PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. -- The McGladrey Team Championship, the first nationwide grassroots best-ball amateur championship conducted by The PGA of America, will mark its third year with a new title, the launch of registration on its Web site, an enhancement to its format and a third consecutive return for the National Championship at Pinehurst (N.C.) Resort.

The National Championship, featuring 41 four-member Section champion teams, will compete Oct. 26-28, 2009, at renowned Pinehurst (N.C.) Resort. The 2009 season will formally open with Special Olympics as the Official Charity of The McGladrey Team Championship.

The 2009 McGladrey Team Championship, formerly The PGA McGladrey Team Championship, will feature an increase in the allowed course handicap with each player using 75 percent.

The McGladrey Team Championship is the result of a partnership between The PGA of America and RSM McGladrey, the Official Accounting, Tax and Business Consulting firm of The PGA of America and one of the largest accounting, tax and business consulting firms in the country.

"This Championship is about teamwork and reflects RSM McGladrey's belief that -- whether in business or golf -- with the right team, anything's possible," said Mark Audino, RSM McGladrey's chief marketing officer. "Each year the Championship expands, attracting thousands of new players nationwide and adding partnerships like the Special Olympics. We look forward to seeing it grow again in 2009."

Local Qualifying Events will be conducted from January through September. The Section Championships will be from April to September.

Once again, Local Qualifying Events with 18 teams or more will advance two teams to their Section Championship. Registration to host a Local Qualifying Event is being accepted at PGA.com/teamchampionship.

Section Championships, hosted by The PGA of America's network of 41 Sections, will once again team a PGA Professional with three amateur partners in the bid to earn a National Championship berth.

"The McGladrey Team Championship is one of our Association's most unique events, considering the rare opportunity for amateurs to compete at the national level with a PGA Professional," said PGA of America President Jim Remy. "We anticipate that more and more golfers nationwide will pick up the momentum from this past year and form a team and make their bid to earn a berth at Pinehurst. This Championship continues to receive top reviews by the contestants, and the camaraderie between PGA Professionals and amateurs is something that forms friendships that will last a lifetime."

The 41-team, 164-player field in the National Championship will compete for a $200,000 purse, with amateurs receiving gift certificates. The field will compete on three of Pinehurst's premier layouts, opening at No. 8, and concluding the final two days on Courses No. 2 and No. 4.

Amateur players will now receive 75 percent of their course handicap allowance, based on the course and tees being played, and Local Qualifying Events will again use the one best net ball of the three amateur players and each player's score must be used on a minimum of three holes. The Local Qualifying Events that feature 18 or more teams will advance two teams to the Section Championship. If less than 18 teams compete at the Local Qualifying Event, one team will advance to the Section Championship.

The Section Championships and National Championship will feature the host PGA Professional who will complete each winning team's foursome, and use two best net balls of each hole, again with each amateur receiving 75 percent of their course handicap.

About RSM McGladrey:
RSM McGladrey is a leading professional services firm providing accounting, tax and business consulting. RSM McGladrey operates in an alternative practice structure with McGladrey & Pullen LLP, a partner-owned CPA firm that delivers audit and attest services. Through separate and independent legal entities, they work together to serve clients' business needs. Together, the companies rank as the fifth largest U.S. provider of accounting, tax and business consulting services (source: Accounting Today), with 8,000 professionals and associates in nearly 100 offices nationwide. RSM McGladrey Inc. and McGladrey & Pullen LLP are member firms of RSM International, an affiliation of independent accounting and consulting firms. RSM McGladrey is the official accounting, tax and business consulting firm of The PGA of America and the preferred accounting, tax and business consulting firm of Pinehurst (N.C.) Resort.

About The PGA of America:
Since 1916, The PGA of America's mission has been twofold: to establish and elevate the standards of the profession and to grow interest and participation in the game of golf.

By establishing and elevating the standards of the golf profession through world-class education, career services, marketing and research programs, the Association enables PGA Professionals to maximize their performance in their respective career paths and showcases them as experts in the game and in the $195 billion golf industry.

By creating and delivering dramatic world-class championships and exciting and enjoyable golf promotions that are viewed as the best of their class in the golf industry, The PGA of America elevates the public's interest in the game, the desire to play more golf, and ensures accessibility to the game for everyone, everywhere.

The PGA of America brand represents the very best in golf.