Roberts Heads to the Vinny On a Roll; ''Boss of the Moss'' Follows Nelson Win With Tennessee Open Victory

Business Wire, May 31, 1999

NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(BW SportsWire)--May 28, 1999--

Loren Roberts, who just won his home state's open tournament, will look to continue his hot streak at The Vinny, Vince Gill's Aug. 2nd and 3rd Pro-Celebrity fundraiser tournament for Tennessee junior golf and youth programs.

Roberts, a product of junior golf himself, nailed down the win of the three-day Tennessee Open at Dickson's GreyStone Golf Club today. The victory comes on the heels of his May 16 win at the GTE Byron Nelson Classic in Irving, Texas, which he won in a play-off victory over Steve Pate. Roberts will join host Gill and dozens of other pro golfers and entertainers at the seventh edition of The Vinny.

"It looks like I may not have to spot Loren any strokes this year," joked Gill. "The way he's playing, we might have to give him a 7 p.m. tee time to make it fair for everyone else."

Roberts ranks in the top 10 in nine 1999 PGA statistical categories, including "money leaders," after winning the $540,000 first prize in at the Nelson event. His other PGA Tour victories include the 1997 CVS Charity Classic, the 1996 MCI Classic, the 1996 Greater Milwaukee Open, and the 1995 and 1994 Nestle Invitational. He was a member of the inaugural Presidents Cup team in 1994. This year's Vinny appearance will be Roberts' sixth.

In its first six years, The Vinny has contributed more than $1.5 million for junior golf and youth programs in Tennessee. Proceeds from the seventh edition of The Vinny (1999) will set that bar even higher and put the event well towards its goal of raising $2 million by the year 2000.

The event features stars from the PGA and LPGA Tours participating in Monday's event (Aug. 2), and marquee celebrities from the sports and entertainment fields playing on Tuesday (Aug. 3). Fans from all 50 states, as well as Canada, Mexico and overseas, make an annual pilgrimage to The Vinny to see some of their favorite players and pickers on the links.

The Vinny will be held at the Golf Club of Tennessee in Kingston Springs, outside Nashville. Two-day (Aug. 2 & 3) tickets for The Vinny are $12 each, unchanged from 1998. For information on ticket sales and outlets, call The Vinny office at 615/790-7755. For information on Tennessee Junior Golf programs, call 615/591-7349.