Davison Index

Ally Challenge tourney field starting to shape up




GRAND BLANC TWP. — “Something for everyone” said Andrea Brimmer, Chief Marketing and Public Relations Officer, Ally Tournament, as she and Chris Coffman, The Ally Challenge Tournament Director discussed the new changes to the second year of the tournament, presented again, by McLaren Medical Corporation.

Officials announced today that multi-platinum singer/songwriter Dierks Bentley will headline the second annual community concert—which has been changed to Saturday night so families won’t miss their Friday night local football meetups. The event will take place on the driving range at Warwick Hills Golf & Country Club, following the second round of competition.

Coffman said for $50, an adult can spend the day watching exciting golf action, and enjoy the family fun zone, and watch a world-class concert to finish off a very entertaining day. That ticket, he added would include as many kids 17 and under as they would like to bring. Access to concert is included only with the purchase of a valid tournament ticket. For a complete listing of ticket options now available for the 2019 Ally Challenge please visit the tournament website at theallychallenge.com.

Brimmer said the popular 17th hole hangout will be expanded and have more exciting things going on and the family fun zone would also be expanded. She said it is starting to become a destination event. Coffman added that Dow, the sponsor for the veteran’s hospitality area is placing it in an area which will give a better view of the action and be elevated and contain more amenities

“We wanted to invest more in this year’s tournament,” Brimmer explained. “We wanted more marquee talent…to create a celebratory atmosphere and give a little something for everybody to do. Whether you like golf or not be able to come and see a world class concert…to have (Bentley) out here on the practice green in Grand Blanc is pretty unbelievable.”

Bentley will join the tournament’s newest event, the Celebrity Foursome, which will also feature Singer Kid Rock, Golf Champion Jack Nicklaus, and another ‘to be announced’ guest. This special competition will take place Saturday afternoon and the foursome will play a 9-hole team scramble exhibition match to benefit charity.

The foursome’s starting time will follow the last tournament pairing of round two, beginning on Hole No. 10 at Warwick Hills. Additional details, including celebrity pairings and charitable impact, will be announced soon.

“We at Ally are thrilled to take The Ally Challenge to the next level by bringing one of country’s biggest stars, Dierks Bentley, as our Saturday evening concert,” said Brimmer. “The concert and the addition of the Celebrity Foursome will make Saturday a can’t miss day at the tournament. These additions demonstrate Ally’s commitment to have the best of the best at The Ally Challenge and make this a premier event in the Flint/Grand Blanc area.”

Ally hopes their efforts to bring these crowdpleasing activities to the tournament will continue to bolster support for the world-class PGA TOUR Champions event and increase the net proceeds that will this year benefit Genesee County Habitat for Humanity and United Way of Genesee County. They are hoping to beat last years $800,000 and pass the one-million-dollar mark.

“None of that happens without local individuals, local businesses getting behind the tournament, getting excited and supporting it,” Coffman said. “Thanks to the unwavering support of Ally Financial, Saturday is shaping up to be an epic day at Warwick Hills,” he added. “Dierks Bentley is sure to thrill fans at the Community Concert and the addition of the Celebrity Foursome to Saturday’s schedule will be an instant fan favorite.”

Brimmer said the charitable component was very important to Ally Bank.

“It’s a big part of Ally’s purpose and mission is to give to the communities in which we work and live…so it’s been a big point of pride for our Detroit-based employees to be able to come up here and volunteer and help give back,” she said.

Coffman added they were thrilled to be joined by the C.S. Mott Foundation as a sponsor this year and heralded it as a way for similar organizations to have something with momentum they can partner with and enhance their efforts in the community.

The Crim Fitness Foundation will also be a new partner on Saturday with the 5K race starting off the day, Coffman said. Proceeds from the race will benefit the CANUSA Games, a 62-year tradition which provides the youth of Hamilton, Ontario and Flint, Michigan an opportunity to take part in an international friendship games.

The Ally Challenge presented by McLaren, September 9-15, will be one of the premier Regular Season events on PGA TOUR Champions in 2019, which will give way to the third-annual Charles Schwab Cup Playoffs—a season-ending, three tournament series used to determine the Tour’s season-long champion.

All three rounds of The Ally Challenge presented by McLaren will be broadcast on Golf Channel.

For more information about The Ally Challenge presented by McLaren, please visit theallychallenge.com. For the latest Ally Challenge news and updates on social media, follow the tournament on Twitter and Instagram at @AllyChallenge and on Facebook at Facebook.com/AllyChallenge.