The 17th CVS Health Charity Classic is Set to Tee Off
Wednesday, June 24, 2015
Sunday's pro-am is free and open to the public as the CVS Health Charity Classic celebrates Community Day.
"We are in our 17th year of raising money for local charities in both Rhode Island and Massachusetts and it's been a great ride for us," said CVS Charity Classic Tournament Director Greg Costello.
Since the tournament began in 1999, the CVS Charity Classic has donated over $18 million to local charities, including a landmark $1.4 million in 2014.
The Pairings
Over its 16 year history, the CVS Charity Classic has seen current PGA Tour stars like Bubba Watson and Rickie Fowler to legends like Gary Player, Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus come to Rhode Island.
"We've been very fortunate with the golfers that we have had come here over the last 16 years, it's been a good concentration of players," Costello said.
The 2015 CVS Health Charity Classic pairings are as follows:
- Billy Andrade - Brad Faxon
- Steve Stricker - Bo Van Pelt
- Billy Horschel - Jimmy Walker
- Jon Curran - Keegan Bradley
- Bill Haas – Webb Simpson
- J.B. Holmes - Hunter Mahan
- Harris English - Lexi Thompson
- Erik Compton - Suzann Pettersen
- Russell Henley - Morgan Pressel
- Juli Inkster - Peter Jacobsen
Highlighting the pairings are Brad Faxon and Billy Andrade, tournament co-hosts, teaming up in seek of their first CVS Classic victory.
One pair that will challenge the defending champions is the team of Jon Curran and Keegan Bradley, both newcomers to the CVS Classic and both from New England. Bradley and Curran were teammates in high school.
Only one co-ed team has ever won the CVS Charity Classic (Morgan Pressel, Jay Haas, 2012) and this year, four co-ed teams will have a chance to win including the veteran pair of Juli Inkster and Peter Jacobsen.
The Format
The format for the CVS Health Charity Classic will be the same as it is every year, best ball of the twosome.
This is a format that PGA and LPGA professionals don't play alot on tour except in Ryder Cup's, President's Cups and Solheim Cups on the women's side.
Best ball of the twosome means that the players will each shoot their own score but the lowest score of the two will count towards the team's tournament score.
For example, if on one hole, Steve Stricker taps in for a four but Van Pelt makes a three, the team score would be a three.
Rhode Island Country Club
Rhode Island Country Club was designed by Donald Ross in 1911 and has hosted four United States Golf Association (USGA) Championships and has been the home of the CVS Charity Classic since it began.
"It's been great, it's a tremendous golf course, it's always in great shape for us. I don't know if you can beat the last four holes in Rhode Island," Costello said about Rhode Island Country Club.
Rhode Island Country Club is a par 71 with three par-5's and stretches over 6,680 yards with the four closing holes over looking the water.
Events Surrounding the Classic
"Every year, we try to add fun family events to the tournament," Costello said.
This year, those events include the Rocky Point 5k on Saturday, June 27 in Warwick, CVS Charity Classic Community day on Sunday, June 28 where families can enjoy food trucks, mobile farmers and more.
Other activities include the Charity Miles Campaign as well as a fresh truck pop-up market and cooking demo.
For more information or to purchase tickets to the CVS Health Charity Classic, click here.
Related Slideshow: The 10 Best Public Golf Courses in Worcester County
Related Articles
- CVS Classic Kick Off Press Conference
- CVS Classic Announces First Round Tee Times
- CVS Classic: Pros, Locals Play Together in Charity Pro-Am
- CVS Classic: Stricker, Van Pelt Repeat as Champions
- CVS Classic: Defending Champs Tied for Lead Entering Final Round
- NEW: Pettersen, Pressel Round Out CVS Classic Field
Follow us on Pinterest Google + Facebook Twitter See It Read It