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USA Today
a day ago
- Business
- USA Today
This Texas city is getting a Korn Ferry Tour event, starting in 2026
This Texas city is getting a Korn Ferry Tour event, starting in 2026 A new chapter in professional golf is set to unfold in the Texas Panhandle. On Wednesday, the Korn Ferry Tour, the PGA Tour's developmental circuit, announced a five-year partnership to bring the OccuNet Classic to Amarillo, starting in 2026. The inaugural tournament is slated for June 8-14, 2026, at the Tascosa Golf Club. The OccuNet Classic will feature 156 players from around the globe in a 72-hole tournament, one of 26 events on the 2026 Korn Ferry Tour schedule. This will be the first Korn Ferry Tour event held in Amarillo since 1990. Crucially, the Korn Ferry Tour serves as the primary pathway for aspiring professional golfers to reach the highest level of the sport. At season's end, the top 20 players on the Korn Ferry Tour Points List earn coveted PGA Tour cards for the following season. The No. 1 player also gains exemptions into the next year's Players Championship and U.S. Open. "We're thrilled to partner with The OccuNet Company to bring the Korn Ferry Tour to the Texas Panhandle,' stated Korn Ferry Tour President Alex Baldwin. "It's wonderful to see the level of commitment and dedication the Fairly Family has shown to their community over the past several decades. This event will serve as a supercharged engine for this process. With Framework Events serving as the host organization and Tascosa Golf Club as our partner, this tournament will be a great way to showcase our golf facilities. We're excited for the future of the OccuNet Classic and showcasing the incredible talent on the Korn Ferry Tour in Amarillo for years to come." Baldwin also detailed the decision to choose Amarillo, noting, "This has every ingredient we need for an incredibly successful event — from community partners to corporate support, the Fairly family and OccuNet Company spearheading this initiative, Tascosa Golf Club, John Dunn and the team here, Framework Events." She explained, "Every piece of this formula is just off the charts. The energy and excitement here today alone with the announcement are palpable." She underscored the long-term vision. "It's a five-year commitment, not just for next year. Each year, we're going to build, and it will begin with a bang. We're excited to see how this community embraces the Korn Ferry Tour and all our players. This platform will continue to get bigger and better annually." The tour's broader impact also weighed heavily in the decision. "This — the PGA Tour, the Korn Ferry Tour — provides an opportunity to inspire the next generation of golfers, but also fosters community-mindedness," Baldwin said. "The PGA Tour's relationships and its impact in the community, alongside the ability to volunteer and contribute to an event that ultimately has an economic impact on this region, offer so many ways to get involved." She concluded, "It's just an awesome opportunity for a community like Amarillo." Reflecting on the Korn Ferry Tour's history, Baldwin highlighted its consistent role. "Over three decades, it has consistently demonstrated that it is that primary pathway and an identifier in a preparatory environment," she affirmed. "It develops that next generation of talent. Our number one player in the world right now, Scottie Scheffler, played on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2019." She emphasized the tour's critical role in helping young players adapt to the professional lifestyle and develop necessary habits. "There are a lot of little intangibles that I don't know most people think about, but that are really critical to forming these future stars." Korn Ferry Tour alumni account for 88 percent of the PGA Tour, with more than 700 PGA Tour titles, 33 major championships, and eight FedExCup championships among them. Explaining the host city selection process, Baldwin noted, "It takes time, the right energy, the right individuals, and the right commitment. To truly embrace the opportunity and mobilize around it, a community must see the potential and set a plan." She added, "We're going to ask people to come out, we're going to ask them to volunteer, we're going to ask corporate partners to invest, and there's going to be a substantive, rich (experience)." She praised the Fairly family and OccuNet Company for being "the spark and the catalyst for this opportunity." The OccuNet Company, a healthcare services firm headquartered in Amarillo, will serve as the title sponsor, contributing to the tournament's $1,000,000 purse, with the winner's check set at $180,000. This marks the Korn Ferry Tour's return to Amarillo for the first time since its inaugural season in 1990. "Bringing the event to Amarillo reflects our ongoing commitment to our hometown and the Texas Panhandle," said Alex Fairly, Chairman of The OccuNet Company. "Our goal is to bring a world-class golf event to Amarillo