Published: August 24, 2008 12:54 am            

Pro golf tour coming to Dancing Rabbit

NGA/Hooters Tour bringing in tomorrow's links stars

Miko Beasley Denson didn't really see the sense in chasing a little white ball over manicured stretches of terra firma. It wasn't until he started playing the game of golf that he realized the allure and challenge the sport provided. He is a firm believer in the game now.

"I love the game of golf now," said Beasley, who is the third Chief of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians in Choctaw. "And to host for the fourth year this golf tournament means a great deal to us."

Beasley, along with other event officials, announced Dancing Rabbit Golf Club would be host to the Hooters Pro Golf Tour’s 4th Annual Hilton Garden Inn Golf Classic at Pearl River Resort. The tournament dates are from Sept. 22-28. Spectators can watch the future stars free of charge. The purse is worth a combined $200,000 with the winner of the event receiving $33,000.

The NGA/Hooters Tour is the 3rd largest men’s 72-hole professional golf tour in the country behind the PGA and Nationwide Tours. The list of alumni golfers who have gone on to world prominence and success on the professional golf circuit is long and impressive.

"The tour boasts alumni like 2007 Masters Champion Zach Johnson, 2003 PGA Champion Shaun Micheel, 2003 British Open winner Ben Curtis, 2003 US Open winner Jim Furyk, two time U.S. Open winner Lee Janzen, British Open and PGA Champion John Daly, as well as British Open winner Tom Lehman," said Todd Barbee, who is the tournament director for the NGA/Hooters Tour. "We expect approximately 168 players to play in this tournament — the only NGA/Hooters tournament to be played in Mississippi."

The NGA / Hooters Professional Golf Tour, formerly the Hooters/Jordan Tour, dates back to 1988 with T.C. "Rick" Jordan as its owner and founder. Jordan envisioned a golf tour that would provide professional golfers an opportunity to compete in a professional atmosphere as well as achieve financial success. Barbee said this tour offers golfers new to competitive, professional golf an opportunity to hone their game and prepare for much larger tours such as the Nationwide and PGA events.

The NGA/Hooters Tour’s alumni have an incredible 10 “Majors” to their credit. The NGA/Hooters Tour has helped more than 100 professionals acquire their PGA, Senior PGA, and Nationwide Tour cards. In fact, 42% of the players that earned their 2008 PGA Tour card, and 47% of the players that earned full exempt status on the Nationwide Tour started their careers on the NGA/Hooters Tour.

And in terms of holding the event at Dancing Rabbit Golf Club, Barbee said the players will be challenged with this course that is among the top in the nation.

"Golf Magazine said this is the only "Augusta National" golf course the regular golfer can play on," said Barbee. "This is a fantastic venue, course and with Hilton Gardens Inn as a major sponsor, the pro golfers we have coming here will enjoy a great week."

Beasley said also the event will continue to showcase everything there is offered by Dancing Rabbit and Pearl River Resort.

"We hope that everyone who comes here will leave with a feeling they have been a part of something special," Beasley said. "Hopefully they will our ambassadors in spreading the word about Dancing Rabbit, the golf tour and the resort area."

As is customary with the NGA/Hooters events, some of the proceeds from the tournament will go to benefit local charities. In the case of the upcoming Hilton Gardens Inn Classic, some of the funds raised will go to the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians Boys and Girls Club.

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.