January 4, 2010

By Jon Levy - Staff Writer

With the Holiday season and 2009 calendar year officially in the books, the 2010 Gateway Tour kicks off today with the Desert Winter Series’ opening event at Anthem Golf & Country Club’s Persimmon Course. And, as in years past, the Winter Series -- well-known for its deep, talented fields consisting of the top developmental players in the game, as well as PGA and Nationwide Tour members looking to get a jumpstart on their seasons -- is boasting another solid Winter Series membership vying for a good start to 2010.

“Our Winter Series has gained the reputation as having some of the best early-season competition in almost any level of professional golf, short of the PGA TOUR,” says Ryan Pray, VP of Tour Operations. “And, again, this year, we have another large and diverse membership that will make for another great winter season on The Gateway Tour.”

This week’s event at Anthem is the first of 10 Winter Series events preceding the 2010 Winter Series Championship at Encanterra, where the top 36% of Winter Series money-winners at the conclusion of the final Series event will qualify to play. Following Anthem, the Series will visit some of the Valley’s top venues, including Trilogy GC @ Vistancia, Raven GC @ Verrado, The Wigwam Resort - Gold and Southern Dunes GC, among others.

The Gateway Tour’s schedule of the Phoenix area’s best courses is a well-known draw for players to come to the Arizona Desert to play The Gateway Tour.

“Once again this year, we’re proud to have a great line-up of courses for the Winter Series,” states Pray. “Along with the ideal weather conditions in Arizona this time of year, which brings a lot of players to the area, the top-notch courses we have on the docket enable us to provide our players with a true elite-tournament feel as they’re all challenging and in great shape.”

97 players will tee it up this week in the 54-hole contest, which cuts to the low 36% + ties before concluding on Thursday. Stay tuned for results…


* Want to play a Gateway Tour Winter Series event, but not a member of the Tour?

Non-members of The Gateway Tour may purchase up to two (2) spots in any of the 10 Desert Winter Series events by contacting The Gateway Tour office at info@thegatewaytour.com or 623-594-6158, or by clicking here to register by the Friday preceding the next scheduled event.