Annual BMW Charity Pro-Am golf event returning to Spartanburg for first time in a decade
The BMW Charity Pro-Am is returning this summer to The Carolina Country Club it was announced on Tuesday while Greer's Thornblade Club will remain as the longstanding main host course.
The contract is for the tournament to be played in Spartanburg for the next two years.
The Korn Ferry Tour, which serves as the primary development platform for the PGA Tour has scheduled the tournament for June 9-12. The first two rounds will be held at both venues with the final two rounds only at Thornblade.
It continues to be the lone golf tournament on the feeder tour where amateurs and celebrities are grouped with professionals in a three-day best-ball competition over two courses. The total purse is $750,000 with a winner's share of $126,000.
“The BMW Charity Pro-Am’s return to a Spartanburg golf course is another marker of our community’s steep and nationally recognized business, economic and tourism growth," OneSpartanburg, Inc. president and CEO Allen Smith said in a release. "Our community is grateful for the tournament’s longstanding support of local charities, and we look forward to working with tournament officials and other regional partners to make this the best tournament yet.”
The Carolina Country Club last served as one of then three courses for the tournament from 2008-12. The event went to its current format in 2001 (BMW took over sponsorship the following year) at various The Cliffs communities until 2008 when Thornblade took over as host course joined by a rotation of other venues including Furman University Golf Club.
The tournament format changed to using just two courses in 2019 (the 2020 event was canceled due to the pandemic). The Carolina Country Club replaces The Cliffs Valley Course.
“The Carolina Country Club is thrilled to be a host course of the 2022 BMW Charity Pro-Am,” club owner Tim Dunlap said in a release. “The tournament’s history of community involvement and charitable giving strongly aligns with our club’s mission. We look forward to welcoming Korn Ferry Tour golfers, celebrities, amateurs and spectators to our club next June.”
Former Clemson All-American Jonathan Byrd won the inaugural tournament followed by another former Clemson All-American Charles Warren winning in year two. Former University of South Carolina All-American Mark Anderson won by five shots in 2013 with a then record 27-under-par.
Michael Arnaud equaled Anderson's record in 2018 and last year's winner Mito Pereira also shot 27 under. The latter's win was his third of the season which earned him a rare immediate promotion to the PGA Tour.
Golfers of local interest scheduled to play this year on the Korn Ferry Tour include Clemson alums Byrd, Billy Kennerly, Sam Saunders and Carson Young in addition to USC alum Sean Kelly and South Carolina native Tommy "Two Gloves" Gainey.
Wofford alum Andrew Novak was one of the tour's top players last season and earned his PGA Tour card.
Last year's celebrity lineup included actor Anthony Anderson, former baseball stars Ken Griffey Jr., Ozzie Smith and Roger Clemens, boxer Canelo Alvarez, former USC and NFL receiver Sterling Sharpe, comedians Cedric the Entertainer and Larry the Cable Guy and actors from "The Office" Brian Baumgarter and Andy Buckley.
South Carolina Charities, Inc. is working with a number of Spartanburg-based organizations in addition to partnerships already established across the upstate. The tournament has raised over $14.3 million since it's inception for various non-profit organizations throughout the Upstate.
This article originally appeared on Herald-Journal: BMW Charity Pro-Am returning to Spartanburg for first time in a decade
