LEXINGTON, KY (July 9, 2018) – When the Barbasol Championship tees off next week at Champions at Keene Trace Golf Club, fans will be able to see some of the best golfers in the world July 19-22, but their rooting interest could likely be attached to several pros with ties to the Bluegrass State.
University of Louisville grad Derek Fathauer and Owensboro, Ky., product Matt Atkins will be in the 132-man field, it was announced Monday by the tournament.
“Golf is certainly a global game, and we will have outstanding American and International players in our field,” Downing said. “But we love and support our Kentuckians, and it’s always special to have pros with close ties to the Bluegrass State in our event. Fans and media will enjoy following these players and cheering them on to play well.”
Previously announced to compete was Lexington native and Morehead State grad Josh Teater, and University of Kentucky teammates Cooper Musselman and Chip McDaniel. Teater, the winner of the 2009 Utah Championship on the Web.com Tour, played on the PGA TOUR during the 2010 and 2011 seasons. Musselman and McDaniel both just completed their senior seasons at UK, leading the Wildcats to their 10th NCAA Golf Championship appearance. Musselman is the reigning Kentucky Open champion, while McDaniel owns two Kentucky Amateur titles (2013, 2017). Both are turning pro at the Barbasol Championship.
Fathauer, 32, appeared in three U.S. Amateur Championships while a member of the UofL golf team, making the quarterfinals of match play in both 2007 and 2008. He gained PGA TOUR eligibility through the 2008 Qualifying Tournament. After losing his TOUR card, he regained PGA TOUR eligibility by winning the 2014 Web.com Tour Championship and finishing as the season’s leading money winner. Fathauer recorded two Top-10 finishes during the 2016-17 season, and despite having only one Top-10 finish this season, he comes in on a hot streak, having made the cut in four of his last six tournament starts.
Atkins, 27, graduated from Apollo High School in Owensboro in 2009, going on to play for the University of South Carolina-Aiken golf team. He gained eligibility for the 2015 Web.com Tour and recorded a 3-shot victory in the 2017 El Bosque Mexico Championship, a springboard to finishing 19th on the regular-season money list to gain his 2017-18 PGA TOUR card. With only four cuts made so far in 16 starts, Atkins will be looking for familiar turf and fan support to improve his chances of retaining PGA TOUR eligibility for next season.
The Barbasol Championship, the only PGA TOUR tournament in Kentucky, will be played Thursday through Sunday, July 19-22, at Champions at Keene Trace in Nicholasville, just outside Lexington.
The field of 132 players currently represents close to 160 total TOUR victories including major championships, plus multiple Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup team appearances.
Daily and week-long grounds passes can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com. A Thursday grounds pass is $30 with Friday priced at $35 and the Saturday/Sunday rate at $40 per day. All four-day pass can be purchased for $100, with upgraded ticket options available as well.
Additional player commitments will be announced later this week. For detailed tournament information, visit www.barbasolchampionshipky.com
Spectator Parking & Shuttle Information
All spectator parking for the Barbasol Championship will be at Keeneland with shuttle buses running to the course continuously throughout the day. Daily parking during competition rounds on Thursday-Sunday is $10 per day with free parking offered for practice days on Tuesday/Wednesday.
There will be no spectator parking at Champions at Keene Trace. In addition, Delaney Ferry Road near the course will be “restricted access,” and no local “park and walk” opportunities will be available. Those spectators utilizing a ride-share drop-off and pick-up lot will be available off Keene South Elkhorn Road (KY-1267) with local shuttle transporting spectators to the course.
Spectator parking passes for Thursday-Sunday at Keeneland are available for purchase now at www.BarbasolChampionshipKY.com. Keeneland also will play host to the Concours d’Elegance car show on Saturday, July 21, so spectators are encouraged to purchase parking passes in advance to secure a spot at the track.
Parking/Shuttle Fast Facts
- All general parking will be at Keeneland and patrons must enter at Gate 2 (Old Clubhouse entrance)
- Keeneland shuttles will start running at approximately 7 a.m. on Thursday-Sunday and run approximately 90 minutes following the conclusion of play each evening
- Price: $10 per tournament day with free parking available on Tuesday/Wednesday
- No parking or drop-offs allowed at the course or within a 1.5 mile stretch of Delaney Ferry Road around the course
- Ride-share (Uber, Lyft, taxi) lot will be available on Keene South Elkhorn (KY-1267) with local shuttles to the course
Tournament Bag Policies
A clear-bag policy will be in effect for spectators coming to the Barbasol Championship. No bags larger than 6” x 6” x 6”, other than diaper and medical bags, will be permitted. Clear bags smaller than 12” x 6” x 12” and 1-gallon plastic freezer bags will be allowed. Full tournament policies, including prohibited items, can be found at www.barbasolchampionshipky.com/policies.
