COOPERSTOWN, NY - On the baseball diamond, Mike Schmidt became a Hall of Famer. But this September, Schmidt is headed back to Cooperstown to watch some of the country's best senior golfers - and to support a great cause.

Schmidt, the former Philadelphia Phillies third baseman, will be the celebrity host at the 27^th Annual Otesaga Hotel Seniors Open and Pro-Am Golf Tournament Sept. 8-11 at the Leatherstocking Golf Course in Cooperstown.

Schmidt, a three-time National League Most Valuable Player and a 12-time All-Star, will help kick off the Pro-Am, which will be held Tuesday, Sept. 8, by participating in the tournament. The Pro-Am teams feature four amateurs and one professional in a two-man, best-ball format that begins with an 11:30 a.m. shotgun start.

The presenting sponsors for the 2009 tournament are NBT Bank, Coca-Cola Enterprises and Strategic Financial Services, LLC, of Utica.

"We are thrilled that Mike, an excellent golfer who has successfully participated in a number of senior professional events, will be in Cooperstown to support this great event," said Dan Spooner, Leatherstocking's host golf professional and co-chair of the event, along with Daryl Forsythe, chairman of NBT Bancorp, Inc. "The Seniors Open is a prestigious tournament and is the highlight of a busy summer for many of the senior pros. We are honored to once again be a part of this worthy cause."

The three-day 2009 Otesaga Hotel Seniors Open runs Wednesday, Sept. 9 through Friday, Sept. 11. The Seniors Open is one of the country's top non-PGA tournaments. Overlooking picturesque Lake Otsego, the Otesaga Hotel's Leatherstocking Golf Course is considered one of the East's most scenic and historic par-72 layouts.  Designed by the legendary Devereux Emmet in 1909, Leatherstocking has been rated "four stars" by Golf Digest's "Places to Play."

Proceeds from this event benefit Pathfinder Village, located in nearby Edmeston, a residential community dedicated to children and adults with Down syndrome. Annually, the Seniors Open raises more than $50,000 for scholarships for Pathfinder Village and directly helps the Village's 80-plus residents. Over $1 million has been raised for Pathfinder Village through the years.

Proceeds also benefit the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum educational programs, which enable the world-famous Museum to fulfill its educational mission and care for its collections.

In 2008, Jerry Tucker of Stuart, Fla. earned the victory with a three-day total of 215, beating Austin Straub in a sudden-death playoff. The complete list of former champions: 2007: Scott Spence; 2006: Bobby Heins; 2005: Darrell Kestner; 2004: John Gentile; 2003: Lonnie Nielsen; 2002: Dan Wood; 2001: John Traub; 2000: Paul Parjeckas; 1999: Marty Bohen; 1998: Tony Perla; 1997: John Gentile; 1996: Austin Straub; 1995: Tom Joyce; 1994: Tom Joyce; 1993: Ray Montgomery; 1992: Dave Philo; 1991: Tom Joyce; 1990: Jim Albus; 1989: Dick Sarta; 1988: Pete Hessemer; 1987: Doug Dalziel; 1986: Bob Bruno; 1985: Richard Howell; 1984: Rolland Stafford; 1983: Donald Hoenig.

For more information on the Seniors Open, please contact the Leatherstocking Golf Course at 607-547-9931.