[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 14424]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




       SUCCESSFUL 27TH U.S. SENIOR OPEN HOSTED IN HUTCHINSON, KS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JERRY MORAN

                               of kansas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 13, 2006

  Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my 
gratitude for an incredibly well hosted event in my district this past 
week. Through a collaboration of more than 2,500 volunteers, the 
renowned Prairie Dunes Country Club and the United States Golf 
Association, the 2006 U.S. Senior Open was contested in Hutchinson, KS.
  I was proud to be in the crowd of this well attended tournament. The 
state of Kansas and this community did a wonderful job of showcasing 
our welcoming spirit and beautiful landscape.
  The names of Watson, Player, Irwin, Crenshaw and Kite are easily 
recognizable to golf enthusiasts. After his repeat victory, Allen Doyle 
should also now join this list of distinguished champions as a 
household name.
  But there were more than just famous golfers who made this a 
successful event. I'm certain that Kansans will join with me in 
specifically thanking Mr. Allen Fee, Tournament General Chairman, and 
Mr. Greg Conrad, Championship Director, for their collective 
contributions in making this an outstanding week of golf. I also want 
to thank the legion of volunteers who gave of their time and talents. 
As testament to the event's success, volunteers from 27 states joined 
nearly 115,000 spectators in establishing the mark for the largest 
sporting event in Kansas history.
  The real star of this championship, however, was the golf course 
itself. Many golfers and spectators commented that Prairie Dunes was 
stunning, from tee to green, from fairway to ``gunsch'', and provided 
the level of difficulty required in a tournament of this high caliber. 
To the unfamiliar, what players and spectators alike found was a course 
ranked by many in the top 15 in the United States, and the top 25 in 
the world. From its origins dating back to 1937, Prairie Dunes 
continues to emphasize native prairie grasses and its famous ``Maxwell 
Rolls'' greens to provide a stern test for the discriminating player.
  Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in recognizing the 
Hutchinson community for hosting the 27th U.S. Senior Open, and for 
their many contributions to the State of Kansas and game of golf.

                          ____________________