University News
Little Peoples Golf Championships at WIU's Mussatto Course June 2009
December 10, 2008
MACOMB, IL - - The Little People's (LP) Golf Championships Association has teamed with Western Illinois University and its championship Harry Mussatto Golf Course to form the Pepsi LP Collegiate Golf Championships (PLPCGC) for men and women aged 18-21.
The 2009 event will be played June 22-24 on the 18-hole course, which features the Oscar L. Champion Nine and the Eric Gleacher Nine. There will be one men's and one women's division in the 18-21 age group.
Men will play from the 6862-yard black tees, with a course and slope rating of 73.6/136. Women will play from the 6054-yard gold tees, with a course and slope rating of 69.9/128.
"The rolling terrain of the Lamoine River Valley offers spectacular views and challenging golf at the Harry Mussatto Golf Course (golf.wiu.edu)," said Mel Blasi, a former Pepsi Little People's player and director of golf at the WIU course.
"Rarely have I had the opportunity to work with such an exceptional piece of land, so ideally suited for a golf course," said Golf Course Architect Ken Killian.
The WIU course has hosted the Mid-Continent Conference and Summit League Men's and Women's Golf Championships, as well as the Illinois High School Association Sectional Championships, and is the home course for the Western Illinois University men's and women's golf teams.
Official practice rounds for all Pepsi LP Collegiate Golf Championships players will be on Monday, June 22, with 18-hole competition Tuesday-Wednesday, June 23-24. The entry fee, which includes three-day greens fees and a picnic on Monday night, is $160. Registration will be at the WIU Golf Course Pro Shop from noon-6 p.m. Sunday, June 21 and from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday, June 22. For practice round tee times, call the golf course at (309) 298-3676 after May 1.
Gift certificates for golf merchandise will be awarded to first, second and third places in both the men's and women's divisions.
"We are excited to host the Pepsi LP Collegiate Golf Championships at Western Illinois' Harry Mussatto Golf Course," said Blasi. "The golf course will provide a great test for the collegiate player, challenging them from tee to green. A score of even par is always an excellent round of golf at the WIU course."
The PLPCGC is a division of the Little People's Golf Championships Association, which for the past 35 years has conducted the Pepsi Little People's Golf Championships for boys and girls aged 3-17. The 36th annual PLPGC will be held June 22-24, 2009, at five golf courses in the Quincy, IL, area, approximately 55 miles southwest of Macomb.
"We are delighted to be able to offer this excellent golf course as a venue for the collegiate divisions," stated Nan Ryan, executive director of the Pepsi Little People's Golf Championships. "Mel Blasi has a longtime relationship with Pepsi Little People's, having played in the tournament in 1979 and 1980, and he has spent the past 12 years as head coach of the Western Illinois University men's golf team. He will be a definite asset to the success of the 18-21-year-old division."
Entry forms for the 2009 PLPCGC will be available at www.littlepeoplesgolf.com after Feb. 1, 2009. For additional information, see the Web site or call (217) 257-5718.
Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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