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GRAND BLANC, Mich. – Officials of The Ally Challenge presented by McLaren announced today that the tournament has accepted the entry of reigning Charles Schwab Cup champion and two-time defending winner of The Ally Challenge Stewart Cink to compete in the ninth edition of the official PGA TOUR Champions event.  

Also announced today, Cink will be joined at The Ally Challenge by popular PGA of America Golf Professionals Michael Block and Lt Col Dan Rooney, who is also the founder and CEO of Folds of Honor and made his PGA TOUR Champions debut at last year’s The Ally Challenge. Both Block and Rooney are receiving exemptions to compete in the 2026 tournament. 

Block, the head golf professional at Arroyo Trabuco Golf Course in Mission Viejo, Calif., made national headlines when he recorded a final-round hole-in-one while playing alongside Rory McIlroy in the 2023 PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club, in Rochester, N.Y. Block turned 50 in June and made his first PGA TOUR Champions start last month with a T9 finish at the DICK’S Open. He earned his first senior major start at the U.S. Senior Open earlier this month at Scioto Country Club where he made the cut and finished T31.

Cink, 53, became eligible for the senior circuit on his birthday in May 2023, and recorded his first PGA TOUR Champions victory in his 10^th start at his tournament debut at The Ally Challenge presented by McLaren in 2024. He now owns eight PGA TOUR Champions titles. Cink has not finished outside the top six over 11 starts this season and is currently ranked No. 1 in the Charles Schwab Cup standings on the strength of four wins and two second place finishes. Cink looks to become the 10^th player to three-peat in PGA TOUR Champions history at Warwick Hills this August. The last to accomplish the rare feat was the 2022 winner of The Ally Challenge, Steve Stricker when he won Sanford International from 2022-2024.

The 2026 Ally Challenge presented by McLaren will take place the week of August 24 – 30 at renowned Warwick Hills Golf and Country Club.

Tickets for The Ally Challenge can be purchased by visiting the tournament website (theallychallenge.com). The Ally Challenge is open to spectators from Thursday (August 27) to Sunday (August 30) and ticket prices start at $15. Children 17 and under receive free grounds access with a ticketed adult. For a complete listing of ticket options please CLICK HERE.

The Ally Challenge also announced today the details surrounding the tournament 2026 salute to service initiatives, including complimentary admission to The Ally Challenge presented by McLaren available to members of the United States Armed Forces (Active Duty, National Guard, Reserve, and Retirees) and veterans.

Complimentary admission for military is provided courtesy of Dow, a Midland-based materials science company that regularly engages and supports veterans through programs like its VETNET Employee Resource Group and its Military Degree Equivalency Program.

U.S. Armed Forces and veteran admittance to the tournament includes access to the Dow VET Den located on the 18th green at Warwick Hills Golf & Country Club. Guests will enjoy premium golf viewing and complimentary snacks and beverages. The Dow VET Den is open Thursday (7:30 a.m.–6:30 p.m.), Friday (9 a.m.–6 p.m.), Saturday (9:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.), and Sunday (10 a.m.–6 p.m.), August 27–30.

Below are the available U.S. Armed Forces and Veteran ticket options. For tickets and additional information visit: https://theallychallenge.com/tickets/military-tickets/.

Active Duty, National Guard, Military Reserve Service Members, Military Retirees and Military Veterans, receive two complimentary tickets for each day of the tournament, Thursday – Sunday.

Please note that a valid Department of Defense issued ID or photo ID must be provided. This special offer extends to one adult guest (18 years of age or older) of approved Active Duty, National Guard, Military Reserve Service Members, Military Retirees and Military Veterans.

In related news, The Ally Challenge announced today the details surrounding Folds of Honor Friday. The third-year program, that is celebrated on Fridays at about 50 tournaments on the PGA TOUR, PGA TOUR Champions and Korn Ferry Tour.  

Folds of Honor Friday brings the National Anthem to golf and recognizes the commitment and sacrifice of military service members and first responders who guard our freedoms and protect our communities.

