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IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Jamie Carbone August 14, 2006 561\624-8446 [email protected]

INAUGURAL YOUTH SKILLS CHALLENGE HIGHLIGHTS BUSY COMMUNITY RELATIONS PROGRAM AT THE 88th PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

MEDINAH, Ill. – The 88th PGA Championship at Medinah Country Club has yet to begin, but the season’s final major already has set an enviable precedent for future major Championships off the course, as witnessed by a pilot event that involved hundreds of youth from the Greater Chicago area. On Sunday, Aug. 13, the inaugural Youth Golf Skills Challenge presented by Nike Golf featured 32 finalists from an original starting field of 955 that competed from May-July in driving, chipping and putting competitions. The finalists assembled on Medinah’s adjacent No. 1 Course to determine eight age-division champions, ranging from 6-17. The winners took home more than prizes. Among other rewards, they walked inside the ropes with 2002 PGA Champion Rich Beem during a Tuesday practice round. (See attached results in accompanying chart.) “We wanted to do something that would be different from anything that had been done before in conjunction with a PGA Championship -- bring young people to a world stage,” said 88th PGA Championship General Chairman Art Frigo, whose idea spawned an event hosted at the facilities of 40 Illinois PGA Professionals in section and regional competitions. “This was a chance for young people to share in the excitement of a major Championship. It’s my hope that several here this week will be inspired by this experience to do great things in their lives.” Brooke Kochevar, 12, of Glen Ellyn, Ill., the daughter of PGA Professional Dan Kochevar of Oak Brook (Ill.) Golf Club, captured an age division title. “It was a lot of fun, and I think the pressure wasn’t as bad because I was around some of my friends,” said Kochevar, a left-hander who also competed in the 2003 and 2005 Junior World Championship. “It was a fun time going throughout the entire event.” David Keenan, 13, of Catlin, Ill., finished fourth in the 12-14 Division, but it didn’t dampen his spirit of being among the finalists in the Skills Challenge. “This was a great time, and I really enjoyed being out here,” said Keenan, who began playing golf two years ago. “I’m hoping to keep improving and getting lessons.” Said Keenan’s father, Tom, a self-employed owner of a trucking business, “It doesn’t matter where the event may be, we will get there. David loves golf now. I didn’t have a chance to learn the game from a PGA Professional, but picked up the game from a manual. Now, the whole family plays.” The PGA Community Relations Program was extended 14 miles southwest of Medinah to Cantigny Golf Course in Wheaton, Ill., where a Play Golf America Day was conducted by 40 PGA Professionals, who gave free golf lessons to approximately 300 visitors on Sunday. Guests were also treated to a clinic conducted by PGA Director of Instruction Rick Martino, of the PGA Learning Center in Port St. Lucie, Fla., and 2005 PGA Teacher of the Year Peter Krause, of Independence, Minn.

