News & Notes
Around The Commonwealth
News & Notes
Champions Tour Returns to CCV
THE FUTURE OF THE PGA TOUR CHAMPIONS DOMINION ENERGY CHARITY CLASSIC , which has been held at The Country Club of Virginia since 2016 , remains unclear . CCV ’ s James River Course will continue to host the event in October 2024 and 2025 , but after that , the tournament ’ s future in the area is unknown .
The tournament continues to seek a new title sponsor and venue for 2026 and beyond , but Dominion Energy and CCV remain committed to providing a high-quality championship experience for golf fans in the Commonwealth over the next two years . This year ’ s event is slated for Oct . 18-20 and again will be the opening salvo in the PGA Tour Champions ’ three-tournament race for the Charles Schwab Cup .
Here ’ s a quick primer to catch up on the Champions Tour season as the DECC approaches :
The Majors : There are five majors on the PGA Tour Champions schedule , and they produced four winners in total in 2024 . Only one player won twice — Richard Bland , who won the Senior PGA Championship and U . S . Senior Open — but you won ’ t see him in Richmond . Bland competes on the LIV Golf Tour , thus is ineligible to compete in PGA Tour Champions events . The other winners were Doug Barron ( Regions Tradition ), Ernie Els ( Kaulig Company Championship ), and K . J . Choi ( Senior Open Championship ). All were inside the top 11 of the Schwab
Cup standings as of early August and will likely compete at CCV .
The Race is Tight : Unlike in past years , there hasn ’ t been one dominant player on Tour . The top four players — Els , Stephen Ames , Steven Alker , and Richard Green — were all within $ 500,000 of each other on the Schwab Cup money list as of early August , so there won ’ t be an overwhelming favorite once the playoffs begin .
Expect a Close Finish : If CCV has produced anything during its eight-year run as DECC host , it ’ s compelling finishes . Six of the eight winners have won by either one stroke or in a playoff , as was the case last year when Harrison Frazar nipped Green in a playoff . The largest margin of victory came in 2020 , when Phil Mickelson won by three strokes .
Return of Langer : Despite an Achilles injury that forced him to miss what was possibly his final Masters , 66-yearold Bernhard Langer returned in early May and has three top-10 finishes in eight starts as of early August . The only multi-time winner of the DECC , Langer is expected to return to CCV in search of a third title .
REMEMBERING MARK CARNEVALE Mark Carnevale , who counts the 1984 VSGA Open among his professional victories , died unexpectedly at age 64 on July 22 .
Carnevale , who played collegiately at James Madison University after growing up in Williamsburg , was best known for his work as a commentator for Sirius XM PGA Tour Radio . He won once on the PGA Tour , beating Ed Dougherty and Dan Forsman by two strokes to claim the title at the 1992 Chattanooga Classic . He competed in two U . S . Opens , making the cut in both , along with one Masters and one PGA Championship .
Carnevale pivoted from the touring professional life in 2003 , when he became the tournament director of the Korn Ferry Tour ’ s Virginia Beach Open . In 2005 , he made another career move , transitioning to a broadcasting role with Sirius XM Radio . He eventually began working for PGA Tour live on ESPN +. His last tournament was the 2024 Genesis Open in Scotland , where he was a walking reporter for PGA Tour Radio .
“ Mark knew the game and did a terrific job of conveying insights from his unique point of view — and with an engaging wit and sense of humor — to fans from countless Tour events through the years ,” PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan told PGATour . com . “ We will miss Mark and send our condolences to his loved ones .”
TWO TO PURE INSURANCE CHAMPIONSHIP Two First Tee participants from Virginia have been selected to participate in the 2024 PURE Insurance Championship impacting First Tee — a PGA Tour Champions event which will be held Sept . 20-22 at Pebble Beach Golf Links . Niki Chan of Richmond will represent First Tee-Greater Richmond , while Sammi Nguyen of Springfield will represent First Tee-Greater Washington D . C . Both chapters are sending representatives for a second straight year .
ASSOCIATED PRESS ( ELS ), PGA TOUR
Mark Carnevale LEFT : Stephen Ames ( Left ) and Ernie Els at the U . S . Senior Open .
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