Tarheel Tour returns to home state for first time in 2008

Lexington, NC - The Charlotte based Tarheel Tour will make its first of six consecutive visits within its home state of North Carolina on April 23-25 at Sapona Country Club in Lexington for the fourth playing of the Sapona Open.

Sapona is historically a shot maker’s course, but in 2008, the course will measure an additional 222 yards from last year after the creation of new tees and the extension of some existing tees. The major changes come at a pair of short par 4 holes, #2 and #6. The second hole, which previously measured 363 yards, has been bolstered with an additional 28 yards with the tee more to the left, enhancing the dogleg and measuring 391 yards. The sixth hole, which in the past measured 343 yards and could be drivable with a steady tail wind, now measures 420 yards after a new tee was built adding 77 yards and bringing the fairway bunkers more in to play. Several other tees were extended allowing the course to measure 6620 yards. "One of the things that I really love about Sapona is that it is a very traditional layout. You have to strike the ball well, but you also have to really be able to think your way around the golf course there,” says Tarheel Tour President David Siegel. “The winner will likely be the player that comes in with a good game plan and is able to execute it for all 54 holes” Siegel remarked.

The 2008 Sapona Open is expected to have a field of 138 players, which marks the largest field in the history of the event. The 54-hole event will implement a cut after 36 holes to the top 35% and ties. Those fortunate enough to make the cut will play the final 18 holes and compete for the $112,000 purse with a first place check of $17,500.

The field will include last year’s leading money winner and Sapona Open runner-up Matt Cannon. Cannon, a Huntersville, NC native will be competing in just his second event of the season and is looking to get his season off to a quick start. By all accounts, the golf course sets up well for his precision short iron game and good putting. Also in the field is 2007 Nationwide Tour member Dustin Bray. Bray, an Asheboro, NC native, got his season off to a solid start last week with a second place finish at The Manor Classic in Farmville, VA. Bray missed the first two events of the season after undergoing an emergency appendectomy in March. Other notables in the field include regular Tarheel Tour competitors William McGirt and Jeff Curl, as well as Nationwide Tour player Steve Friesen. Freisen, a Scottsdale, AZ resident, finished 18th in the Nationwide Tour’s Livermore Valley Wine Country Championship just three weeks ago.

The Tarheel Tour is in its seventh season and will host 20 events in 2008, with roughly half of the events in and around the Charlotte, NC area. The first round of the Sapona Open will begin at 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 23. As always, the event is open to the public and free of charge.