From its inception in 1950, an idea of the late Press Thornton has become a proving ground for golf's brightest junior stars, as well as home for sportsmanship, the thrill of competition and the love for the game of golf. It was for those reasons the Dothan Country Club first served as host for the tournament.
 
The Dothan Country Club has had only seven club professionals in the 56 year history of the tournament. Telfair Ghioto, who helped organize the first Future Masters, remained in Dothan until 1964. Telfair's son Teddy won the 1956 Tournament. Andy Inman, a native of Augusta, Georgia, home of the Masters, was DCC Pro from 1981 - 1984 when Buddy Davis accepted the position. In 1992, Brad Snider came to the Dothan Country Club. In 2004, Kevin Klein experienced his first Future Masters, and with great enthusiasm has stepped to the tee and is set to swing through another terrific tournament.

An impressive list of golfing greats who have competed in the tournament continues to grow and includes past U.S. Open Champions Hubert Green and Jerry Pate, Masters Winner Larry Mize, PGA Champions Bob Tway, Mark Brooks, and Shawn Micheel, British Open Winner Ben Curtis, along with Tour Stars Andy Bean, Bruce Leitzke, Bill Rogers, Allen Miller, Mac McClendon, Buddy Gardner, Eddie Pierce, Steve Melnyk, Joey Hager, Wayne Player, Phil Hancock, Gary Koch, Hal Sutton, Chris Couch, David Jackson, Chip Beck, Curtis Strange, Steve Lowery, David Duval, Vance Veazey, Stewart Cink, Birney Baird, Robert Floyd, Bubba Dickerson, Charles Howell III, and Casey Whittenburg.

In 1996 Press Thornton, Sr. and the Future Masters were inducted into the Wiregrass Sports Hall of Fame. The Future Masters is staffed by approximately 125 volunteers, many who have performed their duties for decades.

Future Masters is not, nor has it ever been, only about golf, it is about the spirit of competition, friendships made, sportsmanship on the course, and the challenge of preserving over a half-century of growing golf - Mr. Thornton's dream realized.    Read More»

WDHN and dothanfirst.com bring you coverage of the 61st Annual Press Thornton Golf Tournament. Each day WDHN will have LIVE updates in the 5 and 6:00 newscasts. Plus, dothanfirst.com will have all the stories for you to view when you visit the site.

Dr. Press Thornton congratulates 15 year-old Ollie Schniederjans of Powder Springs, GA for winning the 59th Annual Future Masters in a 7 hole playoff against 2006 Champion Blayne Barber. Schniederjans shot rounds of 72, 67, and 70 for a tournament total of 209.