News >> Welch Earns Exemption Into Fresh Express Classic

Longs, SC…The National Golf Association’s Hooters Professional Golf Tour announced in early March that the Nationwide Tour’s Fresh Express Classic  had granted an exemption into the event to The NGA Hooters Tour leading money winner over the first four (4) events of the 2010 season: Ocala, FL, Fernandina Beach, FL, Hickory, NC, & Gainesville, GA. The Hooters Tour member who accumulated the most money in those four events will earn the exemption into The Fresh Express Classic at TPC Stonebrae. (Pictured left, Michael Welch accepting winner's check earlier this year)
 
With a tie for 8th in the first event of the season in Ocala, Florida in early March, his second career NGA Hooters Tour win at the F&S Asset Management Group Classic in Fernandina Beach, Florida the following week and a second tie for 8th at the $250,000 Terry Moore Ford Open in Hickory, North Carolina, Hooters Tour member Michael Welch of Quincy, MA earned that exemption by collecting $40,994 in the four events. 
 
“It’s great winning out on the Hooters Tour and playing well to start my 2010 season but it’s definitely icing on the cake to get the Fresh Express Classic exemption,” said Welch. “It’s going to be a lot of fun playing on the next level and I just want to thank the Hooters Tour and the Fresh Express Classic committee for this opportunity.”
 
Welch will make his first start on the Nationwide Tour, since a 65th place finish in 2008 at the Xerox Classic. 
 
"It's wonderful to have the opportunity to extend a sponsor's invite to a player from the Hooters Tour for this year's Fresh Express Classic at TPC Stonebrae,” said Fresh Express Classic tournament director Jody Brothers. “Some of the most successful Nationwide Tour players in history first proved themselves on the Hooters Tour before making their way through the Nationwide Tour, then onto the PGA TOUR.  We have a tremendous respect for the Hooters Tour and look forward to hosting their leading money winner later this month."
 
The 2nd annual Fresh Express Classic is scheduled for April 12-18, 2010, at TPC Stonebrae, located atop the rugged East Bay hillside overlooking San Francisco Bay. All four rounds will be televised by Golf Channel.

“The #1 goal of The Hooters Tour has always been, and always will be to help professional golfers achieve their dream of playing on The PGA Tour,” said Robin L. Waters, NGA Hooters Tour President. “Playing in The Fresh Express Classic will provide Michael invaluable experience. We would like to congratulate him on his early success in the season and wish him the best of luck next week in California.”
 
At the inaugural Fresh Express Classic, won by 3-time Nationwide Tour winner Michael Sim (-18), former Hooters Tour members who finished top 10 included John Kimbell (T-2), Matt Every (T-4), Nick Flanagan (T-6) & Ryan Armour (10). (Welch right)
 
The NGA/Hooters Tour is the 3rd largest men’s 72-hole professional golf tour in the country behind the PGA and Nationwide Tours, and boasts alumni like 2009 British Open winner Stewart Cink, 2007 Masters Champion Zach Johnson, 2003 PGA Champion Shaun Micheel, 2003 British Open winner Ben Curtis, 2003 US Open winner Jim Furyk, two time U.S. Open winner Lee Janzen, British Open and PGA Champion John Daly, as well as British Open winner Tom Lehman, PGA Champion David Toms, 2003 Tour Championship Winner Chad Campbell, 2004 & 2005 Reno Tahoe Open winner Vaughn Taylor and TPC winner Craig Perks to name just a few. All told, the NGA/Hooters Tour’s alumni have an incredible 11 “Majors” to their credit. The NGA/Hooters Tour has helped more than 100 professionals acquire their PGA, Champions, and Nationwide Tour cards.

For more information about the NGA/Hooters Tour, please visit our web site, www.HOOTERSTOUR.com.