Boeing Classic

The Boeing Classic is a professional golf tournament on the Champions Tour, founded in 2005. The 54-hole event is played annually in late August in Snoqualmie, Washington, east of Seattle. The tournament was titled the "Boeing Greater Seattle Classic" for its first two years. Boeing is the main sponsor of the tournament.

It is held at the TPC Snoqualmie Ridge, a private course designed by Jack Nicklaus which opened for play in 1999. The course is 25 miles (40 km) east of Seattle at the foothills of the Cascade Range, and varies in elevation from 575 to 870 feet (175-265 m) above sea level, with the 18th green at 745 feet (227 m). [ [http://www.tpcsr.com/club/scripts/library/view_document.asp?GRP=11682&NS=PG&APP=80&DN=FACTS TPC Snoqualmie Ridge] - Fast facts]

Beginning in 2007, the tournament has been played the week following the JELD-WEN Tradition, a senior major championship played in Sunriver, Oregon. For its first two years, the tournament immediately preceded The Tradition, which was then played at The Reserve near Portland.

The purse for the 2007 tournament was $1.6 million, with $240,000 going to the champion, Denis Watson, the winner of a playoff.The seven-man, sudden death playoff was the largest in tour history, with the seven finishing the 54 holes at 207, nine under par. The tournament concluded when Watson sunk an eagle putt on the second playoff hole, a second replay of the par-5 18th hole. [ [http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/golf/2003854736_webboeingclassic26.html Denis Watson wins record 7-man playoff to take Boeing Classic] ]

The purse for 2008 was $1.7 million, with $255,000 for first place. The par-72 course was set at 7183 yards (6568 m). Tom Kite shot a final round 66 to finish at 202, 14 under par, two strokes ahead of second round leader Scott Simpson . Kite was the only player in the field to break 70 in all three rounds and became the first repeat winner of the event. [ [http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/golf/2008136211_boeing250.html Tom Kite rallies, relishes that winning feeling at Boeing Classic] ] Kite won the tournament in 2006 in a one-hole playoff over Keith Fergus, and was the runner-up in 2005, finishing three strokes behind David Eger. [ [http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sports/2002448011_champ22.html A one-man band: David Eger wins Greater Seattle event] ]

The 2009 tournament is scheduled for August 28-30.

In 2010, the U.S. Senior Open will be played at Sahalee Country Club in nearby Sammamish, with the final round scheduled for Sunday, August 1. The tournament dates for the 2010 Boeing Classic have not been set, as potentially these two events may be played in consecutive weeks. [ [http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/golf/2004383511_golfsenior01.html Preparations under way for Senior Open in 2010 at Sahalee] ]

Winners

References

External links

* [http://www.boeingclassic.com Boeing Classic.com] - official site
* [http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/s619/ Champions Tour's official site] - Boeing Classic
* [http://www.tpcsr.com/club/scripts/section/section.asp?NS=PG TPC Snoqualmie Ridge] - official site
* [http://www.nicklaus.com/design/snoqualmie Nicklaus.com] - TPC Snoqualmie Ridge