Virginia's Creighton Farms, River Creek Club named sites to host 2011 Southworth Senior PGA Professional National Championship

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. -- Creighton Farms of Aldie, Va., and River Creek Club of Leesburg, Va., have been named co-hosts of the 23rd Southworth Senior PGA Professional National Championship presented by Mercedes-Benz, Oct. 6-9, marking the first visit by the Championship to the Middle Atlantic PGA Section.

The Championship's 264-player field, composed of Senior PGA Professionals representing the 41 PGA Sections, will compete for a total purse of $285,000 on both courses over the first two rounds. Creighton Farms, a Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course, will host the final 36 holes.

This marks the Senior PGA Professional National Championship's first year of title sponsorship by Southworth Development, which has headquarters in Newton, Mass., and presenting sponsor Mercedes-Benz.

"The Senior PGA Professional National Championship has remained one of the most popular member championships for PGA Professionals," said PGA of America President Allen Wronowski. "We are very pleased that Southworth Development and Mercedes-Benz have embraced this event and look forward to our partnership to present a great championship this fall at two excellent venues."

Creighton Farms, a par-72, 7,410-yard layout that opened in 2008, was one of two private courses in the world to achieve recognition by Golf Digest, GOLF Magazine and Travel Leisure Golf in the same season. In 2009, Golfweek selected Creighton Farms among its "Best New Private Golf Courses." Creighton Farms reflects the Nicklaus trademark of a challenging design, focusing on course management strategy and precision rather than power.

"We look forward to welcoming The PGA of America and each of the outstanding senior PGA Professionals to Creighton Farms," said David Southworth, president of Southworth Development. "The course, setting and property are perfectly suited for a Championship of this kind. All of us at Creighton Farms and Southworth are proud to have been chosen to host this important event, and we are honored to be working with The PGA, Mercedes-Benz and River Creek Club to make it happen."

River Creek Club, a challenging, 7,036-yard, par-72 layout, was designed by Ault, Clark & Associates, with Tom Clark of Marshall, Va., the lead architect in the regional firm. River Creek Club made its debut in 1997 as one of three golf courses nestled on the Potomac River, and bearing challenging, large undulating greens as its signature and most prominent set of challenges.

"River Creek Club is extremely excited to have the opportunity to host the top senior PGA Professionals from around the country, while we showcase what we believe is one of the most scenic and challenging courses on the Potomac River," said River Creek Club PGA Director of Golf Tim Brogan. "This is a wonderful opportunity to be teamed with great organizations and we look forward to an outstanding Championship."

Begun in 1989, the Senior PGA Professional National Championship is modeled after the PGA Professional National Championship, with a field of 50-and-older senior PGA Professionals who advanced through 41 Section Championships conducted from July through September this year.

The top 35 finishers in the National Championship earn a berth in the 73rd Senior PGA Championship presented by KitchenAid, which will be conducted May 24-27, 2012, at The Golf Club at Harbor Shores in Benton Harbor, Mich. The top five finishers earn an exemption into the final stage of the 2011 Champions Tour National Finals. Since its debut, many participants in the Senior PGA Professional National Championship have used their success in the event as a springboard to a Champions Tour career.