Curt Byrum, the defending champion, heads a list of 156 players, including numerous amateurs, entered in the 66th Arizona Open at Desert Mountain’s 7,211-yard Jack Nicklaus-designed Apache Course. The 54-hole stroke play event, which returns to the Apache Course for the third year in a row, is scheduled for June 17-19, 2010.

The field will be cut to the lowest 60 players plus ties after 36 holes of play.

A former PGA Tour professional, Byrum, 51, won the 65th Arizona Open last June at the Apache Course. The Golf Channel analyst, who lives in Scottsdale, won $6,500, but said the win meant much more than that. It’s been about 11 years since he played actively on the PGA Tour, where he won once in 1989.

“There is no substitute for competitive golf,” stated Byrum. Byrum’s final-round 66 and 13-under 54-hole total was two strokes better than runner up Greg Avant of Chandler, the director of golf/owner of Lone Tree Golf Club in Chandler. Glen Griffith of Green Valley finished alone in third, while Rodney Hamblin of Scottsdale was fourth; Marty Jertson of Cave Creek, Brandon Smith of Tucson and Julien Trudeau of Tempe tied for fifth.

Notable past champions of the Arizona Open presented by the SWSPGA include Ronnie Black (’87), Danny Briggs (’93, ’95, ’97),  Jim Carter (’89, ’96), Todd Demsey (’98), Dale Douglas (’65), R.W. Eaks (’90) and Kermit Zarley (’64). From 1945 to 1959 the legendary Johnny Bulla won 14 consecutive Arizona Opens.

Avant, Mike Ferris, the 2008 champion, Arizona State’s Philip Francis, the former U.S. Junior Amateur Champion from Desert Mountain, Barry Conser, Mike Nicolette, the 1999 champion, and Greg Bruckner, the 2003 winner, were among the early commitments.

Don Yrene, a five-time Southwest Section Player of the Year from Scottsdale, is always among the favorites, as is Jay Synkelma, the 2000 Arizona Open champion from Tucson, and Dean Vomacka, the 2008 Southwest Section PGA Champion from Oro Valley. Veterans such as Scott Frisch, a top Southwest Section PGA performer and club professional who doubles as the head golf professional at the Apache Course and Outlaw Course, should also compete.

The second longest-running professional event behind the PGA Tour’s Waste Management Phoenix Open in Scottsdale, the 66th Arizona Open is also one of the most prestigious events of its kind in the United States.

• When: 54-hole stroke play event runs from June 17-19.

• Where: Apache Course at Desert Mountain Club, 11124 E. Prospect Point Drive, Scottsdale.

Apache, the fourth Jack Nicklaus Signature Course at Desert Mountain, opened in January of 1996. Gracefully undulating through the gentle desert terrain, the par-72 course features a more traditional approach to golf. Smooth transitions to the natural terrain, ample grassy approaches to greens and gently rolling fairways provide the golfer with a variety of options when selecting a shot.

Large greens appear as extensions of the fairways, providing excellent targets while also accepting bump-and-run shots and high approaches. Mastering a few tricky uphill or downhill lies is the key to scoring well on this challenging, yet playable, golf course.

• The field: The 154-player field includes club professionals, mini-tour players, past champions and a number of amateurs who either qualified or were invited to play.

• Purse: $50,000: $6,500 to the winner

• Designer: Jack Nicklaus

• Defending champion: Curt Byrum, a Scottsdale resident.
 The entry deadline for exempt players is June 9 at 4:30 p.m. • Information: 480.443.9002.

Notable Past Champions:
Ronnie Black (’87), Danny Briggs (’93, ’95, ’97), Jim Carter (’89, ’96), Todd Demsey (’98), Dale Douglas (’65), R.W. Eaks (’90), Kermit Zarley (’64)

Host Site Accommodations: Carefree Resort and Conference Center

CLOSED QUALIFIERS - (Open to PGA Member Professionals/Apprentices & Amateurs only) June 2 – McCormick Ranch Golf Club (Scottsdale, AZ) – 7:00 am Double Tee (field limited to 84). June 3 – Gallery Golf Club (Tucson, AZ) – 11:00 am Double Tee *Closed qualifiers limited to 120 players at each site.

OPEN QUALIFIER - (Open to all Professionals & Amateurs)
June 12th – Raven GC @ South Mountain Golf Club (Phoenix) – 1:00pm Double Tee* Available to first 84 entries.