It is an inspiring experience for fans, players, caddies, sponsors, volunteers, and tournament staff to engage on-site through a shared connection and appreciation of those heroes who preserve our freedoms and protect our families.

At The Ally Challenge, all are encouraged to wear red, white and blue on Friday as an outward display of unity and an inward commitment to meeting sacrifice with hope for the families of America’s fallen or disabled military and first responders. New in 2026, the tournament is offering complimentary access on Friday to federal, state and local law enforcement officers and Fire Fighters/EMS. For more information please CLICK HERE.

In addition, the third annual Folds of Honor kick off breakfast event will be hosted at the famed 17^th hole at Warwick Hills Golf & Country Club featuring guest speaker Wesley Bauguess. Wesley will speak about her military career, which prompted her memoir, God, County, Golf: Reflections of an Army Widow. The book recounts how she drew strength from her faith, military training and her love of golf to help her and her two young daughters move forward after losing their husband/father, Major Larry Bauguess, in Pakistan in 2007 while serving in a peacekeeping mission. Guests will enjoy breakfast while hearing Wesley’s powerful message.

To purchase tickets to the Folds of Honor Friday breakfast event please CLICK HERE to visit the tournament website’s Folds of Honor Friday page. For more information fans may also contact the tournament sales office at 269-635-0093 or email rpabreza@theallychallenge.com. All breakfast event tickets include Friday tournament grounds access, including round one of tournament play and the Concert @17 presented by Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort, featuring The Wildflowers.

Additional programing for Folds of Honor Friday includes an enhanced Opening Ceremony with a performance of the National Anthem and flyover, and official Folds of Honor ribbon pins that will be proudly distributed and displayed. The inspirational day will also include an exciting exhibit of patriotism from the Patriot Parachute Team, featuring a tandem parachute jump available for silent auction to a lucky bidder all to support Folds of Honor. The Patriot Parachute Team jump will take place at 6:30 p.m. on Hole No. 17, preceding the tournament’s Concert @17 presented by Soaring Eagle Casino & Resorts featuring the Wildflowers. Visit the tournament website’s Folds of Honor Friday page for more details. 

As a result of The Ally Challenge presented by McLaren’s inclusion in Folds of Honor Friday, 13 individuals in southeastern Michigan will receive academic scholarships on behalf of the tournament.

“Folds of Honor Friday is a perfect complement to the military initiatives here at The Ally Challenge,” said tournament director Erin Stone. “The program provides increased opportunities for the tournament and our fans to celebrate America and support those that serve, including offering complimentary access to first responders. It is an honor to shine a spotlight on the incredible impact that Folds of Honor has generated for the families of fallen or disabled military service members and first responders.” 

Folds of Honor was founded by Lt Col Dan Rooney, history’s only F-16 fighter pilot to also become a PGA of America Golf Professional. Folds of Honor provides educational scholarships to the children and spouses of fallen or disabled military service members and first responders. Since its inception in 2007, it has awarded nearly 73,000 academic scholarships valued at more than $340 million. In Michigan, 139 recipients received awards for the 2025-26 academic cycle, equaling about $700,000 in local impact. The need remains great. For the current academic year, Folds of Honor awarded a record 11,000 scholarships. However, about 7,700 fully-qualified applicants did not receive full-funding due to a lack of resources.

The Ally Challenge is a Regular Season PGA TOUR Champions event in 2026, which will give way to the Charles Schwab Cup Playoffs¾a season-ending, three-tournament series that concludes with the Charles Schwab Cup Championship in Phoenix, Arizona, used to determine the TOUR’s season-long champion. The 2026 PGA TOUR Champions schedule features 28 events, with players competing for more than $70 million in total prize money, the highest in PGA TOUR Champions’ 46-season history.

All three rounds of The Ally Challenge presented by McLaren will be broadcast on Golf Channel.

Since its inception in 2018, The Ally Challenge presented by McLaren has donated nearly $9.7 million to support charity.

For more information about The Ally Challenge, please visit www.theallychallenge.com. For the latest Ally Challenge news and updates on social media follow the tournament on Twitter and Instagram at @AllyChallenge and on Facebook at Facebook.com/AllyChallenge.

