The Ally Challenge

The Ally Challenge is a PGA Tour Champions event at Warwick Hills Golf and Country Club in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, just south of Flint, which debuted in September 2018.[1] The tournament is sponsored by Grand Blanc-based McLaren Health Care. Detroit-based Ally Financial is the title sponsor.[2] Beyond the tournament, the Ally Challenge event includes a pro-am on Wednesday and Thursday,[3] The Ally Challenge Community Concert on Friday and Adidas 5K Challenge run/walk event on Saturday morning.[4]

The Ally Challenge
Tournament information
LocationGrand Blanc Township, Michigan
Established2018
Course(s)Warwick Hills Golf and Country Club
Par72
Length7,112 yards (6,503 m)
Tour(s)PGA Tour Champions
FormatStroke play (54 holes)
Prize fund$2 million
Month playedSeptember
(August in 2020)
Tournament record score
Aggregate200 Jerry Kelly (2019)
To par−16 (2019)
Current champion
Jim Furyk
Grand Blanc
Location in the United States
Grand Blanc
Location in Michigan

Net proceeds from the tournament were earmarked for Community Foundation of Greater Flint and Junior Achievement of Southeastern Michigan plus additional charities could participate in the Birdies for Charities fundraising program.[4] Grand Blanc Community Schools benefits by using their parking lots to generate revenue.[5]

Background

Previously, the area had the Buick Open from 1958 through 2009 at the Warwick Hills Golf Club,[2] as one of six former PGA Tour sites hosting PGA Tour Champions events. Since that tournament left, the golf club had been looking to get a replace in a PGA Tour Champions event. The main issue was finding a title sponsor.[1]

History

The Ally Challenge was announced by the PGA on August 26, 2017 as a PGA Tour Champions tournament playing September 10–16, 2018. An agreement is in place for the $2 million purse tournament until 2020.[1] The Challenge would also included a pro-am on Wednesday and Thursday.[3]

On November 10, 2017, the tournament announced McLaren Health Care as presenting sponsor. Plus, they indicated tickets were on sale, a Big & Rich concert would be held after the first round and a 5K run would also be held.[2] The Birdies for Charities fundraising program was announced in May 2018 for additional 501(c)3 charity to join.[4] The 5K run/walk was announced on June 22, 2018 to be sponsor by Adidas as the Adidas 5K Challenge held before the second round with benefiting non-profits as the Community Foundation of Greater Flint and Junior Achievement of Southeastern Michigan.[6]

The Genesee County Board of Commissioners embroiled the tournament in a controversy over their April 2, 2018 approval, 7–1, of using veterans millage funds towards sponsoring the event as "outreach". With the sponsorship, the county would get free access for veterans to the tournament and a "Patriot Pavilion" at the 18th fairway for all active and reserve military, veterans and their dependents. On April 9, 2018, after a commissioner sponsored petition with 500 signatures and an hour of mostly veterans speaking against the sponsorship, the board reversed it vote, initially 6–2–1 before voting switching made it unanimous.[7]

Paul Broadhurst was the inaugural 2018 tournament winner with a 15-under-par 201 score to beat Brandt Jobe by two strokes.[8] All three rounds of the tournament was broadcast on the Golf Channel.[4]

On August 2, 2020, major champion Jim Furyk won the tournament in his PGA Tour Champions debut, becoming the first golfer to have won the former Buick Open held here to win The Ally Challenge.[9]

Winners
YearDatesChampionCountryWinning scoreTo parMargin of
victory		Purse ($)
2020Jul 31 – Aug 2Jim Furyk United States68-66-68=202−142 strokes2,000,000
2019Sep 13–15Jerry Kelly United States67-65-68=200−162 strokes2,000,000
2018Sep 14–16Paul Broadhurst England67-68-66=201−152 strokes[8]2,000,000[1]
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References
  1. "PGA returning to Mid-Michigan with Ally Challenge". ABC 12 (WJRT). August 22, 2017.
  2. Savage, Brendan (November 13, 2017). "PGA Tour Champions' Ally Challenge adds McLaren as presenting sponsor". MLive.
  3. Lang, Tom (August 22, 2017). "PGA Tour Champions set for Warwick Hills in Grand Blanc: 5 things to know". The Detroit Free Press.
  4. Trotman, Jeanna (August 20, 2018). "The Ally Challenge presented by McLaren commits Toms, Mediate, and O'Meara". WEYI. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
  5. Chambo, Andy (September 10, 2018). "Grand Blanc schools offers parking for those attending the Ally Challenge". ABC12.com. WJRT. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
  6. Savage, Brendan (June 22, 2018). "Road race to be held in conjunction with Ally Challenge golf tournament". Flint Journal. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
  7. May, Jake (April 9, 2018). "Genesee County won't spend $50k of veterans millage on PGA Tour tournament". Flint Journal. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
  8. Strege, John (September 16, 2018). "Paul Broadhurst wins the inaugural Ally Challenge, his third victory of the year and second in Michigan". Golf Digest. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
  9. Stafford, Ali (August 3, 2020). "Jim Furyk wins PGA Tour Champions debut at the Ally Challenge". Sky Sports.

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