Madison,
12
November
2015
|
15:18 PM
America/Chicago

Champions Tour announces road to 2016 Charles Schwab Club Playoffs, with American Family Insurance Championship as one of three new events

(Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.) (Nov. 11, 2015) – The PGA TOUR’s Champions Tour announced the tournament schedule for the 2016 season, which includes the inaugural Charles Schwab Cup Playoffs, a three-tournament, season-ending competition to determine the Charles Schwab Cup Champion.

The American Family Insurance Championship, in Madison, Wis., is one of three new events on the 2016 schedule, which features 26 tournaments in 19 different states and three countries outside the United States. Total prize money for the tournaments exceeds $55 million, with an average purse of $2.1 million.

The American Family Insurance Championship, hosted by PGA winner Steve Stricker, will be held June 20-26 at UW-Madison’s University Ridge Golf Course. Stricker is a Wisconsin native and an American Family Insurance ambassador who will become eligible to compete on the Champions Tour in 2017.

“I am honored to join American Family Insurance in bringing the Champions Tour to Wisconsin,” Stricker said. “Our tournament team is determined to make this a memorable community event that will benefit area charities through the Steve Stricker American Family Insurance Foundation.”

Nate Pokrass, tournament director for the American Family Insurance Championship, said the tournament has already surpassed its initial goal of 1,000 volunteers. Volunteers who register online after Nov. 15 will be placed on a waiting list.

Two of three Charles Schwab Cup Playoffs events are also new tournaments. The PowerShares QQQ Championship, to be held in the Los Angeles area on Oct. 24-30, will be the first Playoffs event. The Dominion Charity Classic, set for Richmond’s Country Club of Virginia James River Course on Oct. 31- Nov. 6, will be the second Playoffs event.

The Charles Schwab Cup Championship, the traditional season-ending event at Desert Mountain Club in Scottsdale, Ariz. on Nov. 7-13, will be the third and final Playoffs tournament. The Charles Schwab Cup winner will earn a $1 million bonus and the top five finishers will also receive bonus payouts.

Champions Tour President Greg McLaughlin, 2015 Charles Schwab Cup champion Bernhard Langer and Stricker, a 12-time PGA TOUR winner, made the announcements during Golf Channel’s Morning Drive on Wednesday. The new Charles Schwab Cup trophy was also unveiled, as well as new logos for both the Champions Tour and the Charles Schwab Cup, and additional details on the format of the Charles Schwab Cup Playoffs.

“We are excited about the upcoming 2016 Champions Tour season and the launch of the Charles Schwab Cup Playoffs. We welcome our new title sponsors to the tremendous group of dedicated partners that support the Champions Tour,” McLaughlin said. “Next year’s Playoffs are an important component to further develop the Champions Tour brand and highlight where the legends of our game compete. Our players are looking forward to next year’s schedule and this new Playoffs format for the premier prize of the season.”

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About American Family Insurance
Madison, Wis.– based American Family Insurance is the nation's third-largest mutual property/casualty insurance company and ranks 358th on the Fortune 500 list. The company sells American Family-brand products, including auto, homeowners, life, business and farm/ranch insurance, through its exclusive agents in 19 states. American Family affiliates (The General, Homesite and AssureStart) also provide options for consumers who want to manage their insurance matters directly over the Internet or by phone. Web: www.amfam.com; Facebook: www.facebook.com/amfam; Twitter: www.twitter.com/amfam. Google+ plus.google.com/+amfam/

About Steve Stricker American Family Insurance Foundation
Established in 2013 when Steve Stricker became a brand ambassador for American Family Insurance, the mission of the foundation is to develop strong families and healthy kids in pursuit of their dreams, whatever they may be. The foundation supports education, initiatives, and organizations aimed at building strong families and healthy kids, with a focus on youth ages 12 – 18 and special consideration for underserved communities. Web: http://www.strickerfoundation.org/; Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StrickerAmFamFoundation; Twitter: @StrickerFNDN