By Matt Hombach

Constellation Energy Classic organizers announced this week that Hale Irwin has committed to tee it up during the Baltimore-area stop of the PGA Champions Tour, to be held at Hayfields Country Club in Hunt Valley Sept. 11-17.

After a successful academic and collegiate football career at the University of Colorado, Irwin turned to golf full-time and became one of the greats of the game from the late 1970s to the '90s. Irwin won 20 events on the PGA Tour, including three U.S. Open titles in 1974, 1979 and 1990.

Hale Irwin will be teeing it up in Baltimore in September. (Courtesy of Constellation Energy Classic)

Irwin continued his winning ways when he joined the Champions Tour. To date, he's won 44 titles; two of which were Senior U.S. Opens. He has won more than $22 million, putting him on the top of the all time Champions Tour money list. Irwin was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1992.

In past Constellation Energy Classics, Irwin has had several good showings. In 2004, Irwin made a furious charge over the final few holes, but was held to a second place finish by the eventual champion, Wayne Levi. He currently ranks 17 in Charles Schwab Cup Points and will be looking to grab some more points in Baltimore.

Irwin joins a star-studded field that includes Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson, Tom Kite, Peter Jacobsen and Jay Haas.

$10,000 Power Putt Challenge Finalist Named

One would think that the heat from a blazing summer day and the pressure of a sizable gallery including baseball's Iron Man Cal Ripken watching you would make it tough to putt well. Michael Morris of Baltimore County handled it all in stride when he bested nearly two dozen other qualifiers to become the finalist for the Constellation Energy Classic's $10,000 Power Putt Challenge.

At the Classic's conclusion Sept. 17, Morris will get one putt to win $10,000. If he makes it, the cash is his. If he misses it, there's no mulligan!

The qualifier took place Aug. 11 at the Hunt Valley Town Center. Ripken, the tournament's honorary chairman, was on hand for several hours to greet fans and take a few putts. Morris and about 20 other hopeful putters scored well enough to participate in the final putt-off at the end of the day.

Morris took top honors and will most likely be a permanent fixture on area practice greens gearing up for his chance at $10,000.

Ripken will be on hand again Sept. 16 to participate in a separate putting challenge against tournament patrons on a synthetic green near the 18th hole.

Tournament Still Seeking Volunteers

Golf fans are invited to volunteer at this year's Constellation Energy Classic. Tournament organizers still need to fill a variety of volunteer positions.

"Without the charity of our enthusiastic team of volunteers, the Constellation Energy Classic would not have experienced the great success it has had over the past three years," said executive director Joe Rotellini. "While more and more volunteers return each year, there is always room for another helping hand."

Volunteers are needed for everything, including to help scoring, assistance on the practice range, coordination of golf cart and courtesy car distribution to tournament promotion, preparation of the course for the event and crowd control. In addition, there are many other duties that are essential to running a successful event that must be done.

Like other professional golf tournaments, volunteers who work during tournament week are required to purchase the volunteer package and wear the official uniform.

The package includes a week-long credential which allows entry to the tournament grounds, a week-long volunteer parking pass, a tournament logo hat, golf shirts, optional wind vest, lunch on work days during the event and an invitation to a volunteer appreciation party. The cost of the volunteer package is $65. All volunteers will also receive $50 in dining certificates from McCormick and Schmick's.

"Volunteers will have an opportunity to see some of the game's greatest players up close and in action such as Arnold Palmer and Tom Watson, while at the same time supporting
the tournament's efforts to raise money for Maryland-based non-profit organizations," said Rotellini. "The Tournament has already raised $1.5 million for area charities via the Baltimore Classic Fund and plans to top the $2 million mark this year."

For more information on volunteering at the Constellation Energy Classic, visit the tournament's homepage at www.ceclassic.com.

Issue 1.18: August 24, 2006