The 55th Annual Cherokee Strip Golf Classic extravaganza, sponsored by the Ponca City Country Club as a charity for the Opportunity Center, is this weekend.

A practice round will be played Thursday, Sept. 8, and team play is Friday and Saturday, Sept. 9 and 10.

Team format will be “two net low ball” of the team (4 amateurs, 1 pro) with  the amateurs using 85 percent of their current handicap.  The field will be equally divided into 2 flights based on total team handicap. 

Prizes will be awarded to the top 5 teams in each flight.  Both “low gross team skins” and “low net team skins” games will be held each day.  The skins entry price is included in the tournament entry fee.  The entire field will compete for team calcutta.  

Professionals will have a two-day stroke-play competition.  Cash prizes will be awarded to the top 14 players for a total purse in excess of $16,000. 

Additionally, a Senior Champion will be determined from the field of professional golfers age 50 and older.  The top three players will be awarded prize money in the Senior Division.  Senior Professional players are eligible to compete for prize money in either professional flight.

The Cherokee Strip Horse Race is Thursday and  the format will be two amateur players per team participating in an alternating shot competition. 

Ten teams will compete in each flight. One team will be eliminated per hole based upon the highest team score for that hole.  In the event of a tie, the team partner not holing out will compete in a chip-off to determine which team is eliminated.  Prizes will be awarded to the top three teams in each flight.

Also on Thursday is the Cherokee Strip Mule Race. The format will be one professional player paired with an amateur player or two amateur players paired per team participating in an alternating shot competition. 

A maximum of 10 teams will be allowed in this event.  The prize money increases throughout this 9 hole event.  No teams are eliminated in this event and the winners take all on each hole!

Multiple fun events are scheduled during the tournament. Check out the fun at http://www.cherokeestripgolf.com/ or on the event's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/CherokeeStripGolf/

The Cherokee Strip Golf Classic helps to provide funding for the Opportunity Center in Ponca City, Oklahoma.  This funding is necessary to ensure the continued operation of the Opportunity Center and the many programs that it provides. 

For more information about the Opportunity Center, contact Julie Grigsba at The Opportunity Center by calling (580) 765-6782 or email office@opcenterok.org