E.A. Sports Today

Local golf notes

Sunbelt Senior Tour returning to Cider Ridge; Sunny King electronic registration opening soon

By Al Muskewitz
East Alabama Sports Today

OXFORD — The Sunbelt Senior Tour is coming back to Cider Ridge Golf Club this spring with a better date and ambitious plans to attract more pros and amateurs to the event.

The Oxford Senior Open returns for its second run May 23-26.

The week starts with a pro-am day May 23, which will include a clinic and exhibition followed by a best-ball tournament. The pros take center stage the next day for the start of 54 holes of action with, this year, two divisions of play.

Former PGA Tour winner Danny Edwards is the defending champion.

Entry fee for the pro-am is $150 individually or $400 for a team of three amateurs. A variety of tournament sponsorship opportunities are available as well.

“I’m hoping to attract more players with a bigger purse and get some name guys there,” Tour director Don Barnes said. “Everybody had a good time last year. The staff and the members and everybody were very welcoming. The guys could relax there.

“We know what we’ve done there in Cullman. It’s extremely popular and successful there. I think Oxford … could have a growing event.”

The date should be a little more conducive for attracting a bigger field as well. The U.S. Senior Open is later this season, so there are not expected to be any qualifying conflicts.

The Tour kicks off its 21st season with an event in Melbourne, Fla.

This story will be updated.

SUNNY KING UPDATE: Electronic registration for the 38th annual Sunny King Charity Classic will open March 1.

This year’s Classic is July 8-10 at Anniston Country Club, Cider Ridge and Silver Lakes.

Entry fee is $650 per team with pre-paid mulligans available at $60 per player. Players are encouraged to register through the tournament website (www.kingclassic.com).

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