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Thursday, May 7, 2015

Kandy Waters Memorial Classic Returns to The River Club

The Kandy Waters Memorial Classic
The River Golf Club
North Augusta, S.C.
August 19-22, 2015

(North Augusta, S.C.) - The Kandy Waters Memorial Classic is the longest running event on the Swing Thought Tour (formerly the NGA/Hooters Tour). This year it returns to where it all began 15 years ago, The River Club in North Augusta, S.C., August 17- 22. With the return of The River Club to the Pro Series schedule, the ST Tour continues to offer professionals not on the PGA TOUR and Web Tour the best venues possible to hone their skills as they try to reach golf’s top levels.

Kandy Waters loved golf and, if you played golf in the Augusta area, chances are you knew her or at least had met her along the way. When L.D. Waters wanted to honor his late wife it seemed appropriate to partner with his nephew, Robin L. Waters, president of the then Hooters Tour (now SwingThought Tour), to bring a second professional golf tournament to the Augusta area and in 2000 The Kandy Waters Memorial Classic was established.

Conveniently located across from downtown Augusta, The River Club was one of Mrs. Waters’ favorite places to play in the Greater Augusta area.  Built by internationally acclaimed golf course architect, Jim Fazio, the River Club was recognized as one of the Top 5 new courses nationally by Golf Digest when it debuted. The Savannah River and surrounding area offers a unique setting for the championship layout that twists around numerous lakes and wetlands. But don’t let the breath taking scenery fool you, the dramatic bunkers and large Mini-Verde Bermuda Grass greens make this one of the most challenging tracks SwingThought Tour professionals will see all season.

“The River Club and its proud members are excited to once again be hosting the Kandy Waters Memorial Classic later this summer,” stated Chris Verderey, Director of Golf at The River Club, “We look forward to hosting some of the best young professionals in the world and watching how they fare on our beautiful, yet challenging golf course. We also look forward to seeing our community embrace and promote this wonderful event and the opportunity for The River Club to once again make its mark in professional golf.”

The River Club played host to the inaugural event in 2000 and continued to host through the 2002 season before it was moved to Savannah Lakes Village in McCormick, S.C. Soon after the move, the event took on a life of its own and was adopted entirely by the Savannah Lakes Village, which is now referred to as the Savannah Lakes Village Classic. The Kandy Waters Memorial Classic was relocated back to the Augusta area where it was most recently hosted by the Robert Trent Jones, Sr. designed Gordon Lakes Golf Club inside Fort Gordon.

The event has now found its way home to The River Club where it all began. The River Club was one of the players’ favorites when Jamie Rogers won the inaugural event in 2000, future PGA TOUR member Justin Bolli won in 2001, and then former Clemson star Elliot Gealy in 2002. Many players who have competed in the Kandy Waters Memorial Classic over the years have gone on to make their own mark on the PGA TOUR including Major Champions like Zach Johnson and Ben Curtis who finished 2nd and T12 respectively in 2002 and Keegan Bradley who finished T30 in 2009. Future PGA TOUR members to win the event include Camilo Villegas (2005), Casey Wittenberg (2007), Joe Affrunti (2009), Lee Williams (2010), and Ryan Blaum (2011). Last year’s event was won by current Web.com Tour member and 2014 Golf Achievement Award Winner, J.C. Horne.

The 2015 Kandy Waters Memorial Classic will be a four-day, 72-hole professional tournament beginning Wednesday, August 19th and ending on Saturday August 22nd. The max field for the professional tournament will be 132 players with 55 & ties making the 36-hole cut. The purse for the event is $140,000 guaranteed with $20,000 going to the winner. Professionals and top amateurs may sign up for the professional event by contacting the SwingThought Tour offices at 800-992-8748.  There will be a Wounded Warrior Appreciation Pro-Am as well as Service Personnel Clinic, both having become the highlights of the season for many SwingThought Tour professionals. The Kandy Waters Memorial Classic Sponsors Pro-Am will be held Tuesday August 18th. Those wishing to be a sponsor of the event or sponsor a team in the Pro-Ams should contact Nan Sherrill at Bonaventure Golf at 706-868-6448. Anyone interested in volunteering for the event or housing any of the professionals for the week may do so by contacting The River Club at 803-202-0110.

The event is open to the public and, as always, admission is free.

2015 Kandy Waters Memorial Classic
Schedule of Events

Monday, August 17
7:30 a.m. - SwingThought Tour Professional Practice Rounds
9 a.m. - SwingThought Tour SERVICE PERSONNEL CLINIC at Woods & Wedges Driving Range. Service Personnel can please contact Judie Thompson, OTR/L, WTB Occupational Therapy, 706-787-6018, cell 706-504-7105, judie.thompson@us.army.mil for more information.
Range Hours: 6:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.

Tuesday, August 18
7:30 a.m. - SwingThought Tour Professional Practice Rounds (no carts allowed), players must be off Front 9 by 9am & off Back 9 by 1pm
9 a.m. - SwingThought Tour WARRIOR-PRO CHALLENGE.(Front 9)
For more information, contact Judie Thompson, OTR/L, WTB Occupational Therapy, 706-787-6018, cell 706-504-7105, judie.thompson@us.army.mil
11 a.m. - Kandy Waters Memorial Classic Pro-Am Registration/Lunch
1 p.m. - Kandy Waters Memorial Classic Pro-Am Shotgun Start
6 p.m. – Kandy Waters Memorial Classic Pro-Am Awards Dinner
Range Hours: 6:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday, August 19
8 a.m. - First Round of the “2015 Kandy Waters Memorial Classic”
Range Hours: 6:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.

Thursday, August 20
8 a.m. - Second Round of the “2015 Kandy Waters Memorial Classic”
Range Hours: 6:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.

Friday, August 21
8 a.m. - Third Round of the “2015 Kandy Waters Memorial Classic”
Range Hours: 6:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.

Saturday, August 22 (special Saturday finish)
7:30 a.m. - Final Round of the “2015 Kandy Waters Memorial Classic”
Range Hours: 6:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Immediately following Final Round Play Awards Ceremony and Winners Check Presentation

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