CROMWELL – David Duval, the fourth-ranked player in the world, is heading the list of golfers who have committed to play in the Canon Greater Hartford Open (GHO) from Monday, June 25, through Sunday, July 1, at the River Highlands Tournament Players Club in Cromwell.

Two-time Canon GHO champion Paul Azinger, Kirk Triplett, Scott Simpson and Jean Van de Velde have also committed to the Canon GHO field.

David Duval is currently in the top 20 on the PGA Tour money list – helped by a recent second-place finish at the 2001 Masters, his best finish for the year. Duval fired a 5-under-par 67 in the final round at Augusta National in an exciting duel that went to the final hole.

Duval has 12 career PGA victories and has won over $12 million since turning professional in 1993. His most recent victory was last October in the Buick Challenge. Duval is competing for the fifth time in his career at the Canon GHO.

Two-time Canon GHO champion Paul Azinger will also compete in both the 50th Celebration Pro-Am on Monday, June 25. Azinger, a New England native, won the 1987 Canon Sammy Davis, Jr. GHO and the 1989 Canon GHO. Azinger has 10 other PGA victories in his career, including the 1993 PGA Championship at Inverness Club and the 2000 Hawaiian Open. Azinger has won over $10 million in his career.

Other previously announced players committed to play include Davis Love III, Mark Calcavecchia, Brad Faxon, Joe Durant, Nick Faldo, Fuzzy Zoeller, John Daly, Peter Jacobsen, David Frost, Mark Brooks, Billy Andrade, Scott McCarron and Garrett Willis.

The 50th Celebration Pro-Am on Monday, June 25, begins a week of fun and festivities at the Canon GHO. All past Canon GHO champions participating in the Celebration Pro-Am will also join in an exhibition and awards ceremony following the event at approximately 3:30 p.m. on the 18th hole.

The regular Monday Tournament Players Pro-Am also will take place Monday, June 25 at the Wethersfield Country Club, site of the first 32 Canon GHO tournaments. No spectators will be allowed at Wethersfield.

The 2001 Canon Greater Hartford Open marks the 17th consecutive year that Canon U.S.A., Inc. has been the tournament’s title sponsor. One of the largest events on the PGA tour, the Canon Greater Hartford Open is the sole fundraiser of the Greater Hartford Jaycees. Since Canon became the title sponsor in 1985, the Tournament has raised over one million dollars annually. The Jaycees channel those funds back into the community to improve the lives of those most in need by feeding the hungry, building affordable housing, helping children and much more.

 

Snead Heads List Of

Legends Appearing

Hall of Fame golf great Sam Snead, the all-time leader in PGA tour victories, will participate in the Canon Greater Hartford Open (Canon GHO) 50th Celebration activities on Monday June 25. The tournament’s first champion Ted Kroll (1952), as well as many other past champions including Arnold Palmer (1956, 1960), Lee Trevino (1972), Stewart Cink (1998), Olin Browne (1999) and Notah Begay III (2000) will join Snead, the 1955 champion Snead, for this special event commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Canon GHO tournament.

Snead, who is 89 years old, will not be playing in the Pro-Am, but will be on hand to meet and talk with golf fans and take part in the exhibition shootout following the Pro-Am event.

Sam Snead holds the all-time PGA record with 81 official PGA tour victories. Included in his 81 titles are three PGA Championships (1943, 1949, 1951), three Masters Tournaments (1949, 1952, 1954) and one British Open Championship in 1946.

One of the founders of the Senior PGA, Snead became the oldest champion of an official PGA event when he won the 1965 Greater Greensboro Open at age 52 years, 10 months. He also holds the record for most victories in a single event, winning Greater Greensboro eight times between 1938 and 1965.

Schedule Of Events

 

PRO-AM PAIRINGS PARTY

Date: Sunday, June 24, 2001

Location: Radisson Hotel, Cromwell

Time: 6:00pm - 9:00pm

OPENING CEREMONIES

Date: Monday, June 25, 2001

Location: First Tee at TPC

Time: 9:00-9:30am

GOLDEN WETHERSFIELD PRO-AM

Date: Monday, June 25, 2001

Location: Wethersfield CC

Time: 9:00am Shotgun

50TH CELEBRATION PRO-AM

Date: Monday, June 25, 2001

Location: TPC at River Highlands

Time: 10:00am Shotgun

PAST CHAMPIONS EXHIBITION

Date: Monday, June 25, 2001

Location: 18th Hole, TPC

Time: 3:30pm-4:30pm

CELEBRITY LONG DRIVE

Date: Tuesday, June 26, 2001

Location: Practice Range, TPC

Time: 12:00PM

JUNIOR GOLF CLINIC

Date: Tuesday, June 26, 2001

Location: Practice Range, TPC

Time: 1:00pm

CANON SHOOTOUT

Date: Tuesday, June 26, 2001

Location: TPC at River Highlands

Time: 3:30pm

CELEBRITY PRO-AM

Date: Wednesday, June 27, 2001

Location: TPC at River Highlands

Time: 7:00am - 2:00pm

CLASSIC PRO-AM

Date: Wednesday, June 27, 2001

Location: Hartford Golf Club

Time: 12:00pm Shotgun Start

THE TOURNAMENT

Date: Thursday, June 28 - Sunday, July 1

Location: TPC River Highlands

Past Highlights

 

2000 Canon Greater Hartford Open – Notah Begay III sinks 23 foot putt on the 72nd Hole to beat Mark Calcavecchia in another exciting Canon GHO finish.

1998 Canon Greater Hartford Open – Olin Browne chips in on the first playoff hole to win his first PGA event.

1997 Canon Greater Hartford Open – Stewart Cink won his first PGA event in Hartford which was also the site of his first ever Tournament played on tour the prior year.

1995 Canon Greater Hartford Open – Greg Norman’s victory in the Canon GHO helped him go on to become the highest money winner in the history of the PGA. In 1995, he was also ranked #1 in the world.

1988 Canon Sammy Davis Jr. Greater Hartford Open – This year would be the last year of Sammy Davis Jr’s 15-year involvement with the Tournament.

1985 Canon Sammy Davis Jr. Greater Hartford Open – This year began Canon USA’s long-term involvement with the Tournament. Over the next decade, Canon would help the Jaycees return over $12 million to the community.

1973 Sammy Davis, Jr. Greater Hartford Open – This year marked Sammy Davis Jr.’s first year with the Tournament. His involvement would help the Tournament attract the most famous celebrities worldwide to Hartford. The year also marked the last time Billy Casper Jr. (the Tournament’s winningest pro) would take home the trophy — for the fourth time.

1970 Greater Hartford Open - Bob Murphy’s win was the start of something big for Hartford. His generous donation of his first-prize check created the Greater Hartford Jaycees Foundation, which now provides over $600,000 annually in grants and scholarships.

1967 Greater Hartford Open – This year marked the first year the Tournament name was changed to the Greater Hartford Open, and forever to be referred to as the “GHO.” The year also marked the first victory for a black player on the PGA with Charlie Sifford’s win at the GHO.

1960 Insurance City Open – Arnold Palmer became the first Tournament champion to capture two victories.

1956 Insurance City Open – Arnold Palmer scored his first U.S. victory at the 1956 ICO.

1952 Insurance City Open – This year changed Hartford’s history forever with the humble beginnings of a PGA golf Tournament. The Jaycees began this fund-raising event after a turtle race in 1951 had proved very unsuccessful.