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2005 Golden Tee World Championship Dates Announced
The 4th annual Golden Tee World Championship – the first major tournament to be held on the new Golden Tee LIVE platform – is scheduled for November 13-15 at Friday's Front Row in Orlando, Florida. The 2005 edition of the most prestigious tournament in on-premise entertainment pits a 16-man U.S. team against a 16-man international team as they compete for the coveted World Championship Cup. In a stunning upset last year, the international team beat Team USA by the smallest of margins, 24 ½ to 23 ½, winning the Cup and shocking the world of video golf. "They beat us fair and square last year," said reigning world champion and Team USA captain, Jeff Harlow, of St. Louis (pictured). "But now it's time for us to reclaim what's rightfully ours." The international team is composed of players from Canada, the UK, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. Each country conducts their own qualifier and sends players to Orlando all expenses paid.
According to Gary Colabuono, Golden Tee maker Incredible Technologies' director of marketing, Team USA online qualifying has already surpassed last year's quick start. "Golden Tee LIVE has rejuvenated our top players and they all want to make the team this year," he said. "Getting the Cup back has become a mission with them. It's going to be exciting to see who makes the team in the live qualifier in Atlanta." The top 72 online qualifiers will be invited to Atlanta for the live Team USA qualifier in October. Golden Tee operators are getting into the spirit of competition too. Maria Ruth, marketing and promotions director for goldenteecontest.com, a Baltimore/DC-area amusement company with 42 Golden Tee LIVE locations, said that her company is paying the way to Atlanta for any player who qualifies on their machines. "This tournament is just the thing we need to get players excited again about Golden Tee contests," she said. "Our players love competition. We hope we get a lot of qualifiers for Atlanta!"
"This is just the type of innovative promotion that we were hoping to see," said Mr Colabuono. "Players will spend hundreds and even thousands of dollars each to make Team USA. Make sure your Golden Tee LIVE equipment is in perfect condition. Don't miss out on this windfall." Besides the team competition, all 32 players will vie for the title of World Champion and the $15,000 check that goes with it. "This year's total purse is $57,000," said Mr Colabuono. "It's the premier event in our video sport. Our past champions are a veritable who's who of Golden Tee. The pressure will be enormous this year." Besides the $15,000 payday, the new champion will be inducted into the Golden Tee Society, the Hall of Fame for Golden Tee players. "The Masters has its ugly green jacket," Mr Colabuono said. "It's not cool enough for Golden Tee players. Our world champ gets the Golden Tee Society bomber jacket – now that's cool!"
Incredible Technologies conducts the Golden Tee World Championship in conjunction with their international partners: Electrocoin, Ltd. of London; ITS Games Canada of Toronto; K&W Amusements of Port Elizabeth, South Africa; AMD Distributors of Sidney; and Coin Cascade, Ltd. of Christchurch, New Zealand.
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