Wed, Jul 09 2008
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Published May 11, 2008 12:02 am - Names like Clark Burroughs, Keith Clearwater, Jay Don Blake, Vance Heafner, Stan Utley and Steve Lowry may tug at the memory for recognition. But back in 1986, those players along with Mark Calcavecchia and Tom Lehman were among the headliners of a short-lived nationwide developmental golf tour that stopped for a 54-hole championship in Joplin . TPA was a short-lived precursor to Nationwide, Hooters Names like Clark Burroughs, Keith Clearwater, Jay Don Blake, Vance Heafner, Stan Utley and Steve Lowry may tug at the memory for recognition.
But back in 1986, those players along with Mark Calcavecchia and Tom Lehman were among the headliners of a short-lived nationwide developmental golf tour that stopped for a 54-hole championship in Joplin . The Tournament Players Association (TPA) offered a 24-tournament schedule for a growing group of young tigers hungry for pro competition and the opportunity to make money as they sharpened their considerable talents. Joplin’s Mid-America Open was the opening event on the TPA’s Midwest swing, which came after a successful seven-event winter slate in the South. The prize money was pretty good for the time, $125,000. There was even a report circulating that Seve Ballesteros, who was feuding at the time with the PGA Tour, might even play here. He didn’t, but it made for some hot pre-tournament hype. Stan Utley, a native of West Plains and a former University of Missouri golf star, is widely known and respected today as a putting and chipping guru to today's pros. Lehman and Calcavecchia are still winning money on the PGA Tour. Unfortunately, the TPA didn’t last long. Joplin decided against ponying up $30,000 to guarantee the 1987 tournament and to sign on for a five-year, $250,000 commitment. The idea was sound, as the PGA’s experience with the Hogan, Nike, buy.com and Nationwide tours proved. There was room for other developmental tours. Tom Kidd, a San Diego, Calif., banker, started the TPA as a national alternative to the regional mini-tours in Florida, Texas, Arizona and California . As TPA commissioner, Kidd envisioned his tour as a second pro nationwide golf tour that would offer college All-Americans and Walker Cuppers as well as “PGA veterans and current PGA players” the opportunity to compete. His blueprint made sense when one considers that the PGA Tour simply couldn’t provide enough playing spots weekly for the hundreds of young U.S. pros leaving college and looking to launch their careers. That doesn’t even take into consideration the rising tide of European and Asian stars arriving on these shores. The Mid-America Open was played April 15-17 at Loma Linda and Briarbrook country clubs. The field flip-flopped between Loma Linda and Briarbrook for the first two rounds, and then the low 90 players stuck around for the final round at Loma Linda. Dicky Thompson won the event in a playoff over Burroughs. The TPA play-for-pay circuit was ahead of its time. It was underfunded and Kidd, despite his enthusiasm, organizing ability and core of players who ultimately would reach the PGA Tour, simply couldn’t generate enough grassroots support. History looks upon the TPA as a novelty. But it was a precursor to the Nationwide and Hooters tours. The formula was sound. Sadly, no one, except perhaps Kidd and a handful of others, recognized it. Funny lines Some friends were offering some funny golf quips. Some of them I had never heard before. Here are a couple of my favorites. 
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