By Sherry Major, special contributor- PGA.com

Oct. 3, 2008 -- A tournament field of 204 golfers from 24 U.S. Special Olympics programs was joined by family, friends, volunteers, local dignitaries and golf organization executives from across the country to amass nearly 500 participants in Friday night's Opening Ceremony of the Special Olympics Golf National Invitational Tournament. The ninth annual tournament will be conducted at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie through Monday, Oct. 6, 2008.

The PGA of America is a five-time host of the national tournament at PGA Golf Club and a 20-year sponsor of the Special Olympics golf program.

Tonight's program began with the "parade of athletes" where team mates from 24 U.S. Special Olympics chapters marched into the opening ceremony in a tradition synonymous with the Olympics Games.

Emcee responsibilities for the event were shared by Special Olympics global messenger and Port St. Lucie golfer Alex Perry who was joined by Jupiter resident Tim Rosaforte, who is a senior writer for Golf Digest, on-air contributor for the Golf Channel and NBC Sports and a New York Times Best-Selling author.

Local residents shared many featured positions in the ceremony including Malcom Harris Gowdie, a Port St. Lucie Special Olympics athlete who sang the national anthem, and Donald Singleton, a Florida Special Olympics athlete who led competitors in reciting the Special Olympics athlete's oath. The oath was originally penned in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver and reads "Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt."

Honored guests included PGA of America CEO Joe Steranka and USGA Past President Dr. Trey Holland. Steranka addressed the audience and congratulated Special Olympics on celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2008. "Since The PGA of America first introduced golf to Special Olympics in 1988, our Association and our PGA Professionals from around the country have been proud to be everyday national and hometown advocates for the program."

"Through golf, the public's perspective on Special Olympics athletes has grown to know these individuals as enthusiastic golfers who train hard, enjoy their good shots and truly embody the spirit of the great game of golf."

More than 100 volunteers from St. Lucie, Martin and Palm Beach counties will offer their time and talents over the next three days volunteer chairperson Ruth Henderson of Port St. Lucie?, was commended for her efforts on behalf of the community during the ceremony.

Police officers from the City of Port St. Lucie, St. Lucie County Sheriff's Department and Martin County Sheriff's Department accompanied Special Olympics golfer Kenyatta Johnson of Ft. Pierce, who carried in the torch to light the Special Olympics cauldron signifying the opening of the national tournament.

The PGA of America is joined by the USGA, PGA Tour, LPGA and Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) in supporting the Special Olympics golf program. The PGA has provided a grassroots network of instruction, administration and facility access through its 28,000 men and women PGA Professionals in addition to providing financial support and program resources. The USGA has contributed over $700,000 since 1992 in support of the Special Olympics golf program.

With the support of golf's allied organizations, Special Olympics golf has grown to include some 17,000 athletes participating throughout North America and thousands more in 25 international programs.

The Special Olympics Golf National Invitational Tournament offers five levels of competition on the Ryder and Wanamaker Courses of PGA Golf Club, Oct. 4-6, 2008. A special PGA Play Golf America Clinic & Skills Contest will be held for competitors on Saturday, Oct. 4, at 2:30 p.m. at PGA Golf Club. Award ceremonies will be held immediately following the final round on Monday, Oct. 6, beginning at 12:00 p.m. at PGA Golf Club.

For more information on the tournament, The PGA or PGA Golf Club, please visit www.PGA.com. For more information on Special Olympics, please visit www.specialolympics.org.