The McGladrey Classic Welcomes Active and Retired Military

/PRNewswire/ -- The McGladrey Classic announces that all active and retired military personnel will receive free admission to this official PGA TOUR event. The inaugural tournament, held Oct. 6-10, 2010, will be played at the Seaside course at Sea Island Golf Club in Georgia's Golden Isles.

"We appreciate the great sacrifices that our military personnel make to protect the safety and freedom of all Americans, and we want these men and women to have an opportunity to watch some of the greatest golfers on the PGA TOUR," said McGladrey Classic Executive Director Mark Love.

A special hospitality venue, The McGladrey Military Outpost provided by title sponsor McGladrey, will be located near the 9th green. Active and retired military simply need to show their military ID card to gain free entry to the tournament.

"It is a great honor to be able to host members of our military at the first McGladrey Classic," said C.E. Andrews, president and chief operating officer of RSM McGladrey. "We look forward to The McGladrey Military Outpost becoming one of the great traditions of our annual event."

Attendees will have a chance to watch Team McGladrey members Zach Johnson, Davis Love III, and Chris DiMarco, among many other PGA TOUR professionals compete in the tournament.

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Erik Compton Champions the Cause of Organ Donation As He Competes This Week to Win PGA Tour Card

(BUSINESS WIRE)--Just four months after his second heart transplant, Professional Golfer Erik Compton is back on the course this week, competing to achieve his lifetime goal—a card to play on the PGA Tour.

Perhaps cheering loudest for Compton will be the 90,000-plus Americans waiting on organ donor waiting lists. An average of 17 people die each day (over 6,000 each year) waiting for a transplant.

Though golf will be his focus this week as he competes in the first of three qualifying tournaments starting on Tuesday (October 21st) to earn the right to play with the likes of Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, Compton will also be promoting a cause, literally near and dear to his new heart.

“Organ donation is literally the gift of life,” said the 28-year-old former University of Georgia All-American, who suffered a massive heart attack in October 2007. “I owe my life to two families and two donors, who made the decision to make available life-saving organs for transplants. I’m honored to be able to give back by supporting the Transplant Foundation in Miami and their effort to build awareness through the sale of a specialty Florida license tag—“Donate Organs. Pass it On.”

Both causes are generously displayed on Compton’s golf bag, shirt and hat. Compton also carries a special gift from a young athlete killed in a motorcycle accident—a strong and healthy new heart.

“I’m here today because of him,” said Compton, who hopes someday to meet the young donor’s parents.

Compton, who received his first heart transplant at the age of 12 as a result of heart disease, will be competing with 1,100 golfers competing across the country at 11 courses in the stage one qualifying round to ultimately earn a PGA Tour card. The PGA has granted Compton the right to use a cart during qualifying stages.

Slowly regaining his strength from a life-saving heart transplant, Compton’s golf swing is in top form, however, stamina is an issue, where walking four to five miles a day during a typical tournament has proved to be too taxing.

Recently in a warm-up tournament on the same Crandon Park Golf Course where he will compete in stage one Q School this week, Compton scored a sizzling 65, winning the Key Biscayne Open by six strokes. In fact, in three tournaments in which Compton has competed since his near fatal heart attack, he has played well, shooting 66, 67 and 65 respectively.

“It’s like throwing darts,” said Compton. “Golf is a game of skill. Once you’ve learned the skill, it never goes away. I’m swinging the clubs well enough to be competitive, I just need to get strong and healthy so I can get back to walking the course like everyone else.”

The PGA has given Compton a six-month rule waiver so he can play from a cart. He will have to reapply to continue at that time.

In passing the first qualifying stage, Compton’s next test will be a stage two qualifying tournament in Georgia, with the final qualifying tournament in Palm Springs, where 25 golfers will receive PGA Tour cards.

