Winds, rain and chilly temperatures make practice a challenge

VERONA -- PGA Tour golf professionals went to work today in windy, chilly and rainy conditions at the Atunyote Golf Club in preparation for the Turning Stone Resort Championship which begins Thursday in Verona. The players wore extra layers, rain gear and even winter hats to fend off the weather as the worked on their skills at the practice range. Some of the players went out on the course, most of them limited their time to nine holes.

Familiar names from the world of golf like Davis Love III, Rocco Mediate and Adam Scott were among the golfers trying to get comfortable at the beginning of the fall PGA season. Past major champions Steve Elkington and Todd Hamilton arrived at the course hoping to salvage something out of the end of their golf season. Veteran PGA professional Tim Herron said he hopes to make up for a poor season by using the Turning Stone Resort's $6,000,000 purse as a spring board to a strong fall season.

Club professional Tony Saraceno, 58, qualified for this Tour event by winning the CNY PGA event earlier this summer. Saraceno will be joined on the course by his 13 year old son Anthony who will be his caddy. Saraceno said today the weather does not favor his game when compared to the younger long hitting touring professionals, but he was still working on his game hoping to play his best come tournament time on Thursday.

The course was closed to the public today, but it opens tomorrow at 7:00 am for the first of two shotgun starts on Pro-Am day. The golf channel will provide coverage from 4:00 to 6:00 pm on each of the four days of the tournament. Tickets are available at the gate for $35. Action News is broadcasting a tournament preview program called "A Shot at Eagle" Wednesday evening at 7:00 pm on NBC 3.