Korn Ferry Tour Debuts Lake Charles Championship at Golden Nugget in 2020
The Korn Ferry Tour has partnered with the Lake Charles/SWLA Convention and Visitors Bureau to launch a new tournament on its 2020 schedule. The Lake Charles Championship will make its debut at The Country Club at the Golden Nugget in Lake Charles, Louisiana, from March 23-29, 2020. The event features 156 players competing for a $600,000 purse under a five-year agreement through 2024.
This announcement secures two Korn Ferry Tour events in Louisiana for 2020, with the Chitimacha Louisiana Open presented by MISTRAS set for Lafayette the prior week. Louisiana joins Tennessee, Missouri, and Illinois as the only U.S. states hosting two events annually.
What is the Korn Ferry Tour?
Established in 1990 and owned and operated by the PGA TOUR, the Korn Ferry Tour develops elite players poised for success on golf's premier stage. Since 2013, it has been "The Path to the PGA TOUR," awarding all 50 PGA TOUR cards annually. Twenty-five cards go to the top Regular Season points earners after 24 events, with another 25 available through the three-event Korn Ferry Tour Finals in August and September.
Past Participants and Success Stories
Three-quarters of PGA TOUR members are Korn Ferry Tour alumni, who have claimed over 500 PGA TOUR titles, including 24 majors and eight PLAYERS Championships.
In the 2018-19 PGA TOUR season, five players from the Korn Ferry Tour's Class of 2018 secured victories: Cameron Champ (Sanderson Farms Championship), Adam Long (The Desert Classic), Martin Trainer (Puerto Rico Open), Max Homa (Wells Fargo Championship), and Dylan Frittelli (John Deere Classic).
Notable alumni include major champions Justin Thomas, Jason Day, Bubba Watson, and Zach Johnson.
About the Venue
The Country Club at the Golden Nugget, which opened in 2015, was ranked No. 2 in Louisiana by Golfweek's Best of 2018. Integrated with the Golden Nugget Lake Charles resort—a 242-acre waterfront property—the venue offers a 22-story tower, 30,000 square feet of meeting space, diverse dining and bars, a private beach, marina, spa, salon, retail, and a 24-hour casino.
What Leaders Are Saying
"We are excited to partner with the Lake Charles/SWLA CVB to bring Korn Ferry Tour golf to this region of Louisiana," said Korn Ferry Tour President Alex Baldwin. "I am confident our players will enjoy a tremendous week of competition at the Golden Nugget while providing local golf fans a glimpse into the future stars of the PGA TOUR."
"The Lake Charles/SWLA CVB is proud to join the long list of successful destinations that are part of the Korn Ferry host family," said CVB President/CEO Kyle Edmiston. "We are thankful to Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser, Mayor Nic Hunter, the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury, and the Golden Nugget Lake Charles for helping to make this iconic event a reality. I am positive that the Korn Ferry players and staff will enjoy the wonderful hospitality provided by our community."
For sponsorship and volunteer opportunities, contact Steve Nieman at SNieman@brunoeventteam.com.
For more on the Lake Charles Championship, visit www.lakecharleschampionship.com.
Learn more about the PGA TOUR and Korn Ferry Tour at PGATOUR.COM, or follow on Instagram (@KornFerryTour), Twitter (@KornFerryTour), and Facebook (facebook.com/KornFerryTour).
ABOUT LAKE CHARLES CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU
The LC/SWLA CVB, Calcasieu Parish's official destination marketing organization, drives economic growth through overnight visitation. Its team promotes Southwest Louisiana via marketing, PR, sales, and events to attract meetings, conventions, tournaments, media, and groups to Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana.
