$450,000 purse at stake in Buy.Com Ozarks Open 2001

The event is the 12th Annual Buy.Com Ozarks Open. The purse is $450,000. Needless to say, the field for this year's match will draw some outstanding professional players, including local golfers Cory Bowman of Springfield, Terrence Lujin of Versailles and Stan Utley of West Plains.

For the third straight year, Highland Springs Country Club will host the Buy.Com.

The actual competition will be held July 26-29, and will feature 72 holes of tournament play. Other events in conjunction with the tournament start June 26 with the Sponsor's Exemption Qual-ifier, followed by the Ozarks Medical Center Pro-Am at the West Plains Country Club.

The Ozarks Open is the 17th on the 28-stop Buy.Com Tour, which showcases many up-and-coming golfers as well as several PGA Tour veterans who are looking to hone their skills for the Senior PGA Tour.

Defending champion

Pat Perez is this year's defending champion. Last year, Perez won the Ozarks Open in a sudden-death playoff against Pat Bates and Mike Heinenby. Perez' winning score was 270, his winner's share of the purse, $76,500.

Perez, who has an all-round ranking of 11th this year, will face some stiff competition from Jonathan Byrd, Richard Zokol, Mike Heinen, Deane Pappas, Jim Benepe, Chad Campbell and Heath Slocum.

Those attending the Ozarks Open should have no trouble viewing these players during the tournament. Noted golf architect Robert Trent Jones Jr. designed Highland Springs Country Club as a stadium course, which allows spectators to get a bird's-eye view of the action.

Indeed, a bird's-eye view may prove to be critical again this year. During the first 11 years of the Buy.Com event there have been six playoffs, two of which occurred during the past two years.

Ticket sources

Tickets for the Buy.Com Ozarks Open are available at area Ramey/PriceCutter Supermarkets, sponsors of the event, as well as at area McDonald's Restaurants, Alltel retail outlets, Ticketmaster and the Ozarks Open office. Prices range from $10 for a single-day grounds-only ticket to $250 for a sky box badge. Special ticket packages also are available.

Those who would rather watch the tournament on TV can see it live on The Golf Channel.