Sam Saunders, Stacy Lewis Named Ambassadors for Spirit Charity Challenge at Whispering Pines GC

(Trinity, Texas) — The Spirit Golf Association and Whispering Pines Golf Club in Texas confirm that PGA TOUR professional Sam Saunders will serve as an ambassador for the inaugural Spirit Charity Challenge to be held on Monday, October 7.  He will lead the men’s Spirit alumni, while marquee LPGA player Stacy Lewis heads the competing women.

The Spirit Charity Challenge, announced by Whispering Pines owner and founder Corby Robertson, Jr., is designed to bring back notable alumni who represented their country in a prior Spirit International Amateur Golf Championship.  Returning invited players will compete for a $100,000 prize that will be donated to the winner’s charity of choice.

To date, the following Spirit alumni have been invited to compete in the Spirit Charity Challenge:  Paula Creamer (USA), Lexi Thompson (USA), Lorena Ochoa (Mexico), Pernilla Lindberg (Sweden), Gaby Lopez (Mexico), Bronte Law (England), C.T. Pan (Chinese Taipei), Roberto Diaz (Mexico), Ben Martin (USA) and Austin Ernst (USA).  A complete roster of names for both teams will be announced at a later date.

“We are very honored to have Sam Saunders, PGA TOUR player and grandson of the legendary Arnold Palmer, join us to lead the men’s alum for this new event,” said Corby Robertson, Jr.  “Sam will help us secure a great field of PGA TOUR players to match the outstanding LPGA stars that Stacy Lewis is attracting.  We believe many of our alumni from The Spirit International will enjoy returning to Whispering Pines and playing for their charities.  It will be a fun reunion to celebrate their amateur careers and create excitement for the 2019 Spirit International Amateur Golf Championship to be held on November 7-9 at Whispering Pines.”

“I am so excited to be coming back to Whispering Pines to play in the Spirit Charity Challenge,” said Sam Saunders.  “Playing in 2005 in The Spirit International was one of the highlights of my amateur career, and the experience was invaluable to my success on tour, playing against so many international players.  To now get to come back and be part of a fun event, and have the opportunity to support charity is very special to me and a huge honor to be a part of.”

The Spirit Charity Challenge is scheduled one month prior to the biennial Spirit International Amateur Golf Championship, an Olympic-like experience for top ranked amateurs (40 men and 40 women) from 20 countries who compete for gold medals in a 54-hole tournament.  The event was established in 2001 at Whispering Pines and since then Spirit alumni have won over 650 professional tournaments including 22 major championships. The Spirit Golf Association is creating this unique event where PGA TOUR and LPGA professionals play together and compete for charity.  The event will highlight former Spirit International alumni from around the world who have gone on to successful careers as professional golfers.

For more information about The Spirit International Amateur Golf Championship visit www.thespiritgolf.com.