SUBMITTED NEWS RELEASE
Tournament introduces “Doctors Supporting Troops” Pro-Am contest in conjunction with KRNV News 4
The Reno-Tahoe Open, together with Doctors Louis Bonaldi, Jason Champagne, Daniel Rowan and Renny Uppal, introduce “Doctors Supporting Troops” a new program for 2011 benefitting current and former members of the military currently or previously living or serving in northern Nevada. The all-new program for the 13th annual PGA TOUR event encourages active duty, guard, reserve and veterans of all military branches to write an essay explaining why he or she would like a chance to play in the tournament’s Wednesday Pro-Am. Nominations are accepted through Friday, June 17, 2011 and winners are announced the week of June 27 on KRNV News 4.
“We are so thrilled that Dr. Rowan came to us with this wonderful idea that allows our military and veterans with an opportunity to play in the Wednesday Pro-Am,” said Jana Smoley, executive director of the Reno-Tahoe Open. “I’d like to thank all four of the Doctors for their generosity and overwhelming support of Nevada’s armed forces and KRNV in helping make this program a reality. That they came to us on their own with this incredibly generous prospect is truly a remarkable act and we’re very appreciative of this chance to give back to a community that has given so much to us as a country.”
In addition to an opportunity to play in the only PGA TOUR Pro-Am tournament in northern Nevada, winners of the “Doctors Supporting Troops” contest may also attend the exclusive Pro-Am Pairings Party on Tuesday night Aug. 2 at the Eldorado Hotel Resort where he or she will participate in a game of chance to select a PGA TOUR player to hit the links with Wednesday at Montrêux Golf & Country Club. Each selected winner also is set to be featured on KRNV News 4 with anchor Bill Frankmore in the weeks leading up to the tournament.
All essays must be 500 words or less and be submitted to [email protected] by 5 p.m. Friday, June 17. Submissions may be entered by friends or family as well as the actual nominee being considered. All nominees must be active duty, guard or reserve members of the military or veterans with honorable discharge status. A copy of military identification should be included in the application and all nominees must have a handicap of 20 or better with verification from the golfer’s home course. To learn more or view the complete set of rules, visit www.RenoTahoeOpen.com.
“The partnership between the tournament, doctors and the media is an ideal platform to help support the military in our community,” said Jana Smoley, executive director of the Reno-Tahoe Open. “It’s the perfect way for various groups to come together as a whole to express their gratitude and respect for what these people have done for us as a nation.”
“Doctors Supporting Troops” is just one of many military inspired programs taking place during the 2011 Reno-Tahoe Open. The Nevada Military Support Alliance will again be the primary beneficiary of funds raised by the Reno-Tahoe Open Foundation, the non-profit arm that operates the annual tournament, and young spectators who visit the event can again participate in the “Soldier for the Day” geo-caching program. Children participating in the program are given a hand-held GPS device to locate various posts around the golf course to collect a treasure from participating military, starting with personalized dog tags and a passport to be stamped at each location. Passports are turned in at the end of the activity in exchange for a prize.
In addition to “Soldier for the Day,” other military-themed events taking place on site during tournament week include free entrance for active duty, guard and reserve military personnel, an on-site military static display, Patriots’ Luncheon, an Appreciation Station and a Patriots’ Outpost in the 9th green hospitality tents.
For more information on the 13th annual Reno-Tahoe Open at Montrêux, including ticket sales, vacation packages, volunteer and sponsorship opportunities, visit www.RenoTahoeOpen.com or contact the tournament office at 775-322-3900.
The 13th annual Reno-Tahoe Open at Montrêux, an official PGA TOUR event, takes place Aug. 1 – 7, 2011 at Montrêux Golf & Country Club in Reno, Nev. The tournament is a full-field stop during the PGA TOUR Regular Season and is part of the FedExCup series, a points competition for PGA TOUR professionals. The internationally-televised tournament brings in millions of dollars in coverage for the Reno-Tahoe region through its affiliation with The Golf Channel as it follows 132 PGA TOUR professionals competing for a share of the tournament’s $3 million purse. The Reno-Tahoe Open is operated and managed by the Reno-Tahoe Open Foundation, comprised of key sponsors including Eldorado Hotel Reno, Montrêux Development Group and NV Energy.
