Golden Tee Florida Open comes to St. Cloud

Image
  • :  Mark Stenmark (center) holds his $30,000 check for winning the 2019 Golden Tee World Championship.  (Photo Courtesy of Incredible Technologies)
    : Mark Stenmark (center) holds his $30,000 check for winning the 2019 Golden Tee World Championship. (Photo Courtesy of Incredible Technologies)
Body

OK, maybe not a real golf major but an e-sport major as Sidelines Sports Grill in St. Cloud will host the 2020 Power Events Golden Tee Florida Open, Feb. 6-9. It is a scheduled stop on the PEGT Tour.

More than 150 professional players from around the country are expected to compete for a piece of the $20,000 prize pool in the first stop of the 2020 Golden Tee Tour.

Among the players expected are Mark Stenmark, who took down the $30,000 first prize at the 2019 Golden Tee World Championship and Lance Harris, who won the Player of the Year Tournament at the Austin Classic this past December.

Events on Thursday (Feb. 6) include a Closest to the Pin and Money Shot Tournament beginning at 7:30 p.m. Friday’s action includes a Handicap Tournament beginning at 7:30 p.m. A Main Event Qualifier and a Doubles Tournament starts at 11 a.m. on Saturday and Double Elimination Match Play for both the Main Event and Purple Bracket begins at noon on Sunday.

Amateur players are invited to compete in the events and are encouraged to arrive at least 30 minutes prior to sign up or can do so in advance at www.pegttour.com. Thursday’s Closest to the Pin Event allows contestants one shot, closest to the hole wins. Entry fee is $10.

Friday’s event is a handicap event with a $25 entry fee, where handicaps are established and scores are adjusted.

The big money event starts on Saturday where entrants are placed in groups of three or four players and play five different courses. Saturday survivors qualify for double elimination play on Sunday in the Professional, Semi-Professional or Amateur Tournament. Entry fee for Saturday’s events are $100.

A mixer and doubles tournament will be held Saturday night. The doubles tournament carries a $20 entry fee per player with partners chosen by random draw.

Last year’s World Championship was held in Las Vegas, was televised on ESPN platforms and boasted a prize pool of $135,000. The Florida Open will broadcast on the popular streaming platform MIXER.

The event is open to competitors and spectators alike and there is no admission charge.