Woody Austin to compete in Wichita Open Shootout

June 10, 2011

{WICHITA, Kan.} — Derby resident and three-time PGA TOUR winner Woody Austin will highlight the list of golf professionals participating in next Monday’s Scholfield Hyundai Shootout at Crestview Country Club. The shootout, which starts at 6:00 pm on the back-9, will help kick off the early week of festivities leading up to Thursday’s start of the Preferred Health Systems Wichita Open at Crestview’s north course.

Austin is the marquee name in the shootout. Originally from Tampa, Florida, he won the 1995 Buick Open, 2004 Buick Championship and 2007 Stanford St. Jude Championship. Austin was a part of the victorious U.S. Presidents Cup team in 2007, going 1-1-3 during the competition. Also in 2007 he battled Tiger Woods over the final 9-holes, eventually finishing second at the PGA Championship at Southern Hills.

The format for the shootout out will be a scramble, teaming up a PGA/Nationwide Tour professional with a club professional from the Wichita area. Past winners from the shootout include Brad Elder, Ben Bates and Jeff Klauk.

Participating professionals from the Nationwide Tour will include:

Dustin Garza – Former Wichita State All-American. He won six tournaments as a senior and was selected to play on the Palmer Cup.

Ben Bates – Won 1997 PHS Wichita Open in a four-man playoff.

Jerod Turner – Finished 15^th on 2009 Nationwide Tour money list.

Josh Broadaway – Plays golf cross-handed.

Tommy Biershenk – Currently 25^th on the Nationwide Tour money list.

Seven Wichita area professionals will participate: Rod Nuckolls (Willowbend GC) – Recently won qualifying tournament and will play in his 14^th Wichita Open; Greg Bray (Terradyne CC); Keith Gunter (Crestview CC); Cary Cozby (Wichita CC); Dave Henson (Flint Hills CC); Lee Johnson (Hidden Lakes GC); Steve Blaske (MacDonald Park GC).

The field of 156 golfers is sure to be the strongest in the events history, and the $600,000 in prize money is the largest amount ever awarded in the Wichita Open’s 22-year history.

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