Alabama Power to host Junior Clinic Tuesday at Barbasol Championship in Opelika

Hundreds of children will join PGA Tour golfer Will Wilcox and Auburn University men’s basketball coach Bruce Pearl on Tuesday, July 14, for a Junior Clinic at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Grand National, sponsored by Alabama Power and the Barbasol Championship.

During the interactive clinic, children in third- through fifth grade from the Auburn and Opelika area will learn about the game of golf and how it promotes core values, including honesty, integrity, responsibility, courtesy, sportsmanship and respect.

“Alabama Power is thrilled to support the Junior Clinic, which will showcase the important lessons that golf can provide our children,” said Leslie Sanders, vice president of Alabama Power’s Southern Division. “We’re excited to have Will and Bruce with us to help host the event.”   

Wilcox was born in Birmingham and attended Pell City High School.  His mother is the head coach for the women’s golf team at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). From the age of 9 to 17, Wilcox won 45 junior events, had three holes-in-one, and was a three-time Alabama All-State High School Athlete. He was a medalist in the qualifier for the U.S. Junior Championship, as well as being ranked 17th in the nation during his senior year.  Wilcox played golf at UAB and Clayton State University and won the 2008 Alabama Amateur.  He turned pro in 2009 and has won a combined five professional events on the NGA Tour, Canadian Tour and Web.com Tour.

Bruce Pearl is a proven winner. In 20 seasons as a head basketball coach he has guided his teams to the NCAA Tournament 17 times and the postseason 18 times. In his first year at Auburn, Pearl turned a struggling program into a must-see commodity. He also turned Auburn into a success story off the court when all five seniors that he inherited graduated on time. While Pearl’s first Auburn team was challenged on the court after starting out 9-1 at home, it ended the season with a memorable four-day stay at the Southeastern Conference Tournament, winning three games for the first time since 1985 and advancing to the tournament semi-finals.

The clinic will begin at 10 a.m. on the driving range at Grand National. In case of inclement weather, the clinic will move to the Auburn Marriott Opelika Hotel & Conference Center at Grand National. For details, please contact Mike Jordan at 334-832-3309.