Ally Challenge Will Close out the Pro Tours Michigan Summer Season
By Tom Lang
Steve Stricker and a cart load of PGA Tour Champions stars will be in Grand Blanc for the Ally Challenge at Warwick Hills, August 21-27.
Stricker is the defending champ after taking the 2022 title at 15-under par. Brett Quigley was one stroke back for runner up, with Jeff Maggert sitting at 13-under for third place. In fourth and sixth place, respectively, were Padraig Harrington and Ernie Els.
“That was my first time being back (at Warwick Hills) since being there on the regular Tour, and I think that was the coolest thing,” Stricker said at the zoom press conference recently. “It’s just … the people and the golf course, everybody involved makes it feel like a nice small-town event, like the way the Tour used to be, and I think that was the special part. It fires me up thinking about the (top field of players at the) Ally and coming back to Warwick Hills, for sure.”
Also committed to play this summer is Jim Furyk, winner of the 2020 Ally Challenge; Justin Leonard; and David Toms, currently ranked No. 3 in the Charles Schwab Cup standings. Reigning U.S. Senior Open champion and Tour ironman Bernhard Langer is coming, 2019 Ally winner Jerry Kelly, plus the inaugural winner of the tournament, Paul Broadhusrt, who has a 69.47 career tournament scoring average in its first six years.
Stricker commented on the wave of momentum he hopes to carry into Grand Blanc.
“I do think you can keep the momentum going from one year to the next,” he said. “And especially when I started off the year with a win over in Hawaii. It felt like it was just a continuous season for me. I play a lot of golf in the off season to keep that going, and my kids play, my wife plays a lot, so I just continue to play and it’s a continuation of last year for sure.
“I know I don’t have a lot of time left in this game but I’m trying to maximize all the opportunities I have.”
To date, the tournament has generated $6.2 million for local Genesee County charities, plus others in metro Detroit. Stricker added: “That is the backbone of this Tour and the regular PGA Tour. We’re able to play in these events that give back and make a big impact in the communities, and that makes us feel good as players.”
New this year, the Ally Challenge has teamed up with legendary Zehnder’s of Frankenmuth to boost the tournament’s annual complimentary Sunday breakfast for all fans onsite from 8:30 – 11 a.m. on August 27th.
Tickets for The Ally Challenge can be purchased at theallychallenge.com/tickets. Ticket prices start at $10 — children 17 and under receive free grounds access with a ticketed adult.
For a complete listing of ticket options – including the Saturday evening community concert featuring Country music star Miranda Lambert – please visit the tournament website at theallychallenge.com.
