Greystone Country Club holds Regions Tradition media day
The Regions Tradition, held May 18-22 at Greystone Golf and Country Club, will be the first of five 2016 Majors tournaments for the PGA.
As grandstands were being erected on the Founders Course outside, leaders from Greystone, the PGA and Regions Bank gathered in the Founders Clubhouse to talk about the 25th anniversary of the Tradition.
The Tradition opens on Wednesday, May 18, with the Pro-Am, which includes celebrity players such as Nick Saban and Condoleezza Rice. The tournament itself begins on Thursday and the players, who all must be over age 50 and have previously won a PGA or Champions tournament, will play four rounds. The tournament trophy and $2.3 million purse is presented to the winner on Sunday, May 22.
Other events for the week include a trick shot exhibition from Chuck "The Hit Man" Hiter and an after-play concert. Regions Bank Senior Executive Vice President Scott Peters said that the tournament, especially the Pro-Am, will be the "biggest and best party in Alabama."
The Tradition benefits Children's of Alabama, and Champions Tour President Greg McLaughlin said more than $14 million in charitable contributions have been brought to the Birmingham area through PGA tournaments, including around $700,000 to Children's from last year's tournament.
"At Regions, our mission is to make life better," said Regions Bank South Region President Bill Horton, who noted some of Regions Bank's charitable work in Birmingham.
McLaughlin also announced that the 2015 Champions Tour Charity of the Year is Two by Two Animal Rescue, located in Helena. Rescue founder Sonya King thanked the PGA for their selection and shared stories with the audience about how Two by Two had helped not only stray animals, but also people by bringing pets into their lives.
King said the $30,000 she is receiving as Charity of the Year will be seed money to construct a no-kill animal shelter facility for Two by Two.
Golfer Rocco Mediate closed out the press conference by talking about the enjoyment of golf and the importance of giving back through the Tradition. He also held a putting competition with three Children's patients who were at the media day.