Photo / William Hall
After a year delay because of the pandemic, play was underway Thursday at the 16th hole.
June 25, 2021
Maine's first pro golf tourney in nearly 30 years tees off to a good start
Photo / William Hall
A grouping of pros finish their first round of play Thursday at the Live + Work in Maine Open, held at the Falmouth Country Club.
By William Hall
Nearly 30 years since the last tour stop, two years since its return was announced, and a year since it was postponed because of the pandemic, professional golf teed off in Maine again this week.
The Live + Work in Maine Open drew 156 players to the Falmouth Country Club on Thursday, the first day of competition for a $600,000 purse in one of the final Korn Ferry Tour contests this year.
It’s estimated the tournament will also draw $8 million in economic impact to southern Maine. The event is also contracted to be held in Falmouth for the next three years.
The Korn Ferry Tour is the steppingstone series of tournaments for the PGA Tour, the premier men’s circuit in professional golf. Most PGA Tour players get their start on the Korn Ferry circuit, including well-known champions Bryson DeChambeau, Justin Thomas and Tony Finau.
On Thursday, 1,200 fans turned out to watch up-and-coming stars tackle the par-71, 7,326-yard course under near-perfect conditions — sunny, 75 degrees, light south winds. A total of 57 players finished under par in the first round, including the Falmouth Country Club's resident pro, Shawn Warren.
Another 1,500 spectators are expected Friday and more on Saturday and on Sunday, when the tourney concludes.
The crowds are joined by corporate sponsors: presenting partners Bangor Savings Bank and MaineHealth, founding partners Anthem Inc. and Live + Work in Maine, and two dozen other businesses including Mainebiz.
They also include General Dynamics Bath Iron Works, which is providing members of the military and retirees with free ground passes for the tourney. The company is also hosting the BIW Military Appreciation Area near the links, where service members and veterans can enjoy food, drink and family games.
Other Maine businesses are also taking an active part in the tournament, with stands offering local beer, food and plenty of plugs for the state as a place to live and work. Which is, after all, one of the purposes of the high-profile event.
Another is to provide $100,000 in funding for Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital, the state’s only full-service children’s hospital and the official tournament beneficiary.
On Friday morning, Brian Corcoran, CEO of Shamrock Sports & Entertainment, the tournament’s host organizer, summed up how it was going. "Our Live + Work in Maine corporate partners are realizing first-hand how their return on investment is driving community, workforce, economic and charitable impact,” he said. “The smiles on their employees and customer faces say it all."
The town of Falmouth is also home to the Woodlands Club, which hosted a tournament for a predecessor of the Korn Ferry series from 1990-1993, the last time professional golf came to Maine.
Photo / William Hall
Fans follow the players along the 7,326-yard golf course in Falmouth.
Most Recent
Most Recent
0 Comments