Athens Trades Tailgates for Tee Times
February 1, 2008Athens is a college town where football is king, but come April, another group of sports fanatics will make their way to the Classic City and prove that the Classic City isn't just about the pigskin.
Some of the Nationwide Tour's best will descend on Athens for the third annual Athens Regional Foundation Classic, which will be held April 14–20 at Jennings Mill Country Club. This year's champion will look to follow in the footsteps of past winners Paul Gow and Martin Laird, who both used their early-season victory as a springboard to the PGA TOUR. The Athens Regional Foundation Classic has drawn crowds of more than 20,000 to Athens in years past which, according to Nationwide Tour estimates, places the event in the top five for overall attendance on the Tour.
One reason for the tournament's widespread support can be attributed to the number of past Bulldogs who have advanced from the University golf team to the Nationwide Tour. At the beginning of the season, six UGA alumni had status on the Tour. Many of these players will have the chance to play in front of their home crowd at Jennings Mill Country Club. "The Athens Regional Foundation Classic continues to be one of the most successful events in the area," said Len Sapera, chairman of the Athens Regional Foundation. "With the support of our nearly 500 volunteers and a talented group of players, we expect this year's tournament to again set the standard on the Nationwide Tour."
The week long Athens Regional Foundation Classic will include several special events in addition to the four days of tournament play. For more information on the event, or to purchase tickets, please visit www.arfcgolf.org.
