BY ED DUPREE
SALISBURY POST

KANNAPOLIS — The Carolinas PGA North Carolina Open golf tourney at the Kannapolis Country Club in June will have the largest purse in its 37-year history, thanks to Adelphia becoming the title sponsor.

General manager Jeff Austin of Kannapolis Country Club said the purse would be an estimated $50,000 with the winner’s share about $6,000.

The tournament will be held June 5-7 on the par-72 course that has already hosted the PGA Qualifying School first-stage events the past three years.

“Kannapolis Country Club is honored and proud to have been selected to host the 2001 Adelphia North Carolina Open,” said Jeff Austin, general manager of the club. “We are grateful to have a company with both national and international business entities come on board as title sponsor.”

Adelphia serves over five million cable customers in the United States, Venezuela and Brazil as well as interests that include Adelphia Long Distance, Adelphia Page Time, Adelphia Security, The Empire Sports Network and the Buffalo Sabres team of the National Hockey League.

“This is for the best players in the state,” said Austin, explaining that the top Carolinas Section PGA members who reside in the state and top amateurs will compete in the 54-hole stroke play event.

A full field of 168 is expected with the low 60 and ties making the 36-hole cut.

“In the event more than 168 applications are received, there will be a qualifying site at Crescent Golf Club in Salisbury, if necessary,” Austin added.

The defending champion is Bob Boyd of Pine Valley in Wilmington.

Other top contenders are expected to be Mocksville’s Jeff Lankford (Twin Cedars Golf Club), Charlotte’s Chris Tucker and Reidsville’s David Thore. Lankford starred at Davie County High School and N.C. State University. Thore was a three-time NCAA champion while playing at Wake Forest.

“The PGA Tour Qualifying School is considered a PGA Tour event. That is an honor we are proud of. I don’t know if we could have hosted the North Carolina Open without the experience of the tour schools,” said Austin. “With the Pinehurst area, all of the coastal resort courses and wonderful mountain facilities, it is an extreme honor for us to be considered to host this event. It could easily have been played on a top 50 course in the country.”

Kannapolis also has hosted the North Carolina Mid-Amateur Championship.

The tournament will be widely promoted via Channel 4 of Mooresville and Adelphia’s recently acquired Prestige Cable of Charlotte.

Joe Cullen, advertising sales manager of Adelphia, said, “Adelphia is proud to be teamed up with two great organizations, the Carolinas PGA Section and Kannapolis Country Club.”

Tim Shillhahn, general manager of Adelphia Business Solutions, said, “Adelphia is very excited to be part of the North Carolina Open. The professionalism and enthusiasm we have encountered in our initial meetings with both the representatives of the Carolinas PGA and the Kannapolis Country Club have far exceeded our expectations. Adelphia is proud to be associated with this event coming to the Charlotte area for the first time since its inception in 1965. We look forward to making this event a Charlotte tradition.”

Ron Schmid, executive director of the Carolinas PGA Section, said, “The 2001 Adelphia North Carolina Open is the most anticipated North Carolina event in recent years due in large part to Adelphia’s commitment to the Carolinas PGA and the professionals and amateurs associated with this event.”

Austin says several Kannapolis area amateur golfers are expected to play in the tournament, along with other top amateurs in the Piedmont.

“I would love to see the better amateur players in the Salisbury area come to play. This is a chance for them to play against the best in the state. There will be collegiate players in the field. It will be a good mix,” said Austin.

Amateurs with a USGA handicap index of 5.5 or less are eligible.

The entry fee is $225, which includes practice rounds, a Monday sponsors’ pro-am and the three-day tournament. Application forms are available at the Kannapolis pro shop.

There will be no admission charge for spectators.