for all residents and businesses to enjoy, while showcasing the city nationally and internationally." The Tascosa Golf Club, located in northwest Amarillo, boasts 36 holes across two courses: La Paloma and Tascosa Course. The La Paloma Course, a links-style track stretching over 7,000 yards with dramatic elevation changes, natural rock outcroppings, native rough, and several lakes, will host the tournament. It is designed to be a resort-style course, accommodating golfers of all skill levels. The Tascosa Course, a traditional tree-lined, parkland-style course, offers a complementary experience with undulating greens that challenge experienced golfers while remaining enjoyable for less experienced players. "On behalf of our incredible membership at Tascosa Golf Club, we're honored to be the host venue for the OccuNet Classic," stated John Dunn, Managing Partner of Tascosa Golf Club. "In preparation for the Korn Ferry Tour coming in June of 2026, our team is already making changes with consultation from our golf course architect, Jeff Blume, and the PGA TOUR to provide a great challenge for these golfers." Framework Events, a premier event management firm, will operate the OccuNet Classic. CEO Danny Rodgers emphasized the event's community focus. "This is more than a golf tournament—it's a celebration of community, and we're committed to creating an event that reflects the pride, hospitality, and spirit that make Amarillo and the Texas Panhandle so unique," Rodgers stated. Amarillo Mayor Cole Stanley highlighted the economic and community benefits of hosting the event. "This is like WRCA in the way it takes a week and a half to get everybody in and out of town, and they get to taste Amarillo," Stanley said, referencing the popular WRCA Rodeo. "The economic impact is huge. I'd compare it a lot to one of our other very loved events, WRCA, which really exemplifies what Amarillo has to offer." Stanley also underscored the "intangibles" of putting Amarillo on the map and showcasing the city's quality of life. "We know Amarillo is the Yellow Rose of Texas, and so we get to host an event here that speaks to the quality of life we want in this community," he said. He emphasized the collaborative effort to bring the event to Amarillo, stating, "It's been a community effort... if you invest here with us, we can host better than anyone else in the nation. Hospitality is what we're selling here in the city of Amarillo." He concluded, "We want you to know when you're here, you're talking to your grandmother's living room." The tournament's field size will include 70 players based on Korn Ferry Tour rankings, 8 Monday Qualifiers, and 4 exemptions. Organizers anticipate needing 500-600 volunteers across 17 committees to support the event, with opportunities for host housing of Korn Ferry Tour players and caddies. Alex Baldwin noted the importance of community engagement and the strong connections forged between players and host families, citing examples of continued relationships after tournaments. The tournament is expected to draw a highly competitive field, with the Korn Ferry Tour increasingly featuring top talent and former PGA Tour players. The Korn Ferry Tour is seen in 225 countries and territories via 33 media markets. For more information, including sponsorship and volunteer opportunities, visit
Khaleej Times
31-01-2025
- Sport
- Khaleej Times
Rayhan Thomas fires solid 69 at Panama Championship, caps round with a birdie
Dubai's Rayhan Thomas carded a solid one-under-par 69 in the first round of the $1 million Panama Championship on the Korn Ferry Tour, placing him in a tie for 31st at Club de Golf de Panama. Play was suspended due to darkness, with 24 players yet to complete their rounds. Johnny Keefer (USA) leads at seven under through 17 holes. A total of 43 players are currently under par as the first round stands. Starting on the 10th hole, Thomas had an eventful front nine, mixing four birdies, two bogeys, and three pars to make the turn at 33. A pair of bogeys on holes two and five saw him drop back to even par, but he bounced back with a clutch birdie on the par-4 ninth—his final hole—to sign for a back-nine 36 and a 69 overall. Reflecting on his round, Thomas told Khaleej Times: "It was a decent start today. I missed some bad spots and had a couple of bogeys, but overall, I hit some good shots and made some birdies. I was thrilled to birdie my last hole, the ninth, to get into the red.' He praised the 7,534-yard, par-70 course, noting its demanding layout: 'The golf course is very good – you have to be pretty strategic off the tee, and into the greens – you really have to execute your shots precisely to make a score. 'I have to be focused and tough - just make some birdies tomorrow and then hopefully kill it over the weekend after the 36-hole cut.' Currently sitting 13th in the Korn Ferry Tour Points List with 101 points after two events, Thomas remains firmly in contention for a top-20 season finish, which would earn him a coveted PGA Tour card.
