Nicklaus-designed Vista Vallarta added to Champions Tour schedule for 2006

Ponte Vedra Beach, FL (Sports Network) - The PGA Tour last week announced a new event for the 2006 Champions Tour schedule. The Puerto Vallarta Championship will be played March 27-April 2 at the Jack Nicklaus Signature Course at Vista Vallarta Golf Club in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.  

As of the 2005 season, at least 78 Nicklaus Design golf courses have hosted close to 500 professional tournaments or national amateur championships.  

A 54-hole stroke-play tournament, the new event will feature a 78-player field and a purse of $1.6 million with the winner collecting $240,000.  

"We are excited that Vista Vallarta has been chosen as a site for a Champions Tour event," said John Beckert, CEO and president of course manager ClubCorp. "Vista Vallarta is a beautiful course and this event should only further ClubCorp's efforts to establish Puerto Vallarta as an international golf destination."  

Previously the host of the 2002 World Golf Championship/EMC World Cup, the Vista Vallarta Golf Club opened for play in 2001.  

"Vista Vallarta is the perfect venue for a Champions Tour stop," said Billy Sitton, ClubCorp's managing director for Latin America. "Not only will the course provide challenging golf for the players, but the surroundings will enhance the viewer experience."  

The Champions Tour now has 28 tournament agreements in place for the 2006 season, the same number of events on this year's schedule.