Local golf tourneys add to PGA charity record

The Price Cutter Charity Championship and Bass Pro Shops Legends of Golf at Big Cedar Lodge tournaments contributed to a PGA record for charitable giving last year.

In 2015, the PGA Tour and affiliated tournaments generated $160 million for charities, the first time it crossed the $150 million mark in a single year, according to a news release.

In December, the Price Cutter Charity Championship presented by Dr Pepper - a golf tournament held in August at Highland Springs Country Club on the PGA’s Web.com Tour - distributed $900,145 to 44 Ozarks children’s charities. The total was the second highest in the PCCC’s 26-year history.

Three Web.com events generated over $1 million last year, according to the release.

In January 2015, the Big Cedar tournament at Top of the Rock presented College of the Ozarks with $530,000 in awards. The Point Lookout school split a roughly $1 million pot with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

Since the first charitable contribution of $10,000 made by the 1938 Palm Beach Invitational, PGA events have raised $2.3 billion, according to the release.