$100,000 Byron Nelson Prize To Honor Those Who 'Give Back' While Junior Golf Awards Will Recognize Upcoming Stars

2007 EDS Byron Nelson Championship to feature presentation of Congressional Gold Medal, special tributes to Byron Nelson's legacy of serving others

IRVING, TX – Two international award programs honoring the late Byron Nelson were announced today by the Salesmanship Club, the host organization of the EDS Byron Nelson Championship.

The first will be the Byron Nelson Prize, which will be presented to a person or organization in the golf world who exemplifies the ideals of "giving back" that Nelson personified. The Byron Nelson Prize recipient will receive a $100,000 contribution to the charity of their choice. The first recipient will be announced at the Opening Ceremony of the 2007 EDS Byron Nelson Championship on April 24.

A second program, the Byron Nelson International Junior Golf Awards, will be inaugurated in time for the 2008 tournament and will carry on Byron Nelson's legacy for encouraging young golfers. Junior golfers from around the world will be identified by an international panel of professional golfers and golf officials with the finalists invited to Dallas each year for the EDS Byron Nelson Championship. The Salesmanship Club expects these young athletes to come from the United States, Europe, Africa, Australia/New Zealand and throughout the Pacific Rim.

Both programs are designed to continue Nelson's legacy of serving youth and their families.

"Our theme is 'Byron's Work for the Kids Continues' because it reflects the many facets of Byron's life and the beneficiaries of the EDS Byron Nelson Championship," said Mac Wesson, president of the Salesmanship Club of Dallas. "His work has been so important for the children who participate in the various programs of Salesmanship Club Youth and Family Centers – programs supported by more than $94 million raised by this tournament since its inception."

Nelson, one of golf's greatest legends, died last September at age 94. This will be the first playing of the Championship that bears his name since his death.

Championship Week Events

During Championship week, PGA TOUR professionals and golf fans will honor Nelson's memory during a series of special tributes, including the awarding of the Congressional Gold Medal to Nelson's widow, Peggy, during a special ceremony on Saturday, April 28. Other activities include a course-wide stoppage of play with a moment of silence; a Sunday Sunrise Service led by Ryder Cup Captain Tom Lehman; distribution of a commemorative memorial pin to golfers, officials, volunteers and golf fans; and visible tributes on the course.

The activities will begin Tuesday, April 24th with the Championship's Opening Ceremony at Byron's Circle. Highlights of the ceremony will include presentation of the first Byron Nelson Prize; presentation of the 2006 Championship Trophy to Brett Wetterich; a special performance by the J. Erik Jonsson Community School Chorale with an original song honoring Byron Nelson; and, remarks by Peggy Nelson.

The Congressional Gold Medal will be presented by U.S. Congressman Michael C. Burgess of Texas during a special ceremony on Saturday, April 28, with CBS Sports Anchor Jim Nantz as master of ceremonies. It was Nelson's caring for children and families and work on their behalf through the Salesmanship Club and the Championship that earned him the Congressional Gold Medal days after his death.

Later on Saturday, a moment of silence will be observed throughout the course to honor Nelson. A squadron of Marine F-18 jets from Joint Reserve Base – Fort Worth plan to participate with a military flyover. The moment of silence is planned for 3 p.m. Saturday.

On Sunday, April 29, a Sunrise Service prior to the closing round will be offered on the 18th Green of the Tournament Player's Course at Four Seasons Resort Las Colinas with PGA TOUR golfers, officials and families in attendance.

Awards Honor Nelson Legacy

"The Byron Nelson Prize will honor and extend Byron's legacy," said Andy Stern, chairman of the Salesmanship Club Charitable Golf of Dallas. "We will recognize a person or organization in the golf world who exemplifies the ideals of 'giving back' that Byron personified. We will seek candidates with Byron Nelson's most notable attributes of honesty, integrity, sportsmanship and perseverance."

The theme "Byron's Work for the Kids Continues" applies not only for the children served by Salesmanship Club Youth and Family Centers, but also within the golf world which led to the establishment of the Byron Nelson International Junior Golf Awards.

"Byron was committed to encouraging and mentoring generations of young golfers, nurturing the careers of such stars as Tiger Woods, Ken Venturi, Tom Watson and Phil Mickelson," said Brooks Cullum, chairman of the 2007 EDS Byron Nelson Championship. "Byron identified many of the great golfers early in their careers and was partial to providing his sponsor exemption so they could gain valuable experience at a young age."

Nelson's keen eye for talent brought Woods to the Nelson as a 17-year-old amateur in 1993, Sergio Garcia made his U.S. professional debut in the 1999 tournament and Justin Leonard played twice as an amateur.