SNOW HILL — The National Golf Association (NGA) will host its Cutter Creek Golf Classic in Greene County next week.
The NGA has been a steppingstone for many golfers, who use the organization to make it to the PGA Tour.
“The NGA is like the minor leagues of golf in a sense,” Cutter Creek Golf Club General Manager Chip Little said. “Players come here when they can’t get on with the majors and quite a few have made it to the PGA Tour.”
Among those who made the jump is Keegan Bradley, who started his professional career in 2008 with the NGA and made it to the PGA in 2011. That same year, Bradley won the PGA Championship and is currently the 12th-ranked golfer in the world.
Brandon Brown hopes to enjoy similar success. Although Brown is still on the NGA circuit, today, he will open play in the U.S. Open after getting through a pair of qualifying tournaments. Brown won the Cutter Creek Golf Classic in 2011, setting a course record for a round with a 63.
Practice rounds will begin Monday, but the following two days will have more on the schedule. On Tuesday, there will be a junior clinic for those between the ages of 4-18. Players on the NGA Tour will give free tips and sessions to those interested in learning how to improve or play golf altogether. That day will also showcase a Member’s Shootout game and a Pro-Am Pairings party. On the following day, the long drive contest and pro-am tournament will be the featured events.
The four-day Cutter Creek Golf Classic will begin Thursday, June 20, with around 160 golfers competing to win the grand prize of about $22,000 from a purse totaling $150,000.
All events are free of charge to watch, something Little hopes golf fans will take advantage of.
“We encourage people to come out here and see these guys,” Little said. “Most of them can play as well as those on the (PGA) tour, but just couldn’t find a break.”
With Bradley and Brown as examples, the golfers on the NGA Tour continue to work toward their major goal: making the PGA tour and inspiring others to follow in their footsteps.
Junious Smith III can be contacted at 252-559-1077 and Junious.Smith@Kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JuniousSmithIII.
Want to go?
What: NGA Cutter Creek Golf Classic
Where: Cutter Creek Golf Club, 93 Cutter Creek Dr., Snow Hill
When: June 17-23 (Tournament runs from June 20-23)
Price of admission: Free
Yardage: 7,280; Par: 72
Purse: $150,000 (winner receives approximately $22,000)