reigning Charles Schwab Cup points champion Loren Roberts; and Fuzzy Zoeller and Peter Jacobsen.  Haas, Roberts, Zoeller and Jacobsen have all committed to the AT&T Champions Classic.

THE CHALLENGE OF VALENCIA COUNTRY CLUB:  What is it that makes Valencia Country Club one of the most challenging on the Champions Tour?  It could be the yardage – just north of 6,900 yards.  It could be the tree-lined fairways and rough.  The easiest answer is – there isn’t an easy answer. Three of this year’s participants recently weighed in with their thoughts about what makes Valencia CC one of the most challenging - and certainly one of the best – courses they play.  Dave Stockton, one of the all-time great putters, said Valencia has “the toughest set of Par 3s” on the Champions Tour.  Two-time AT&T Champions Classic winner Tom Kite said “those greens are the tough part of that golf course.”  Loren Roberts, who lost in a four-hole playoff to last year’s winner Tom Purtzer, said Valencia has “great Par 4s.”  Roberts’ other comments centered on driving accuracy, so that players can get into position to get the ball on the green in regulation.  With that said, an early look at the Greens in Regulation percentage leaders on the Champions Tour are five players who are all heading to Valenciaa CC in a couple of weeks:  Brady Bryant, Jay Haas and Peter Jacobsen, each tied for first at 78.70 percent; followed by Andy Bean and John Cook at 77.78 percent. Last year’s AT&T Champions Classic winner Tom Purtzer led the tour in 2007 in Greens in Regulation with 76.24 percent over 87 rounds.

TOP-10s:  Heading into this extended break, Brad Bryant, Tom Kite and Loren Roberts lead the tour with three Top-10 finishes in four events so far this season.

TICKET SALES:

Tickets for this year’s 54-hole stroke play event are available for purchase online at www.attchampionsclassic.com.  Tickets, which start as low as $15, can be purchased  through one of the event’s Champions for Charity partners, including the Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital Foundation, Special Olympics Southern California/Santa Clarita Chapter, SCV Youth Project, Boys and Girls Club of Antelope Valley, Santa Clarita Valley Optimist Club, Los Angeles Junior Golf Foundation, Girl Scouts:  Joshua Tree Council and the following High School Golf Teams:  Canyon Girls Golf, Valencia Boys Golf, Hart Girls Golf, Chaminade Golf Team, West Ranch Golf Team, College of the Canyons Foundation and Total Golf Adventures.