About Erik Compton

Erik holds the distinction as being the only professional golfer in the world to compete with a transplanted heart. Erik, who became the #1 junior golfer in the country and AJGA Rolex Junior Player of the Year in 1998, accepted a scholarship offer at the University of Georgia. At UGA, Erik went on to become an All-American. Erik’s success on the course led to him being named to the prestigious Walker Cup and Palmer Cup teams in 2001. Since turning professional in 2001, Erik has found success at every level of competition. He has won international events such as the King Hassan Trophy II of Morocco in 2005. He finished at the top of the Order of Merit List (money title) for the Canadian Tour in 2004 (after winning numerous events that season), and has won numerous times on the NGA Hooters Tour (most recently in 2006). Since turning professional in 2001, Erik has competed primarily on the PGA Nationwide Tour circuit. He has had several top-10 finishes throughout his career. His best finish on the Nationwide Tour was tied for 1st at the Preferred Health Systems Wichita Open in 2004. Erik has competed successfully on the PGA Tour as well where he has made 5 cuts in 11 career starts. This summer, Compton married Barbara Casco, and the couple is expecting a child, ironically scheduled on the anniversary of Erik’s first transplant on February 26th.

About The Transplant Foundation

Transplant Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) dedicated to funding patient services, public education to increase organ donation and lifesaving transplant research. The goal is to provide the Gift of Life to all in need. For more information, please contact Transplant Foundation at 1-866-901-3172 or visit www.transplantfoundation.org. The revenues from the sale of the specialty Donate Organs. Pass it On license plates will be used in the areas of research, patient services and education. Tampa, Jacksonville, Gainesville, Orlando and Miami offer medical facilities specializing in transplants.

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Former PGA Pro Named Golf Coach

Long-time professional golfer Joe Inman, who has enjoyed success on the PGA and Champions Tours, has been named the Georgia State men’s golf coach, Director of Athletics Mary McElroy announced.

Inman, a Marietta resident, takes over a program that has reached the NCAA Regionals 10 of the last 11 years. He replaces Matt Clark, who moved to UNC Wilmington.

Spanning more than 25 years, Inman’s pro playing career includes four victories, one on the PGA Tour and three on the Champions Tour. He had nearly 100 Top 25 finishes on each circuit, and his career earnings total over $5 million.

“Joe Inman is the right person to take over the Georgia State golf program and take it to the next level,” said McElroy. “He brings instant recognition and credibility in the golf community and in the Atlanta area, which raises the profile of Georgia State golf. He is a perfect fit because of abilities as a teacher and recruiter, combined with his energy and passion for working with young people and promoting the game of golf.”

Inman’s career on the PGA Tour saw him play in 329 events, highlighted by a victory in the 1976 Kemper Open. He also posted three runner-up finishes and four third-place showings on the PGA Tour, along with 32 top 10 performances and 98 finishes in the top 25.

After working as a sales representative for PING from 1989-97, Inman began playing on the Champions Tour in 1998. He owns three tournament titles, winning the Pacific Bell Open in 1999 and 1999 and the SBC Open in 2000. He also compiled two runner-up finishes, three third-place efforts, 33 top-10 showings and 88 top-25 performances while missing only seven cuts in 276 events on the senior circuit.

Inman has been heavily involved in community and charitable activities, particularly in the Atlanta area. He serves on the board of directors of First Tee Atlanta, and he founded the Larry Nelson-Joe Inman Foundation to support youth golf initiatives.

As a collegian, Inman was a three-time all-America at Wake Forest, earning first-team honors in 1969 following second-team accolades in 1968 and honorable mention recognition in 1967. Playing on powerhouse teams under legendary coach Jesse Haddock, Inman helped the Demon Deacons to three straight Atlantic Coast Conference titles and top-three NCAA finishes in 1968 and 1969. His college teammates included future PGA Tour standouts Lanny Wadkins and Leonard Thompson.

He graduated from Wake Forest in 1970 with a bachelor’s degree in history and turned pro in 1972.

Inman, 60, and his wife, Nancy, have three children: Craig, Sally and Kate. His younger brother, John Inman, is a two-time winner on the PGA Tour who is now the head coach at North Carolina.

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