PGA Professional National Championship Returns to Sunriver Resort in 2013


Sunriver Resort has been selected to host the 46th PGA Professional National Championship June 23-26, 2013. It marks the third visit to Sunriver Resort by the PGA of America's showcase event for its members.

The championship will bring a field of 312 to the Central Oregon resort, utilizing both Crosswater Club and Meadows Golf Course that hosted the tournament in 2001 and '07. Crosswater Club, ranked by Golf Digest as one of "America's Greatest 100 Public Golf Courses," was the site of the Champions Tour's Jeld-Wen Tradition from 2007-10; the 2006 NCAA men's Division I Championship; a 1999 segment of "Shell's Wonderful World of Golf," and the 1998 Western PGA Professional Championship. The Meadows Course hosted the 2007 USGA Senior Women's Amateur Championship and the 2002 USGA Women's Amateur Public Links Championship.

"The PGA of America is proud of its tradition of taking our PGA Professional National Championship to many of the best venues in the country and Sunriver Resort fulfills all expectations you would want in a golf destination," said PGA of America president Allen Wronowski.

"Beginning with two outstanding championship courses, the Pacific Northwest scenery and activities for contestants and their families, it is the total package. Over the past decade, we enjoyed two memorable PGA Professional National Championships at Sunriver, and we anticipate another great chapter in Championship history to be written in 2013."

Sunriver's 605-acre resort, situated at nearly 4,200 feet above sea level, lies between the Big Deschutes and Little Deschutes Rivers. Inspired by the Scottish highlands, Crosswater Club opened for play in 1995, and was selected the No. 1 New Resort Course in America by Golf Digest. It is a heathland-style course, offering a blend of strategy and aesthetics, featuring a wide range of fairway lengths and the constant interplay of wetlands, ponds and rivers.

"We are extremely pleased to continue our longstanding tradition of major championship golf at our Crosswater Club and Sunriver Resort by hosting our third PGA Professional National Championship," said PGA professional Scott Ellender, Sunriver Resort director of resort operations.

"I talked to many PGA professionals who played in the 2007 National Championship. They said that they thoroughly enjoyed their experience, not only because they loved our Bob Cupp-designed Crosswater course, but also because many brought their families and made a vacation out of their stay. There is so much to do here for children, including swimming, bicycling, river floats, horseback riding, white water rafting and, of course, golf."

Designed by Bob Cupp, the par-72 Crosswater played to 7,563 yards in the two previous championships, which made it the second longest layout in event history. The Meadows Golf Course, a collaborative effort between Fred Federspiel and John Fought, is a par-71 layout that was played at 7,001 yards in the event. The Meadows winds its way along the great meadow and through groves of Ponderosa pines.

The above report is courtesy of the PGA of America. For more information, visit www.pga.com.