U.S. Team Named For World Golfers Championship
Representing your country in any international competition is usually
reserved for the elite from any sport, like the golf professionals playing
in the Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor in Wales Oct. 1-3, but five amateurs from
the United States will get this once-in-a-lifetime experience when they
travel to Thailand for the World Golfers Championship.
Earning that honor by winning their respective flights in the U.S. finals at
the Wigwam Resort Red and Gold Courses in Litchfield Park, AZ were Paul
Goering of Dallas, TX, Bill Nitcholas of Carrollton, TX, Bil Criteser of El
Mirage, AZ, Shauna Federico of Wellington, FL and Stuart Cunningham of Singer Island, FL.
Goering, who carries a +2 handicap at Castle Hills Golf Club in Carrollton,
TX, posted a pair of two-under-par 70s for net 72s to claim the 0-5 flight
by a comfortable five strokes over Ray Madrid of Sun City, AZ. Mark Pirtle
of El Cajon, CA followed at 151 and earned an exemption to the 2011 U.S.
finals along with the other second and third finishers.
Nitcholas, the golf coach at Irving MacArthur High School, posted net
68-70-138 to cruise to a comfortable margin in the 6-10 flight as nearest
rivals Chris Borkowski of Sun City, AZ and Wayne McCollum of Palm Springs,
CA finished at 147 and 148, respectively. Parker Smith of Sun City, AZ, the
6-10 representative in Spain last year, had to withdraw during the final
round after opening with a 72.
Criteser, who switches to southpaw on the greens, proved the most steady
player in the 11-15 flight with 69-73-142, finishing two strokes in front of
James Adams of Vero Beach, FL and five ahead of Doug Bisson of Rowlett, TX.
Federico, a member of the Executive Women's Golf Association, breezed to a
five-stroke margin over defending champion Tony Ott of West Palm Beach, FL in the 16-20 flight with net 68-65-133. Gray Hagen of Grand Prairie, TX placed third at 144.
Cunningham, a member of the President Country Club in West Palm Beach, FL, overcame a five-stroke deficit to win the 21-25 flight with 71-73-144, a
stroke ahead of 18-hole leader Richard Waldie of Penbrook Pines, FL. Frank
McInerny, a member of the 2009 U.S. team from Yonkers, NY, placed third at
73-75-148.
The five amateurs will join competitors from 36 other countries, including Australia for the first time, in a 72-hole competition Nov. 3-6 at the
Banyon Golf Club, the Black Mountain Golf Club, the Palm Hills Golf Club and
the Springfield Royal Country Club in the resort area of Hua-Him about two
hours from Bangkok. The low four scores will be counted each day to
determine a team score and each of the players will compete for individual
honors within flights. Indonesia is the defending champion. Go to www.worldgolfers.com for additional information.
In addition to expenses to Thailand, allowed by the United States Golf
Association under an exception to the rules of amateur status, each player
will receive golf bags from LT Golf in Kerrville, TX, umbrellas from Gustbuster in Farmington, NY and sunglasses from Sundog Eyewear in Calagary, Alberta, Canada. Zoom Boom of Colleyville, TX will also provide its training
aid for the team.
Anders Bengtson, the captain of the U.S. team from West Palm Beach, FL,
likened the World Golfers Championship to a true Olympics of golf. "It's
where amateurs compete on equal terms just the way Pierre de Coubertain
visioned when he created the Olympics," Bengtson said.
Realizing that golf was becoming a global sport, International Hockey Hall
of Fame member Sven Tumba of Sweden organized the World Golfers Championship
16 years ago as an invitational event to give amateurs of all skill levels a
taste of an international competition and then turned it into a separate
team concept later. In addition to top resorts in the U.S. like PGA
National, Mission Inn and Doral, the competition has been held previously in
the Dominican Republic, Malaysia, South Africa and Thailand.
Players in the U.S. who would like to have a chance to advance to the 2011
World Golfers Championship in South Africa should contact Bengtson at www.worldgolfersusa.com or 561 313 9083 to discuss having a qualifying event
at their clubs starting in January. "We will announce a site for the 2011
U.S. finals after returning from Thailand," Bengtson noted. "Anybody, male
or female, with a handicap of 25 or better can participate"
September 9
Arrivals (check-in) 3-6pm
Cocktail Party 6-7pm
September 10:
Golf - 9am
Dinner- 7pm
September 11
Golf - 9am
Awards dinner - 7pm
with the introduction of TEAM USA for 2010!
September 12
Departures (check-out).
Course Descriptions
Gold Course - Arizona's Monster The Wigwam was given new life in the 1960's by Robert Trent Jones. Sr., America's most famous golf course architect. At more than 7,400 yards and par 72, the Gold Course anchors The Wigwam golf trio. The Gold Course, a long and winding layout, was Jones' West Coast version of the relentless South Course at Firestone.
Red Course - A Solid Test The Red Course was created by Robert "Red" Lawrence, the famed golf course architect responsible for Arizona's first desert golf course. Red is also credited with being involved with the designs of the Merion, Homestead, Westchester, and Desert Forest Golf Clubs. To this day, his work at The Wigwam perfectly complements Jones' Gold and Blue courses. With a length between its two siblings and par 72, The Red plays alongside streams and ponds set among a forest of pines, cypress and eucalyptus trees. From the back tees, the final 3 holes will make you feel like a hero or make you call your pro for a lesson the next day!
The United States finals of the World Golfers Championship was scheduled for Sept. 9-12th at The Wigwam Golf Resort in Litchfield Park, Arizona.and participants accommodations will also be at this luxurious resort and spa.
In the 36-hole tournament, one winner from each of the five handicap categories-0-5, 6-10, 11-15, 16-20 and 21-25--earn all expense paid trips to Hua-Hin, Thailand for the 16th annual World Golfers Championship, scheduled Oct. 30-Nov. 6.
The Wigwam was given new life in the 1960's by Robert Trent Jones. Sr., America's most famous golf course architect. At more than 7,400 yards and par 72, the Gold Course anchors The Wigwam golf trio. The Gold Course, a long and winding layout, was Jones' West Coast version of the relentless South Course at Firestone.
The Red Course was created by Robert "Red" Lawrence, the famed golf course architect responsible for Arizona's first desert golf course. Red is also credited with being involved with the designs of the Merion, Homestead, Westchester, and Desert Forest Golf Clubs. To this day, his work at The Wigwam perfectly complements Jones' Gold and Blue courses. With a length between its two siblings and par 72, The Red plays alongside streams and ponds set among a forest of pines, cypress and eucalyptus trees. From the back tees, the final 3 holes will make you feel like a hero or make you call your pro for a lesson the next day! 
