Western Amateur Leaving Point O'Woods after this Year

Following the 2008 Western Amateur, the Point O'Woods Golf & Country Club's 38-year tradition of annually hosting the championship will come to an end, John Kaczkowski, Western Golf Association vice president of tournaments has announced. The WGA's current five-year contract with Point O'Woods expires following the 2008 tournament. The WGA is exploring the possibility of rotating the Western Amateur among a handful of Chicago-area clubs and Point O'Woods beginning in 2009.

"Our goal is to move it around to a select group of clubs that support the Western Golf Association and the Evans Scholarship Program and also feature quality, championship venues capable of challenging the world's top amateur golfers," Kaczkowski said.

The new plan is being heralded as a win-win by both the WGA and Point O'Woods. "Allowing us the flexibility to include four Chicago area venues with the Point will provide more exposure for the prestigious Western Amateur," says Kaczkowski. "We've enjoyed an excellent relationship with the members and staff at Point O'Woods, and we expect that relationship will continue even though the Point will no longer host the WesternAmateur on an annual basis," noted Kaczkowski.

"We're looking forward to bringing the Western Amateur championship to the Chicago area for the first time since 1952, when the tournament was hosted by Exmoor Country Club in Highland Park."

Point O'Woods G. & C.C. in Benton Harbor, first hosted the Western Amateur in 1963. The championship returned to Point O'Woods in 1965 and then was anchored at the club starting in 1971.