Two-time champion Jon McWilliams of Danville, who tied for third in 2008, will also be on course this weekend for the Father's Day tourney as will former champs Scott Bolin of Lancaster, Kevin Lawson of Stanton, Ben Fuqua of Danville and Jeff Short of Stanford.
"We've got a strong field of players already signed up so it should be a very good tournament," said Jack Upchurch, Profitt tournament director. "We're glad to have so many former champs coming back to play."
Those former champs will be players to watch this weekend, but Upchurch says there are also some equally talented players that have not won the tournament that are signed up and should help make the two-day event highly-competitive.
"Shawn Tipton is coming in with Kevin Lawson and he's already won the Winchester tournament this year and Will Davis of Harrodsburg is supposed to be a very good player," said Upchurch. "Vincent Vaughn of Simpsonville has played in the tournament before and done very well (tied McWilliams for third last year) and Jimmy Simpson, who is also from Simpsonville, is another good player coming in. Locally, Danny Murphy has been playing very well and should have a good tournament."
"We've got some players with under +2 handicaps coming in so we should have a pretty strong field," he said.
While several slots are still available in the annual Profitt event, Upchurch said he expects a field of over 100 golfers by tee time.
"It's like that most years (slow signups), but this year I think the financial conditions have kept some people away and I think others have planned vacations," he said. "Where Father's Day is on a different weekend than usual, that's interfered with some plans that people had already made."
Rain has been an almost constant companion of the Profitt Invitational over the years, including an 11-year wet run, but Upchurch is predicting good weather for this year's tournament.
"I've heard it's supposed to rain this afternoon (Tuesday) and then it's supposed to be pretty nice the rest of the weekend," he said. "I can remember tournaments with a lot of rain, but I don't think that's going to happen this year. They say there might be isolated thunderstorms Saturday, but maybe it will be just a light sprinkle."
The first of the Profitt golfers will tee off at 7:30 a.m. Saturday morning with a succession of golfers following suit.
"We're expecting it to be another good tournament," Upchurch said. "The golf course is in great shape, we've got lots of good prizes and everybody always seems to have a good time in the tournament."
The top six places out of each flight of 12 golfers will receive prizes and additional special prizes will be awarded each day per hole.
