Ascension Classic presented by Daugherty Business Solutions promotes inclusivity
and diversity through new 36-hole professional tournament to take place at Glen
Echo Country Club during the Ascension Charity Classic
Ascension and the Advocates Professional Golf Association (APGA) Tour, in association with the Ascension Charity Classic presented by Emerson, have formed a three-year agreement to host a new professional golf tournament in St. Louis. The APGA Tour St. Louis – Ascension Classic presented by Daugherty Business Solutions will debut Sept. 8-9, 2022, at Glen Echo Country Club in North St. Louis County.
This announcement comes just six months after the final putt dropped at the inaugural Ascension Charity Classic presented by Emerson, an official PGA TOUR Champions event that has raised more than $1 million for St. Louis charities since its inception and drew record crowds in its first tournament.
“Based on the overwhelming success of the inaugural Ascension Charity Classic, we knew that St. Louis golf fans
and the corporate community would support more professional golf in North St. Louis County,” said Nick Ragone,
Executive Vice President, Chief Marketing & Communications Officer, Ascension. “The APGA Tour’s mission is to
bring greater diversity and inclusion to the game by helping African American and other underrepresented golfers
to prepare for highly competitive careers in golf. We couldn’t be more supportive of that mission and are thrilled
this event will complement the action taking place at the second Ascension Charity Classic presented by Emerson
at Norwood Hills Country Club the same week.”
The region’s newest sporting event will include practice rounds on Tuesday, Sept. 6, and Wednesday, Sept. 7, at
Glen Echo, as well as a pro-am on Wednesday at the East Course at nearby Norwood Hills. General admission for
the 36-hole stroke-play competition (Sept. 8-9) of this stand-alone APGA Tour event is free to the public and will
provide area golf fans with another opportunity to enjoy thrilling tee-to-green action in St. Louis.
“This is another big step for the APGA Tour,” offered co-founder and CEO Ken Bentley. “Successfully aligning with
a PGA TOUR-affiliated event in a major market like St. Louis is critical to our continued growth. We salute
Ascension, Daugherty Business Solutions and PGA TOUR Champions for welcoming our players as we pursue the
mission of bringing greater diversity to the sport of golf.”
Established in 2010, the APGA Tour is a non-profit organization with the mission to prepare African American and
other underrepresented golfers to compete and win at the highest level of professional golf, both on tour and in
the golf industry. This is accomplished through professional tournaments, career development and mentoring
sessions.
Helping to remove the financial burden associated with golf is a top priority for the APGA. Support from Ascension
and Daugherty will help ensure that players have access to the tools and support they need to better focus on
their career path and development in the game.
The Ascension Classic presented by Daugherty Business Solutions will be the first tournament in the APGA Tour’s
Fall Series, a string of four events in St. Louis, Philadelphia, Atlanta and Los Angeles, that are part of the Tour’s
2022 schedule of 17 events offering over $700,000 in prize money. The APGA Tour Farmers Insurance Fall Series
will feature a $15,000 bonus pool that pays an additional $7,500 to the player who is awarded the most points
from each of the four events.
The Ascension Classic presented by Daugherty Business Solutions will share the Ascension Charity Classic’s overall
philanthropic goals. Both events provide a vehicle for increased support of the local community and a desire to
grow the game of golf.
For more information about the Ascension Classic presented by Daugherty Business Solutions, including free
tickets, pro-am and hospitality availability, and volunteer opportunities, visit the event’s landing page on the
Ascension Charity Classic website at www.ascensioncharityclassic.com/apga. For the latest news and updates on social media, follow the APGA Tour on Twitter at @APGA_Tour, on Facebook at @APGATour and on Instagram at
@apgatour
