Tourney officials hope for perfect '10' event

by Bryan Smith

SBJ Staff

Nike Ozarks Open officials are hoping this year's tournament will be a perfect "10."

And from the looks of things, they say, the tourney is on its way.

"You can just tell it's going to be the best one," said Bonnie Keller, public relations coordinator for the tournament. "Everyone is calmly prepared. They're ready."

This year's crop of future stars will drive for show and putt for dough at the 10th annual Nike Ozarks Open Aug. 9-15. The tournament will again be held at Highland Springs.

This year's theme is "Making the Turn," which symbolizes a golfer reaching the 10th hole, beginning the second half, of 18 holes of play.

The theme also represents 10 years of successful professional golf in the Springfield area.

The Ozarks Open, the 22nd stop on the Nike Tour, ranks higher in attendance, volunteers and charity donations than the majority of the tour's 30 events.

"When you look at the items the PGA considers, there's no doubt we're one of the premier events on the tour," said Jerald Andrews, executive director of the Ozarks Open.

Tourney officials hope to build on that success with several new additions to the tournament this year.

The tournament has four new charities this year, bringing the total to 10 recipients.

The Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Ozarks, Children's Miracle Network and the Citizens Memorial Healthcare Foundation are the new charities.

In addition, there are several new events coming to the Ozarks Open. Two new pro ams have been added, as has a women's clinic and two more parties.

The Computer Renaissance Competitive Junior Pro Am is scheduled for 3 p.m. Aug. 9 at Hickory Hills Country Club.

Also, the Citizens Memorial Healthcare Foundation will hold its first pro am at 9:30 a.m. Aug. 14 at Silo Ridge Country Club in Bolivar. Nike Tour players who do not make the cut in the Ozarks Open will participate in this tournament.

The pro ams are two of six that will take place during the week.

The week's events will also feature a new women's clinic, which is sponsored by Cruise and Travel Connection. The event will be held at 11 a.m. Aug. 9 at Highland Springs.

Debbie Williams, wife of Branson performer Andy Williams, will take part in the event, which includes an hour of practice, a luncheon and a session on traveling to various golf destinations.

After the success of a 19th Hole party last year, the week will feature two more. The parties are sponsored by several area restaurants. The evenings will also feature local bands, including Chump Change, The Cate Brothers and M-Dock.

The 1999 tourney will also feature six electronic scoreboards that will show immediate scoring updates and tournament information.

For the third year, skyboxes will be a part of the tournament. This year, the size of the boxes will double, with 400 seats available for spectators.

Keller said tournament officials have patterned the Ozarks Open after PGA Tour events. The success of the local tourney has captured the attention of other Nike Tour events.

"If people only knew how many people come from other tournaments to see how things are done here," Keller said. "I think we've been cutting-edge in how we've done things."

The success of the tournament has also come from the sponsors of the tournament. Keller credits sponsors with bringing the tournament to Springfield in the first place.

"Without the sponsors this wouldn't have happened," Keller said. "There's no question about that."

This year's tournament has several new sponsors, including a new presenting sponsor. Ramey/Price Cutter made a multi-year commitment to the tourney as the presenting sponsor, filling the hole left by Consumers Food & Drug.

"It's difficult to run one of these without a presenting sponsor," Andrews said. "Their fingerprints are going to be all over this event."

Besides attracting new sponsors, Andrews said, the tournament is very good at keeping sponsors involved with the event for a long period of time.

"We do have great success with businesses staying involved," Andrews said. "That says to other businesses that they should get involved."

Also getting involved in this year's tournament are two area residents who will serve as the tourney's sponsors exemptions.

This year's exemptions are Ryan Wilson of Branson and Dan Boever of Springfield.

Wilson won the Missouri State Golf Finals in 1992, was named All-Conference Player at Missouri Southern State College in 1993 and received Missouri Valley All-Conference in 1995 while attending Southwest Missouri State University. He declared professional status in 1997 and has since played on the Prairie Golf Tour, Lone Star tour and the NGA Hooters Tour.

Boever is a long-drive champion with 11 recorded drives in excess of 400 yards. His accomplishments include a 425-yard drive, the third longest drive in the history of the National Long-Drive Competition finals, and a 473-yard drive in Denver that ranked among the longest in the history of golf. He also played professional baseball for three different teams during the 1980s.

Keller said it's easy to see why the area has become so involved with the Ozarks Open.

"I think people who don't even know what a birdie is know this is a big deal," Keller said.