Other commitments usually keep Brad Burris from playing in the National Senior Amateur Hall of Fame tournament, even though the event is contested on his home course.

This year, Burris not only will play in the prestigious tourney at High Point Country Club’s Willow Creek course, he’ll give the introduction at tonight’s Hall of Fame banquet. It’s likely that the only thing to top the next three days of golf will be the reception honoring Fred Ridley as this year’s Hall of Fame inductee.

“Fred and I have known each other since 1975. It’s special for me to have Fred come in and spend some time with us,” Burris said. “He’s been such a visible person in golf. I think he’ll give a great perspective to everyone in attendance.”

Burris and Ridley met during a practice round for the North & South Amateur in Pinehurst 35 years ago, shortly after Ridley graduated from the University of Florida. He played for a Gators’ golf team that included Gary Koch and Andy Bean.

Ridley went on to choose a career in law instead of life on the links, mostly stepping aside from competition in the 1980s after playing in 10 U.S. Amateurs, three Masters and helping the U.S. win the 1977 Walker Cup. Ridley remains the last winner of the U.S. Amateur (in 1975) to have remained a career amateur.

Ridley didn’t need to compete to remain active in the sport. He served on the U.S. Golf Association’s executive committee from 1994-2005 and was president of the USGA those last two years. Even after retiring from the USGA, Ridley still performs countless duties for the organization – he was at Pebble Beach last week in advance of the U.S. Open.

And speaking of major golf championships, Ridley currently is the chairman of the competition committee for the Masters.

“He’s got great credentials,” Burris said. “That’s what it’s about, the camaraderie of the game and all it stands for. The Hall of Fame committee discussed possible candidates and Fred was a slam dunk.”

Tonight’s banquet for the golfers and their guests comes after the first round of the tournament, which is free for spectators. Hall of Fame committee chairman Jim Keever said excitement has been building for the 27th annual event, which has a full field of 156 players split into senior (55-plus) and super senior (65-plus) divisions.

“You can see some shots where you’re going, ‘These guys are amateurs?’ It’s amazing to watch them play,” Keever said. “You’ll have your tongue hanging out. You’ll be amazed at what they can do.”

Golfers from 26 states and Canada will be vying for the championship, regarded as one of the top senior amateur events in the country. The Golfweek/Titleist senior amateur ranking system allots 1,000 points for this tournament, putting it in the top five in the country.

Among the top competitors in town are past champions such as Spencer Sappington, Ron Carter, Ted Smith, Larry Clark and Paul Simson. Chip Lutz, Carter and Corky Nelson currently are 2-3-4 on the Golfweek chart, while Carter is the top-ranked senior in the amateurgolf.com rundown.

A local flavor will be headed by the likes of former champ Tommy Langley, plus Mike Bivins, Kim Mansfield, Jim Carmichael, David Millis and Burris.

“The course is absolutely perfect,” Keever praised. “(Superintendent) David Johnson and his crew have done an outstanding job. It’s like carpet. I think the players will enjoy the course quite a bit. And (head pro) Jim Brotherton has been doing this for so long – he and his staff run such a good tournament and the players like that, too.”

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