SHREVEPORT, LA - PGA Tour Professional Hal Sutton, fresh from yesterday's win in The Players Championship, today (Tuesday, March 28, 2000) recalled an earlier victory: the Ryder Cup.
Last fall's victory brought the Ryder championship back to the United States, and today it brought $100,000 to Sutton's alma mater, Centenary College, and his chosen charitable cause, the United Way of Northwest Louisiana.
Sutton and Jim L. Awtrey, chief executive officer of the PGA, did the honors in style, presenting checks to Centenary President Kenneth L. Schwab and United Way Board President Johnie Wise before a luncheon crowd of 130 at Centenary. Louisiana Lieutenant Governor Kathleen B. Blanco, who directs the state's Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, also spoke.
Sutton's victory on Monday in the PGA Tour's most lucrative event brought additional excitement to Tuesday's program. The Associated Press had reported Monday from Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.: "Hal Sutton relished a chance to beat Tiger Woods and got all he could handle today before holding on for a one-stroke victory . . . (his) test came against the No. 1 player in the world with a penchant for dramatic comebacks . . . As he had done throughout the entire final round, Sutton never blinked."
At Centenary, Sutton said, "Tiger's a great player ... but that doesn't mean that on any given day I can't beat him."
A professional golfer since the year he graduated from Centenary, 1981, Sutton has won numerous PGA tournaments, the PGA Championship and the Player of the Year Award. He has played on three Ryder Cup teams, twice won The Players Championship and is among the PGA's top money winners.
At Centenary, Sutton played golf from 1976 to 1980, during which he won 14 golf tournaments, was an All American, led the Gents to the NCAA Tournament, and finished ninth nationally. He was named the NCAA College Player of the Year and won the 1980 U.S. amateur championship.
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