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Price Cutter Charity Championship officials announced Thursday morning that spectators will not be allowed at the Highland Springs golf tournament, per a PGA Tour order.
Photo courtesy Highland Springs Country Club
Price Cutter Charity Championship officials announced Thursday morning that spectators will not be allowed at the Highland Springs golf tournament, per a PGA Tour order.

PGA reverses course on PCCC spectators

Posted online

Price Cutter Charity Championship officials announced this morning that spectators will not be allowed at the 31st annual golf tournament.

After getting the go-ahead last month to be the first Korn Ferry Tour event with fans permitted, PGA Tour officials have reversed course in response to the coronavirus pandemic, said PCCC Executive Director Jerald Andrews. The tour is scheduled to stop in Springfield July 23-26 at Highland Springs Country Club.

The event typically brings in tens of thousands of fans for the four days of play. It also acts as an avenue for children’s charities in the Ozarks to raise money. Andrews told Springfield Business Journal prior to a July 9 news conference that the decision would have a negative impact on the 45 participating nonprofits this year.

“By not allowing spectators, it impacts several of the sponsorships and what the event can mean for charities this year,” said Andrews, who also is head of the event’s organizing nonprofit Missouri Sports Hall of Fame. “This could and will damage severely what we give to charity this year.”

Now in its 31st year, the PCCC has raised a cumulative $16.5 million for local children’s charities. Last year, $952,000 went to 49 benefiting charities.

Andrews said at the news conference that he hopes the event’s roughly 400 sponsors continue their support of the event but will issue refunds if necessary. He added the bulk of tickets are wrapped into the sponsorship packages.

“We tried our absolute best to avoid this scenario, and I’m disappointed for our community,” he said in a news release. “However, we hope the community will still rally behind our charities. We will continue to fundraise for them, as team sponsorships remain available for upcoming golf experiences and other events.”

The pro-ams and additional activities are still scheduled with COVID-19 testing and protocols in place, Andrews said.

He said former NFL quarterback Tony Romo is still set to join the field of play, with hopes of qualifying for the PGA Tour.

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