Importance of getting youths interested in golf is stressed during Watson Challenge announcement
The Kansas City Star – By Tom Smith – April 29, 2016
“Golf legend Tom Watson fondly recalls his days of playing in junior tournaments or going out to play a few holes with his father while growing up in Kansas City.
Now one of his main focuses is to help grow the game among youths in the Kansas City area.
The Watson Challenge golf tournament was established in 2007 to help raise money for The First Tee of Greater Kansas City, an organization that teaches kids positive values through golf. Over the years, the Challenge has raised over $400,000 for the chapter’s scholarship fund.”
‘That’s what I’m talking about:’ Local golf legend Tom Watson raises $150,000 for youth programs
KSHB Kansas City – By Dee Jackson – June 6, 2016
“Kansas City native Tom Watson will go down as one of the greatest golfers ever.
His annual Watson Challenge raised $150,000 for the First Tee of Greater Kansas City.
During the tournament, Watson finished second to Rob Wilkin, but it was his hole-in-one on No. 2 that everyone is talking about!”
Tom Watson on the Watson Challenge tournament and what makes Hallbrook the toughest course in Kansas City
FOX4KC – By Michelle Pekarsky – April 29, 2016
“Kansas City’s Tom Watson is looking forward to The 2016 Watson Challenge coming up in June.
In a news conference on Friday, Watson spoke about his vision for tournament and commended Hallbrook Country Club, 11200 Overbrook, for its role in the tournament’s success.
“They created the template for the Watson Challenge. When we got together back in 2006, maybe it was 2005, we asked Hallbrook if they would be the first course where we played the Watson Challenge. It was all new. And we had meetings upon meetings upon meetings to try to work out a very good plan on how to operate this event. This event operates like a PGA Tour event. It’s that good,” Watson said.”
Watson Challenge ready to return to Hallbrook
The Examiner – By Bill Althaus – April 30, 2016
“The competitive juices are flowing for legendary Kansas City golf icon Tom Watson, whose next competitive tournament will be his own Tom Watson Challenge, June 3-5 at Hallbrook Country Club in Leawood.
Hallbrook hosted the first Watson Challenge in 2007 and is the first club to host two of the events that determine the best golfer in the metro area. This will be the ninth Watson Challenge and the eight-time major title winner has brought home five championship titles from his own tournament.
“I want to win this thing, are you kidding?” a grinning Watson said Friday morning when asked about the way he will approach the tournament. “I’m going approach this like I would the Masters. I haven’t won in a while and I want to get that (championship traveling) trophy back.”
Rob Wilkin beats Tom Watson in playoff at Watson Challenge
The Kansas City Star – By Colby Gordon – June 5, 2016
“Rob Wilkin didn’t have to say a word to show how much winning the Watson Challenge meant to him.
An emphatic embrace of his wife, Cristi, after walking off the green of the 11th hole Sunday at Hallbrook Country Club told the whole story.
Wilkin outlasted Watson through a sudden-death playoff that lasted five holes, winning the event for the first time.”