About The Ally Challenge presented by McLaren
The Ally Challenge presented by McLaren is an official event on the PGA TOUR Champions owned and operated by Tournaments for Charity, a Michigan non-profit corporation. This 54-hole stroke play golf tournament features 78 PGA TOUR Champions professionals competing for a $2.2 million purse at the historic Warwick Hills Golf & Country Club in Grand Blanc, MI. The event is designed to showcase the best golf on the PGA TOUR Champions for the enjoyment of spectators and to benefit local charities in the greater Flint area. All three official rounds will be internationally televised on the Golf Channel.

For more information about The Ally Challenge presented by McLaren, please visit theallychallenge.com. For the latest Ally Challenge news and updates on social media, follow the tournament on Twitter and Instagram at @AllyChallenge and on Facebook at Facebook.com/AllyChallenge.

About Ally Financial
Ally Financial Inc. (NYSE: ALLY) includes the nation's largest all-digital bank and auto finance business, driven by a mission to "Do It Right" for its customers and communities. Ally is a top-25 U.S. financial holding company with $197 billion in assets and 9.5 million customers (March 31, 2026). Ally Bank, Member FDIC, offers online banking products, including high-yield savings and no hidden fee checking, and was the first major U.S. bank to eliminate overdraft fees. Ally also provides investing solutions through Ally Invest, including online brokerage, automated investing, IRAs and personal advice. As a leader in auto finance, Ally provides consumer and dealer financing, insurance, and vehicle remarketing services. Ally’s seasoned corporate finance business provides capital to equity sponsors and middle-market companies. Visit ally.com.

About McLaren Health Care
McLaren Health Care, headquartered in Grand Blanc, Michigan, is a $6.9 billion, fully integrated health care delivery system committed to quality, evidence-based patient care and cost efficiency. The McLaren system includes 12 hospitals across the state, ambulatory surgery centers, imaging centers, a 730-member employed primary and specialty care physician network, commercial and Medicaid HMOs covering more than 242,000 Michigan lives, home health, infusion and hospice providers, pharmacy services, a clinical laboratory network, and a wholly owned medical malpractice insurance company. McLaren operates Michigan’s largest network of cancer centers and providers, anchored by the Karmanos Cancer Institute, a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center. McLaren has 20,000 full-, part-time and contracted employees and more than 93,000 network providers throughout Michigan and Ohio. Learn more at mclaren.org.

About Folds of Honor 
Folds of Honor is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization that provides educational scholarships to the spouses and children of US military service members and first responders who have fallen or been disabled while serving our country and communities. Our educational scholarships support private school tuition or tutoring in grades K-12, tuition for college, technical or trade school and post-graduate work, including a master’s degree, doctorate, or professional program. Funds for a second bachelor’s degree or trade/technical program certification are also available. Since its inception in 2007, Folds of Honor has awarded nearly 73,000 scholarships totaling over $340 million in all 50 states. Among the students served, 43 percent are minorities and 57 percent female. A total of 91 percent of expenses fund our mission of providing educational scholarships to the families of our nation’s heroes. It is rated a four-star charity by Charity Navigator and Platinum on Candid. It was founded by Lt Col Dan Rooney, the only-ever F-16 fighter pilot (with three combat tours in Iraq) and PGA Professional. He is serving as Commander of Recruiting for the Oklahoma Air Guard. For more information or to donate in support of a Folds of Honor scholarship visit foldsofhonor.org. 

About HNS Sports Group
HNS Sports Group is a Dublin, Ohio-based LLC founded in 2000. The company offers over 125-plus years of collective experience and is committed to providing professional, efficient and effective client representation in the categories of sponsorship consultation, event management, hospitality management, sales representation and tournament operations within the golf market. To learn more about HNS Sports Group, visit www.hnssports.com. 

Media Contacts
The Ally Challenge presented by McLaren
Thomas P. Sprouse, VP Communications                
E-Mail: tsprouse@hnssports.com           
Office: 614-889-6791               
Mobile: 614-519-1873

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