RISING COUNTRY MUSIC SINGER SONGWRITER ERIN KINSEY SET TO KICK OFF ALLY COMMUNITY CONCERT WITH THOMAS RHETT SATURDAY NIGHT
Michigan native Niko Bokos brings his 70s pop-rock inspired alt-rock sound to The Concert @17 presented by Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort on Friday
FAN-FAVORITE DRONE SHOW SPONSORED BY GENESEE COUNTY RETURNS TO THE ALLY CHALLENGE
GRAND BLANC, Mich. – Tournament officials announced today that The Ally Challenge presented by McLaren has accepted the commitment of Charles Schwab Cup Money leader Ernie Els, along with fellow major championship winners Stewart Cink, Bernhard Langer and K.J. Choi to compete in the seventh edition of the official PGA TOUR Champions event.
The Ally Challenge presented by McLaren is the week of August 19-25 at Warwick Hills Golf & Country Club in Grand Blanc, Mich.
Tickets for The Ally Challenge can be purchased at theallychallenge.com/tickets. Several ticket options are available. The tournament is open to spectators from Thursday (August 22) to Sunday (August 25) and ticket prices start at $15—children 17 and under receive free grounds access with a ticketed adult. For a complete listing of ticket options please visit the tournament website at theallychallenge.com.
Els, 54, made his PGA TOUR Champions debut in January of 2020 with a T-2 finish at the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai. He grabbed his first senior victory two starts later at the Hoag Classic. A win at the 2020 SAS Championship gave Els two titles in his first 10 starts. The top ranked South African is off to a banner start in 2024 that includes seven top-10 finishes and three victories, bringing his PGA TOUR Champions win total to six. He claimed his first senior major title in his last start by winning the Kaulig Companies Championship. Els is the owner 47 international victories and 19 PGA TOUR titles, including four major championships¾two U.S. Open wins in 1994 and 1997, along with two The Open Championship titles in 2002 and 2012. In 2015 the “Big Easy” was named the recipient of the Payne Stewart Award by the PGA TOUR in recognition of character, sportsmanship, and dedication to charitable giving. Els is making his fourth appearance at The Ally Challenge presented by McLaren. He has recorded two top-10 finishes, with his best result coming in his last start at Warwick Hills with a T6 in 2022. His tournament scoring average is 69 and he has $132,285.71 in earnings.
Cink, 51, is making his The Ally Challenge presented by McLaren debut. He competed in four PGA TOUR Champions events last season after becoming eligible for the senior circuit on his birthday in May 2023. Cink finished solo third at the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship in his first start on Tour and went on to add two more top-10s and a T16 to his rookie resume. In five starts so far this season, the Alabama native has recorded four top-10 finishes, with a T3 at the Regions Tradition counted among them. Cink has won eight times on the PGA TOUR during his nearly 30-year professional career, including The Open Championship in 2009.
Langer, 66, became the oldest U.S. Senior Open champion and set the record for most PGA TOUR Champions wins (46) with a two-stroke triumph over 2022 The Ally Challenge winner Steve Stricker last year at SentryWorld in Stevens Point, Wis. Langer’s historic victory was his 12th senior major since joining PGA TOUR Champions in 2007. This will be the seventh start at The Ally Challenge for the two-time Masters champion. He has recorded five top-10 finishes at Warwick Hills, his best effort in 2021 with a solo second place finish, one stroke behind winner Joe Durant. His tournament scoring average is 68.611 to go with earnings of $372,506.66. This season Langer has recorded five top-25 finishes over eight events, including three top-10s. The Germany native was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2002 and is ranked first on the PGA TOUR Champions career money list with $36,327,106 in earnings.
Choi, 54, is making his fifth start at this year’s The Ally Challenge presented by McLaren. His best finish was a T4 effort in 2021 and his tournament scoring average is 69.67 with earnings of $141,417.15. The South Korean is on pace for a career PGA TOUR Champions season, with five top-10 finishes through 16 starts, including his second senior title and first major championship victory at The Senior Open Championship presented by Rolex last month in Scotland at Carnoustie Golf Links. He is currently ranked No. 5 on the Charles Schwab Cup Money list. Choi has claimed eight PGA TOUR wins and nine international victories during his more than 30-year professional career.
In other tournament news, Texas native and rising country music singer songwriter Erin Kinsey will take the stage on Saturday, August 24 to kick off the seventh annual Ally Community Concert. The concert is headlined by country music superstar Thomas Rhett and anchors a full day of entertainment for the whole family.
Additionally, Michigan native Niko Bokos will perform his 70s pop-rock inspired alt-rock sound at The Concert @17 presented by Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort on Friday evening, August 23, following the first round of tournament competition at The Ally Challenge at Warwick Hills’ famed 17th hole. Friday’s concert features multi-platinum, Grammy-nominated pop-rock icons Smash Mouth.
Access to The Concert @17, and the Ally Community Concert, require the purchase of a valid tournament ticket for the day each concert is hosted, or a weekly ticket option.
The Ally Challenge presented by McLaren also announced today the return of the tournament’s fan-favorite drone show following Saturday’s Ally Community Concert. This year’s custom lights show is sponsored by Genesee County and will double the number of drones from last year’s performance to fill the sky with 200 foot tall by 400 foot wide choreographed Ally Challenge and golf themed imagery.
The Ally Challenge will be one of the premier Regular Season events on the PGA TOUR Champions in 2024, featuring a $2,200,000 purse and leading to the Charles Schwab Cup Playoffs¾a 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.
Since its inception in 2018, The Ally Challenge presented by McLaren has donated more than $7.3 million to support charity.