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FW golfer Henry one of five additions to 2012 Colonial field

Fort Worth resident J.J. Henry, a former TCU golfer, received one of five sponsor’s exemptions extended today by officials at the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial. Other exemptions went to Colleyville resident Chad Campbell, Justin Leonard, Anthony Kim and Colt Knost. All five players have confirmed plans to compete May 21-27 in Fort Worth. With the latest round of commitments, Colonial has 53 confirmed competitors for its 2012 event.

_ Jimmy Burch

Colonial commitments for 2012 tournament (48 players thus far)

A list of golfers who have committed to compete in the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial, May 21-27 in Fort Worth. Commitments are not official until Friday, May 18:

Fulton Allem, Robert Allenby, Kris Blanks, Jonathan Byrd, Kevin Chappell, Keith Clearwater, Ben Crane, Brian Davis, Brendon de Jonge, Steve Flesch, Jim Furyk, Tommy Gainey, Robert Garrigus, Paul Goydos, Charley Hoffman, John Huh, Fredrik Jacobson, Brandt Jobe, Zach Johnson, Jerry Kelly, J.J. Killeen, Chris Kirk, Kelly Kraft, Spencer Levin, George McNeill, Bryce Molder, Jeff Overton, Ryan Palmer, Rod Pampling, Carl Pettersson, D.A. Points, Nick Price, Chez Reavie, John Rollins, John Senden, Vijay Singh, Brandt Snedeker, Kevin Stadler, Scott Stallings, Henrik Stenson, Kevin Streelman, David Toms, Cameron Tringale, Bo Van Pelt, Johnson Wagner, Jimmy Walker, Charlie Wi, Mark Wilson.

_ Jimmy Burch

Colonial extends sponsor's exemptions to FW golfer Killeen and U.S. Amateur champ Kraft

Colonial officials have given sponsor’s exemptions to Fort Worth resident J.J. Killeen, a former TCU golfer who is a rookie on the 2012 PGA Tour, and reigning U.S. Amateur champion Kelly Kraft, a former SMU golfer. Colonial tournament director Michael Tothe  said today that both players have accepted the invitations and plan to compete in Fort Worth during the May 21-27 event.

With today’s exemptions, 48 golfers have committed to compete at Colonial. Notable names, along with defending champ David Toms and two-time champ Nick Price, include Jim Furyk, Vijay Singh, Zach Johnson and Robert Allenby. Tarrant County residents Ben Crane, Brandt Jobe, Ryan Palmer and John Rollins also are on the commitment list.

Colonial officials begin selling single-day tickets Thursday for the 2012 tournament. For information, visit www.CrownePlazaInvitational.com or call 817-927-4280.

_ Jimmy Burch

Price plans Colonial return in 2012

Nick Price, a two-time champion who has not played at the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial since 2003, is among the first wave of golfers who have committed to play May 21-27 in Fort Worth.

Price, 55, won the event for the second time in 2002 but was overshadowed during his 2003 title defense by Annika Sorenstam, who received a sponsor’s exemption. Price has yet to return to Colonial. But he was on the commitment list released today by tournament officials.

“We’re ecstatic,” said Michael Tothe , Colonial’s tournament director. “For him to come back and play our event, it’s great. When you think of some of the best golfers in the history of the game, Nick Price is right there. He can still … compete at the highest level.”

Price, a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame, competes primarily on the Champions Tour and would have to skip the Senior PGA Championship on that tour to compete at Colonial. Other Champions Tour competitors and past Colonial champs on Monday’s commitment list included Fulton Allem and Keith Clearwater.

A total of 48 players are on Colonial's initial commitment list, including defending champ David Toms, Vijah Singh, Zach Johnson and Robert Allenby. Tarrant County residents with PGA Tour cards on today's list include Ben Crane, Brand Jobe, Ryan Palmer and John Rollins.

_ Jimmy Burch 

Colonial champ Toms to take part in Tuesday Q&A with fans via Facebook

David Toms, reigning champion at the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial, will answer questions from fans during a live Q&A session via Facebook as part of Tuesday’s kickoff luncheon activities at Fort Worth’s annual PGA Tour stop.

Toms will participate Tuesday, Feb. 28 from 2:15 p.m. to 3 p.m. To ask questions, Facebook users need to “like” the tournament’s official fan page at Facebook/Colonial. The 2012 tournament will be May 21-27 at Colonial Country Club.

_ Jimmy Burch

WTGA offering college scholarships

The Women's Texas Golf Association is offering two need-based scholarships for female Texas residents who will be college students next fall. The scholarships are $4,000 and golf skill level is not a determining factor. Applicaiton deadline is April 30. For more information, visit womenstexasgolf.org or call 972-998-6052.

 

_ Jimmy Burch 

FW Junior Golf Tour set to begin with March 14 event

Fort Worth Golf officials have created the Fort Worth Junior Golf Tour, a series of five tournaments starting in March that qualifies participants for a 36-hole championship event on Aug. 6-7 at Pecan Valley Golf Course.

Membership in the tour is $25 per player and the first event will be March 14 at Meadowbrook Golf Course. The tour is open to boys and girls from ages 7-18, with four age divisions: 7-9 (9-hole events), 10-12 (9-hole events), 13-15 (18-hole events) and 16-18 (18-hole events).

Entry fee for each event is $15 for members and $20 for non-members. For more information, visit www.fortworthgolf.org or call 817-457-4616.

_ Jimmy Burch

 

FW Junior Golf Tour set to begin with March 14 event

Fort Worth Golf officials have created the Fort Worth Junior Golf Tour, a series of five tournaments starting in March that qualifies participants for a 36-hole championship event on Aug. 6-7 at Pecan Valley Golf Course.

Membership in the tour is $25 per player and the first event will be March 14 at Meadowbrook Golf Course. The tour is open to boys and girls from ages 7-18, with four age divisions: 7-9 (9-hole events), 10-12 (9-hole events), 13-15 (18-hole events) and 16-18 (18-hole events).

Entry fee for each event is $15 for members and $20 for non-members. For more information, visit www.fortworthgolf.org or call 817-457-4616.

_ Jimmy Burch

 

U.S. Amateur champ Kraft to compete at 2012 Nelson

Kelly Kraft, reigning U.S. Amateur golf champion, has accepted a sponsor’s exemption to play in the HP Byron Nelson Championship, tournament officials announced today. The tournament is May 14-20 in Irving.

Kraft, a former SMU golfer ranked No. 8 in the latest World Amateur Golf Rankings, plans to turn professional after competing as an amateur at the Masters Tournament in April.

_ Jimmy Burch

EGWA season kickoff set for March 3 at Sky Creek Ranch Golf Club

The Fort Worth chapter of the Executive Women’s Golf Association will kick off its season with a round of golf, a social mixer, food and a guest speaker March 3 at Sky Creek Ranch Golf Course in Keller.

Since its founding in 1991, the EWGA -- a tax-exempt organization with more than 125 local chapters in the U.S. -- has helped more than 100,000 women connect though golf for business and fun. For more information and to register online for the March 3 event, visit the Fort Worth EWGA website  at www.ewgafortworth.com.

_ Jimmy Burch