The BMW Charity Pro-Am presented by SYNNEX Corporation has been named the 2009 Nationwide Tour Charity of the Year for its far-reaching impact on charities in the Upstate region of South Carolina and Western North Carolina. Tournament organizers will receive a check for $30,000 from the PGA Tour to enhance the tournaments charitable endeavors.

Earlier this year, the BMW Charity Pro-Am announced it had raised $651,829 for 78 organizations as a result of this years tournament. Since BMW Manufacturing Co. came on board in 2001, the event has raised more than $7.3 million for 125+ area charities. The BWM Charity Pro-Am has consistently been one of the Nationwide Tours top tournaments and most prominent fundraisers for charity.

It is quite an honor to be named Nationwide Tour Charity of the Year by the PGA Tour and a great way to kickoff our 10th anniversary, said tournament director Darin MacDonald. This is a testament to all of our volunteers and to the 125+ area charities we have helped since we started the tournament in 2001.

The BMW Charity Pro-Am is most deserving of charity of the year recognition, said Nationwide Tour president Bill Calfee. The principals involved in the event have worked tirelessly over the years to produce one of the most popular events on the Nationwide Tour and consistently generate significant sums of money for a large number of charities in Upstate South Carolina and Western North Carolina. We congratulate everyone who contributes to this terrific effort.

The Nationwide Tour and its tournaments join the PGA Tour and Champions Tour in their commitment to support charitable organizations in the communities where they play.

The events annually benefit 2,000 organizations and countless individuals. Cumulatively, the three tours have generated $1.5 billion through 2009, with the first donation having been made in 1938.

The 2010 BMW Charity Pro-Am will be played May 13 through 16 at Brights Creek Golf Club in Mill Spring, N.C., The Carolina Country Club in Spartanburg, S.C. and host Thornblade Club in Greer, S.C.

All four rounds will be televised live by Golf Channel. It is the only tournament on the PGA Tours Nationwide Tour where amateurs and celebrities are grouped with Nationwide Tour professionals in a four-day, better-ball competition over three courses.

Amateurs, celebrities and pros rotate between three courses on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, with the 14 lowest scoring pro-amateur/pro-celebrity teams advancing to play Sundays final round at Thornblade Club.

Celebrities play one round at each course on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The professional winner of the overall 72-hole event will take home $108,000 from a total purse of $600,000.

Amateurs and celebrities will compete for individual prizes and cash donations to the charity of their choice from the beneficiaries selected by South Carolina Charities, Inc.

The first nine tournaments have raised more than $7.3 million for 125+ area charities. The charities selected to benefit from the 2010 tournament are listed online at www.bmwcharitygolf.com.

For more information about the 10th annual BMW Charity Pro-Am, sponsorship opportunities, amateur playing spots or volunteer opportunities, call 864-297-1660. You can also learn more about the tournament online at www.bmwcharitygolf.com or by following the tournament on Facebook.