WEST END, NC (9/2/09) - In the three-year history on the Carolinas Mixed Team Championship, Anthony and Debbie Adams of Asheville, NC have won the title each time.

During that same span, Kevin Atamian and Katie Brenny of Raleigh have finished second each time.

This year, when the 4th Carolinas Mixed Team Championship is played Sept. 5-6 at Ocean Ridge Plantation's Lion's Paw course near Ocean Isle Beach, NC, they'll go at it again in the 36-hole four-ball stroke play competition. As was the case a year ago, the two front-running duos are paired together in the first round.

Atamian and Brenny have come close before, but have been unable to unseat the husband-wife Adamses. In 2006, when the championship was played on Ocean Ridge's Panther's Run course, the Adams team shot 67-67--134 to win by one stroke. In 2007 on the development's Lion's Paw links, the Adamses shot 62-65--127 to beat Atamian-Brenny by seven strokes. Then came an agonizing finish last year on the Tiger's Eye course, where the two teams were tied at the end of regulation play with 132 totals. "I thought we were finally going to take home the trophy," Atamian said.

But it wasn't to be. On the second hole of a sudden-death playoff, the Adamses made a winning birdie to once again claim the prize.

The Carolinas Golf Association event has a change of format this year, with a "Championship Division" and a "Tournament Division," which plays a shorter course. Previously, all players were in one division, but this time entrants were able to select the division in which they wanted to play. The field will be divided into flights within each division based on their first round gross scores.

The 42 teams will compete on the par-72, Willard Byrd-designed Lion's Paw Course, which features rolling fairways, towering hardwoods and bold contoured greens. The men in the Championship Division will play from tees measuring 6,668 yards, while the ladies' course will cover 5,545 yards. In the Tournament Division, the men's course measures 6,205 yards, while the women will play a 4,902 yard layout.

The Ocean Ridge Plantation development currently has four courses that it refers to as the "Big Cats" -- Lion's Paw, Panther's Run, Tiger's Eye and Leopard's Chase. A fifth course, Jaguar's Lair, is scheduled to open sometime in 2010.

ADDITIONAL MEDIA INFORMATION

4th Mixed Team Championship of the Carolinas Golf Association September 5-6, 2009 Ocean Ridge Plantation (Lion's Paw)

351 Ocean Ridge Parkway SW

Sunset Beach, NC 28469

910-287-1717

FORMAT

36 holes of four-ball stroke play with a "Championship Division" and a "Tournament Division," which plays a shorter course. Gross scores only. The field will be divided into flights within each division based on first round gross scores.

ELIGIBILITY

Entry is open to any team comprised of a male and a female, who are legal residents of one of the Carolinas, are members in good standing of a club which is a member of the Carolinas Golf Association (CGA) and has a current USGA handicap indexes at a CGA member club.

SCHEDULE OF ROUNDS

Friday, September 4

Tee times available for practice after 12 noon.

Saturday, September 5

First round. 18 holes of four-ball stroke play (AM tee times). Field divided into flights within divisions by score after the first round.

Sunday, September 6

Final round. 18 holes of four-ball stroke play (8:30 a.m. shotgun start).

Awards luncheon following completion of play.

PRIZES

The championship team receives merchandise and trophies. Prizes are awarded to the low scorers in each flight. Ties are split except for the overall championship, which is resolved using an on-course playoff.

LION'S PAW INFORMATION

GOLF PROFESSIONAL: Clay Stanley

COURSE SUPERINTENDENT: Scott Novak

TYPE COURSE: Public

COURSE DESCRIPTION: An open, hilly course with spectacular views of a creek valley and adjoining wetlands. There are large hardwoods, contoured bentgrass greens and about 70 deep bunkers. Water comes into play on 15 holes.

ARCHITECT: Willard Byrd

OPENED: 1991

CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION YARDAGE & PAR: Men: 6,668 yards, par 72 CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION YARDAGE & PAR: Ladies: 5,545 yards, par 72 COURSE RATING/SLOPE: Men: 72.9/129; Ladies 71.0/126 TOURNAMENT DIVISION YARDAGE & PAR: Men: 6,205 yards, par 72 TOURNAMENT DIVISION YARDAGE & PAR: Ladies: 4,902 yards, par 72 COURSE RATING/SLOPE: Men: 72.9/129; Ladies 69.0/121 FAIRWAYS & TEES: Bermuda grass

GREENS: Bentgrass

CGA MAJOR CHAMPIONSHIPS AT OCEAN RIDGE: 2006 Carolinas Mixed Team Championship (Panther's Run course); 2007 Carolinas Mixed Team Championship (Lion's Paw course); 2008 Carolinas Mixed Team Championship (Tiger's Eye);

2008 N.C. Four-Ball Championship (Lion's Paw/Panther's Run)

DIRECTIONS TO OCEAN RIDGE PLANTATION

The course is located off U.S. Highway 17. From Myrtle Beach, take US 17 north toward Wilmington, NC, passing Little River, SC and Calabash, NC. Just past the intersection with NC Hwy 904, turn right into Ocean Ridge Plantation.

WEST END, NC (8/28/09) - A field of 42 teams, including three-time defending champions Anthony and Debbie Adams of Asheville, NC and three-time runners-up Kevin Atamian and Katie Brenny of Raleigh, NC, will participate in the fourth Carolinas Mixed Team Championship, which will be played September 5-6 at Ocean Ridge Plantation's Lion's Paw course near Ocean Isle Beach, NC.

The Carolinas Golf Association event for teams consisting of a male and female golfer is a 36-hole four-ball stroke play competition with a "Championship Division" and a "Tournament Division," which plays a shorter course. The field will be divided into flights within each division based on first round gross scores.

The teams will compete on the par-72, Willard Byrd-designed Lion's Paw Course, which features rolling fairways, towering hardwoods and bold contoured greens. The men in the Championship Division will play from tees measuring 6,668 yards, while the ladies' course will cover 5,545 yards. In the Tournament Division, the men's course measures 6,205 yards, while the women will play a 4,902 yard layout.

This is the fourth straight year that Ocean Ridge Plantation has hosted the event. In 2006, when it was played on the development's Panther's Run course, the husband-wife Adamses shot 67-67--134 to win by one stroke over Atamian and Brenny. In 2007 on Ocean Ridge's Lion's Paw links, the Adamses shot 62-65--127 to beat Atamian-Brenny by seven strokes. And last year on the Tiger's Eye course, the Adamses won on the second hole of a sudden-death playoff against Atamian and Brenny.

Although this is only the fourth Carolinas Mixed Team Championship, a similar competition had been conducted by the CGA in past years under the group's One-Day Tournament program.