The PGA Korn Ferry Tour and the Price Cutter Charity Championship presented by Dr Pepper announced Thursday that the 2020 event will be conducted without spectators in attendance due to increasing concerns and evolving dynamics surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.
The tournament is scheduled for July 23-26 at Highland Springs Country Club and has long been a key stop on the path to the PGA Tour. Fortunately, PCCC fundraising events for nearly 50 Ozarks children’s charities will continue, including pro-ams. Among them are the SRC Pro-Am on July 20 and the Price Cutter Pro-Am on July 22, both at Highland Springs. They will be the first pro-ams with pros on either the Korn Ferry Tour or PGA Tour since the tours paused play this past spring with the national shutdown.
Thursday’s announcement came just three days after the PGA TOUR and the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide issued a no-spectators decision for the 2020 event, set for the week of July 13-19 Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio.
A fundraiser for nearly 50 Ozarks children’s charities and now in its 31st year, the Price Cutter Charity Championship recently received approval from the Springfield-Greene County Health Department to proceed with spectators. Working daily with the Korn Ferry Tour, the tournament team developed safety protocols for spectators as well as players, volunteers and staff that would allow for limited fan attendance.
However, proceeding with an abundance of caution, the changing climate surrounding the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic forced Tour and tournament officials to move forward without spectators. Since the PGA TOUR’s return to golf on June 11, no event has been contested with fans in attendance.
Note that the SRC Pro-Am and Price Cutter Pro-Am on Wednesday, July 22, will be played as scheduled at Highland Springs Country Club with additional safety protocols implemented in order to create a safe environment for all competitors. Amateurs will be required to undergo COVID-19 testing prior to their respective Pro-Am competition.
“We tried our absolute best to avoid this scenario, and I’m disappointed for our community,” said Executive Director Jerald Andrews. “However, we hope the community will still rally behind our charities. We will continue to fundraise for them, as team sponsorships remain available for upcoming golf experiences and other events.”
Andrews is asking the tournament’s 400 sponsors to fulfill their commitments, as the Price Cutter Charity Championship’s nearly 50 charities were relying heavily on the tournament this summer. Most charities have had to cancel separate events. To ask about a refund, call 417-887-3400.
The tournament has gifted more than $16.5 million to Ozarks children’s charities in the past 30 years, including more than $952,000 from the 2019 event alone. The community can continue to support the Price Cutter Charity Championship’s charities through the following sponsorships:
- Pro-Ams in Springfield: They include the Price Cutter Pro-Am (with top money winners on the Korn Ferry Tour) on July 22 at Highland Springs Country Club as well as the SRC Pro-Am (Korn Ferry Tour players) on July 20 at Highland Springs and two at Millwood Golf and Racquet Club – the Betty Allison’s Women’s Pro-Am on July 21 and the Golfing for Justice Pro-Am on July 27. The Bryan Properties Nighttime Golf Classic is July 15 at Fremont Hills Country Club.
- Pro-Ams around Branson: Two are LedgeStone Country Club – the Integrity Home Care Pro-Am on July 18 and the Cardinals Care Pro-Am on July 19, and then the Silver Dollar City Pro-Am on July 21 at Buffalo Ridge Golf Course. The Silver Dollar City Pro-Am includes a shopping experience featuring top-of-the-line golf equipment.
- Sweepstakes/raffles for 2020 Toyota Tundra/$10,000 and 2020 Corvette Stingray: It’s only $25 for a TLC Properties Charity Sweepstakes ticket (Tundra and $10,000 are grand prizes). The 2020 Corvette Stingray is the grand prize in The Ultimate presented by Ridewell Suspensions.
- Getaway to Paradise: For $100, you can enter to win a seven-night stay at a Mexico resort with ocean-facing suites, full kitchen staff and more. This is a 1-in-300 chance.
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Contact: Kary Booher, Media Relations, 417-241-1551 or booher@mosportshalloffame.com
Website: www.pricecuttercc.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pricecuttercc
Twitter: @PriceCutterCC