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“I’ve enjoyed Play Golf America Day for a lot of reasons,” said Krause, who is a PGA teaching professional at Windsong Farm Golf Club. “It is a chance to reach out to those who have left the game for one reason or another, and invite them to return to the game. And I feel that I can throw a little levity into the program. Golf is perhaps the hardest game, and nobody will ever master it. Those that are successful that you see on Tour, reach a greater level of consistency.” “I thank the Illinois PGA Section for its outstanding support, led by [Executive Director] Michael Miller and [Assistant Executive Director] Carrie Holub, who have worked hard to bring golf to the public,” added Cantigny PGA head professional Michael Jones. “It’s a tribute to the Section. There are 40 PGA Professionals out here on a Sunday afternoon in the middle of August, who could be with their own families or having a day off. But, they are committed and that is reflected in what impressions they leave with strangers.” On Monday, Cantigny Golf Course remained a hub of activity, as the annual Community Relations Youth Clinic attracted 500 youngsters from 56 charitable organizations in Greater Chicago. The youngsters received instruction from 60 Illinois PGA Professionals and were entertained by PGA Honorary Member and nationally known trick-shot artist Dennis Walters. Since its origin in 2000, the PGA Community Relations Program, inclusive of the PGA Championship, Senior PGA Championship, PGA Professional National Championship and Ryder Cup, has benefited 681 charities. Those charities have received funds and credentials to major PGA of America events totaling nearly $13 million. During the 88th PGA Championship, the 56 charities will receive $207,200 in funding, and $724,900 in credentials and gifts, for a total value of $932,100. The credentials are primarily for juniors to attend the Championship. The PGA Community Relations Program’s efforts are to serve its host community that is supported by the membership of Medinah Country Club, Pepsi, Sharpe, Nike Golf, Cantigny Golf Course, the Illinois PGA Section, Levy Restaurants and the PGA Tournament Corporation. Medinah Country Club’s membership nominated its choice of charitable organizations in preparation for the week of activities in conjunction with the PGA Championship. The PGA Championship is one of four premier golf events conducted by The PGA of America. Others include the Ryder Cup, Senior PGA Championship and the PGA Grand Slam of Golf, which brings together the winners of golf’s four major Championships. Since 1916, golf's best professionals have been competing for the PGA Championship’s coveted Wanamaker Trophy. Past Champions span both the legendary and recent stars of the game: Walter Hagen, Gene Sarazen, Byron Nelson, Ben Hogan, Sam Snead, Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Vijay Singh and Phil Mickelson. Celebrating its 90th anniversary, The PGA of America was founded in 1916, and is a not-for-profit organization that promotes the game of golf, while continuing to enhance the standards of the profession. The Association is comprised of more than 28,000 men and women PGA Professionals who are dedicated to growing participation in the game of golf.

Participating Organizations in the -- PGA Community Relations Program Follow -- PGA Community Relations Program Participating Organizations

Alfred Campanelli YMCA Schaumburg Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Lake County Gurnee Boy Scouts of America – Tree Fires Council St. Charles Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago Chicago Center for Independence Trough Conductive Learning Countryside Chicago Urban League Chicago Chicago Youth Center Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center of North and Northwest Cook County Hoffman Estates Children’s Brittle Bone Foundation Pleasant Prairie Child’s Voice Wood Dale Childserv Chicago Clearbrook Arlington Heights Coach Care Center Naperville Community Support Services Brookfield Daniel Murphy Scholarship Foundation Chicago Easter Seals DuPage Villa Park Easter Seals Metropolitan Chicago Chicago Gateway Special Recreation at Flagg Creek Golf Course Countryside Giant Steps Illinois Inc. Burr Ridge Glen Ellyn Community Resource Center Glen Ellyn Glen Ellyn Infant Welfare Society Glen Ellyn Have Dreams, Helping Autistic Voices Emerge Park Ridge Heartland Alliance for Human Needs & Human Rights Chicago Hephzibah Children’s Association Glen Ellyn HighSight Chicago Hook A Kid On Golf Sugar Grove Illinois Junior Golf Association Lemont Illinois PGA Foundation Glenview Jackson Park Golfers Association Riverdale Junior Achievement Chicago Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Chicago Kenneth Young Center Elk Grove Kids In Need Addison Lambs Farm Liberty Latin School of Chicago Chicago Leap Learning Systems Chicago Lutheran Child and Family Services of Illinois River Forest Make-A-Wish Foundation of Illinois Chicago Montini Catholic High School Lombard NCO Youth and Family Services Naperville Palatine Opportunity Center Palatine Ray Graham Association Downers Grove Revelation Golf Elk Grove Rockford Park District Rockford Shelter, Inc. Arlington Heights Shriners Hospitals for Children Chicago South Suburban Home School & Gym Group Inc. Chicago Heights St. Petronille School Glen Ellyn Sunshine Through Golf Foundation Lemont The Bridge Youth and Family Services Palatine The First Tee of Chicago Chicago The First Tee of Northeastern Illinois North Chicago The Junior Council of Children’s Memorial Hospital Chicago The Youth Campus Park Ridge Western DuPage Special Recreation Association Carol Stream Young Life of Kane County Geneva