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January 31, 2006Michigan Players Tour formedMini-tour plans stops in TC, GaylordTRAVERSE CITY - Up and coming professional golfers who aren't members of the Michigan Section of the PGA may have a few reasons to tee it up closer to home this summer.Ken Carter, a former mini tour golfer who now lives in Traverse City, announced Monday the formation of the Michigan Players Tour. The tour, modeled after other mini tours like the NGA/Hooters Tour and the Adams Tight Lies Tour, will offer an abbreviated schedule in 2006, with plans to expand in 2007. "I always wanted to play more in the state, but because I'm not a member of the Michigan section I've had to travel to Texas or Florida," said Carter, who is in Houston visiting family. "I thought, 'I'll bet there are a lot of guys in the Great Lakes region just like me.' "With the great course selection we have in this state, (forming the Michigan Players Tour) was a no-brainer." Carter, 49, said tentative dates have been set for five single-round tournaments to introduce golfers to the tour - June 13 at Shepherd's Hollow in Clarkston, July 6 on The Bear at Grand Traverse Resort (Acme), July 25 at Thousand Oaks in Grand Rapids, Aug. 17 at The Grande in Jackson and Sept. 5 on the Jones Course at Treetops Resort (Gaylord). "Our first priority is to get the word out that we're here," Carter said. "From there we will build each event incrementally until we have a full schedule of multi-round events." Carter said he wanted to be careful not to take on too much too soon. "We'll develop the tour event by event, rather than booking a whole season in advance and hoping enough players show up," he said. Once the tour is fully developed, it will also include a women's division, which Carter said is "desperately needed in the U.S. right now." "If a lady fails to qualify for the LPGA or Futures Tour, she can play the new Hoosters series, but that's about it in the states," Carter said. Carter, who was born in Ohio and grew up in Merrillville, Ind., said he dreamed of becoming a PGA Tour player and was inspired by his college experience under coach Dave Williams at the University of Houston in the mid-1970s. While at Houston, his teammates included Fred Couples, Blaine McCallister, Ed Fiori, David Ishii and - for a brief time - Nick Faldo. After college, Carter turned pro and played in events in Texas and Florida. He eventually moved to the Detroit area, then became a Traverse City resident in 2002. He qualified for the Michigan Open that year - the only Michigan major he was eligible to compete in. "The Michigan Players Tour is my attempt to do something noteworthy in the game and give the guys something I wish I had when I was growing up," Carter said. For more information log onto michiganplayerstour.com.
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