The Ally Challenge

Last updated
The Ally Challenge
The Ally Challenge logo.png
Tournament information
Location Grand Blanc Township, Michigan
Established2018
Course(s) Warwick Hills Golf and Country Club
Par72
Length7,112 yards (6,503 m)
Tour(s) PGA Tour Champions
Format Stroke play
Prize fund US$2,200,000
Month playedAugust
Tournament record score
Aggregate199 Joe Durant (2021)
To par−17 as above
Current champion
Flag of Fiji.svg Vijay Singh
Location Map
Usa edcp relief location map.png
Icona golf.svg
Warwick Hills G&CC
Location in the United States
Relief map of USA Michigan.png
Icona golf.svg
Warwick Hills G&CC
Location in Michigan

The Ally Challenge is a PGA Tour Champions event at Warwick Hills Golf and Country Club in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, just south of Flint, which debuted in September 2018. [1] The tournament is sponsored by Grand Blanc-based McLaren Health Care. Detroit-based Ally Financial is the title sponsor. [2] Beyond the tournament, the Ally Challenge event includes a pro-am on Wednesday and Thursday, [3] The Ally Challenge Community Concert on Friday and Adidas 5K Challenge run/walk event on Saturday morning. [4]

Contents

Net proceeds from the tournament were earmarked for Community Foundation of Greater Flint and Junior Achievement of Southeastern Michigan plus additional charities could participate in the Birdies for Charities fundraising program. [4] Grand Blanc Community Schools benefits by using their parking lots to generate revenue. [5]

Background

Previously, the area had the Buick Open from 1958 through 2009 at the Warwick Hills Golf Club, [2] as one of six former PGA Tour sites hosting PGA Tour Champions events. Since that tournament left, the golf club had been looking to get a replace in a PGA Tour Champions event. The main issue was finding a title sponsor. [1]

History

The Ally Challenge was announced by the PGA on August 26, 2017 as a PGA Tour Champions tournament playing September 10–16, 2018. An agreement is in place for the $2 million purse tournament until 2020. [1] The Challenge would also included a pro-am on Wednesday and Thursday. [3]

On November 10, 2017, the tournament announced McLaren Health Care as presenting sponsor. Plus, they indicated tickets were on sale, a Big & Rich concert would be held after the first round and a 5K run would also be held. [2] The Birdies for Charities fundraising program was announced in May 2018 for additional 501(c)3 charity to join. [4] The 5K run/walk was announced on June 22, 2018 to be sponsor by Adidas as the Adidas 5K Challenge held before the second round with benefiting non-profits as the Community Foundation of Greater Flint and Junior Achievement of Southeastern Michigan. [6]

The Genesee County Board of Commissioners embroiled the tournament in a controversy over their April 2, 2018 approval, 7–1, of using veterans millage funds towards sponsoring the event as "outreach". With the sponsorship, the county would get free access for veterans to the tournament and a "Patriot Pavilion" at the 18th fairway for all active and reserve military, veterans and their dependents. On April 9, 2018, after a commissioner sponsored petition with 500 signatures and an hour of mostly veterans speaking against the sponsorship, the board reversed it vote, initially 6–2–1 before voting switching made it unanimous. [7]

Paul Broadhurst was the inaugural 2018 tournament winner with a 15-under-par 201 score to beat Brandt Jobe by two strokes. [8] All three rounds of the tournament was broadcast on the Golf Channel. [4]

On August 2, 2020, major champion Jim Furyk won the tournament in his PGA Tour Champions debut, becoming the first golfer to have won the former Buick Open held here to win The Ally Challenge. [9]

Winners

YearWinnerScoreTo parMargin of
victory		Runner-upPurse
($)		Winner's
share ($)		Ref.
2023 Flag of Fiji.svg Vijay Singh 202−141 stroke Flag of the United States.svg Jeff Maggert 2,200,000330,000
2022 Flag of the United States.svg Steve Stricker 201−151 stroke Flag of the United States.svg Brett Quigley 2,000,000300,000
2021 Flag of the United States.svg Joe Durant 199−171 stroke Flag of Germany.svg Bernhard Langer 2,000,000300,000
2020 Flag of the United States.svg Jim Furyk 202−142 strokes Flag of South Africa.svg Retief Goosen 2,000,000300,000
2019 Flag of the United States.svg Jerry Kelly 200−162 strokes Flag of the United States.svg Woody Austin 2,000,000300,000
2018 Flag of England.svg Paul Broadhurst 201−152 strokes Flag of the United States.svg Brandt Jobe 2,000,000300,000 [8] [1]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "PGA returning to Mid-Michigan with Ally Challenge". ABC 12 (WJRT). August 22, 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 Savage, Brendan (November 13, 2017). "PGA Tour Champions' Ally Challenge adds McLaren as presenting sponsor". MLive.
  3. 1 2 Lang, Tom (August 22, 2017). "PGA Tour Champions set for Warwick Hills in Grand Blanc: 5 things to know". The Detroit Free Press.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Trotman, Jeanna (August 20, 2018). "The Ally Challenge presented by McLaren commits Toms, Mediate, and O'Meara". WEYI. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
  5. ↑ Chambo, Andy (September 10, 2018). "Grand Blanc schools offers parking for those attending the Ally Challenge". ABC12.com. WJRT. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
  6. ↑ Savage, Brendan (June 22, 2018). "Road race to be held in conjunction with Ally Challenge golf tournament". Flint Journal. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
  7. ↑ May, Jake (April 9, 2018). "Genesee County won't spend $50k of veterans millage on PGA Tour tournament". Flint Journal. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
  8. 1 2 Strege, John (September 16, 2018). "Paul Broadhurst wins the inaugural Ally Challenge, his third victory of the year and second in Michigan". Golf Digest. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
  9. ↑ Stafford, Ali (August 3, 2020). "Jim Furyk wins PGA Tour Champions debut at the Ally Challenge". Sky Sports.

42°54′05″N83°36′02″W / 42.9013°N 83.6006°W / 42.9013; -83.6006

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