Rodriguez To Head Field For Pro Classic Popular Senior Tour Fixture Will Be In Town For July 26-27 Event
Toby Steward officially concluded a four-year quest Monday afternoon by announcing that Senior PGA Tour star Chi Chi Rodriguez will headline this year’s fifth-annual Pro Classic golf event at The Creek at Qualchan Golf Course on July 26 and 27.
Steward, director of the Classic, which features the $10,000 Tidyman’s Shootout and benefits local charities, said he has been working for four years to land Rodriguez as the marquee player in his event.
“You want a show? We’re going to give you a show,” Steward said after announcing the appearance of Rodriguez and several other Senior Tour players at a press conference at Qualchan, which will host the event for the second year. “Chi Chi personifies everything we like about the Pro Classic. We’re very excited. Capital letters - F-U-N - it’s going to be a whole lot of fun this year.”
Rodriguez, 63, is considered one of golf’s greatest showmen and humanitarians. The Puerto Rico native, perhaps best known for the saber dance he does after holing a long putt, has won a combined $7,107,313 on the PGA and Senior PGA tours.
He won eight events, including the 1972 Byron Nelson Classic, on the regular tour and has captured 22 victories, including the 1987 PGA Seniors Championship, since joining the Senior Tour in 1985.
In addition, Rodriguez is the founder of the Clearwater, Fla.-based Chi Chi Rodriguez Youth Foundation, which is home to troubled and abused youngsters. He is a member of both the PGA World Golf Hall of Fame and World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame.
Rodriguez will be joined at this year’s Pro Classic by a field of between 16 and 20 fellow Senior Tour players. Among those who have committed to this year’s event are Hugh Baiocchi, Dave Eichelberger and Dana Quigley, who were all winners on the Senior Tour last season.
Steward also announced that Butch Baird, Don Bies, Bob Brue, Bob Goalby, Bob Rosburg and host professional Ken Still have agreed to participate. He said he hopes to announce the rest of the field in mid-April.
This year’s event will once again be limited to a gallery of 4,000, Steward said. Featured events on Sunday’s opening day of the Classic will include a junior championship, the Yamaha Invitational Pro-Am, the Washington Water Power Kid’s Clinic and the traditional trick-shot clinic by Brue.
The annual Pro-Am scramble and Tidyman’s Shootout will be held Monday, along with a clinic by Rodriguez.
Tickets are $20 and include entry to the grounds at Qualchan both days. They go on sale today at G&B Select-A-Seat ticket outlets and can be obtained by calling 325-SEAT or (800) 325-SEAT.
Unlike last year, a ticket will be needed to attend Sunday’s events, as well as Monday’s. Steward said there will no public parking available at the golf course, but STA shuttle buses will once again be used to transport ticket holders from the main parking area at the Latah Creek Tidyman’s to the golf course and back. , DataTimes