Hooters Tour made possible by local sponsors

Many area amateurs will take part in the Pro-Am on Tuesday.

SIKESTON - When the National Golf Association/Hooters Tour arrives in Sikeston tomorrow, it is all possible thanks to numerous local sponsors, including signature sponsor Health Facilities Rehab Center.

"This is the second year they've been gracious enough to do it," said Bootheel Golf Club pro and general manager Jeff Ketterman. "Don and Brad Bedell are really community-minded folks. They do a lot for the City of Sikeston. If it wasn't for them we wouldn't be able to bring this tournament here. They've been instrumental in this tournament."

This will be the fifth year that Hooters has made an appearance in Sikeston. It all started back in 1997 when the owners of the Bootheel Golf Club, who reside in Louisville (Ky.), and also own a few chains of the Hooters Restaurant, decided to bring the tournament to southeast Missouri.

"It's really neat to have this tour come to Sikeston knowing we get some top golfers and stars of tomorrow," said Ketterman. "It's really a boost for the local economy too. Also we want the public to know that this tournament is absolutely free."

The week-long event will have a number of items on tap. A junior clinic is scheduled for tomorrow at 5:30 for the area youth.

"We want to make sure that the public knows it's open to the area youth ages 7-to-17," said Ketterman. "If they've never played golf before it would be a good time for them to come out and check it out."

Also on tap for Wednesday evening at 5:30 is the long drive contest, which is open to the public.

"If there's any area big hitters that want to come out and see how they match up against the pros then they need to bring it on," said Ketterman. "There have been some guys that have tried. They've done okay. There's some big hitters around."