Buick And Walt Disney World Welcome 261 Teams To The 2002 Buick Scramble National Finals
COLDWATER - The Buick Scramble, now in its 19th season and first under the Buick banner, today announced that 261 teams from 43 states throughout the U.S will journey to Walt Disney World to compete for national championship honors at the 2002 Buick Scramble National Finals, Oct. 2-6.
"We are thrilled to be hosting our first national finals at Walt Disney World," said Larry Peck, golf marketing manager for Buick. "We hope the participants and their families leave Orlando with a lasting impression of their first Buick Scramble experience."
New York has the most teams competing in the National Finals with 20. Florida and Illinois each are advancing 17 teams. Only two teams (one in the gross division and one in the net division) will emerge as national champions after competing against the best amateur teams in the nation.
Each team in the 72-hole Buick Scramble National Finals will consist of one PGA Club Professional and four amateurs. The tournament will be played on six Orlando area golf courses, including four Walt Disney World Resort courses: Eagle Pines, Lake Buena Vista, Magnolia, and Palm. In addition, two off-property courses, Orange County National's Crooked Cat and Panther Lake, will serve as host courses for the 2002 National Finals.
The tournament will begin on Wednesday, Oct. 2, and conclude on Sunday, Oct. 6. Following the third round on Friday, Oct. 5, a cut will be made to the low 24 teams in each division for the final round on Sunday. Gross division teams advancing to the final round will play on Disney's Eagle Pines course, with the net division teams playing on Disney's Magnolia course. Teams failing to make the cut will be eligible to compete in the "Buick Putting Championship," an 18-hole team-putting competition with the opportunity to win a variety of prizes.
On Sunday, Oct. 6, Buick Touring Professional Tiger Woods is scheduled to appear at the Buick Scramble National Finals. As the tournament's honorary chairman, Woods will present the national championship trophies at the awards ceremony following the conclusion of the tournament.
In addition to outstanding golf, national finalists and their families will have the opportunity to visit each of Walt Disney World's attractions and attend exclusive Buick sponsored parties and events throughout tournament week. On Thursday, Oct. 3, all participants and eligible guests will be invited to the Buick Street Party at Disney's MGM Studios, and on Saturday, Oct. 6, Buick will host its Style Celebration Party at Disney's Contemporary Resort Convention Center.
The official Web site of the Buick Scramble, www.buickscramble.com , will provide up-to-date information and results on the participating teams throughout tournament week.
Golfers participating in the national finals began their journey earlier this summer by winning one of approximately 2,000 local championship tournaments offered nationwide, followed by taking the same honor at the one of 130 sectional championships with the addition of their respective PGA Professional.
Now in its 19th season and first under the Buick banner, the Buick Scramble is the world's largest amateur golf tournament, with more than 100,000 participants each year. Sanctioned by the PGA of America, the Buick Scramble hosted nearly 2,000 local championships in 2002, with 261 five-player teams competing for national championship honors and more than $285,000 in cash, gift certificates and prizes.
The official car of the PGA of America and the PGA Tour, Buick is title-sponsor of four PGA Tour events, presenting sponsor for the PGA Club Professional Championship and the Tampa Bay Classic PGA Tour event, and is official sponsor of the domestic events of the World Golf Championships. Buick has a marketing partnership with Tiger Woods and sponsorship agreements with golf instructor Butch Harmon and three other PGA Tour professionals. For additional information on the Buick Scramble National Finals, please visit www.buickscramble.com, or call the Buick Scramble hotline at 800-582-1908.