Tournament Golf Foundation, Inc. (TGFI), the owners and organizers for the Safeway International, have announced that they will hold the Safeway International Amateur Open on Thursday February 9 at Superstition Mountain Golf and Country Club, the site of the LPGA event. The 18-hole qualifier will begin at 10:30 am. The lowest score in that event will earn a playing position in the Safeway International LPGA tournament to be held March 13-19. The next two low scores will earn spots in the Monday Qualifier for the tournament. The top two players from the Monday qualifier will play in the tournament proper.
Any woman amateur golfer with an established USGA handicap of 2.0 or less is eligible to compete. The field will be limited to 72 players. According to TGFI President Tom Maletis, "This is a unique opportunity for amateur golfers to win a chance to compete at the highest level in the game."
Morgan Pressel had earlier accepted a sponsor’s exemption for the tournament, but after a successful trip to Q School, and a special exemption from LPGA Commissioner Carolyn Bivens, Pressel will be able to play in the Safeway international without the need of an exemption, opening a spot to the winner of the Amateur event.
The second tournament exemption is still being held for Michelle Wie. "Michelle has been here the past two years, and obviously we would love to have her back again in 2006," said Maletis. "At this point her schedule has not been finalized and her school year and other factors will be a part of where she determines to play. We of course respect whatever decision she and her family make."
The Safeway International Amateur Open will have a $75 entry fee, payable to TGFI. Players can apply by calling the Safeway International office at 602-495-GOLF. Entry deadline for the event will be February 1.
The Safeway International has been a featured event on the LPGA Tour since 1983. The event has now donated over $10 million to local charities, with cancer research programs at Banner Health Foundation being the primary beneficiary. The 2006 edition of The Safeway International, presented by Coca-Cola, will have a purse of $1.4 million and will be broadcast on The Golf Channel.
Annika Sorenstam won the 2004 and 2005 editions of the tournament and will return to defend her title. The field for the event in 2005 was one of the strongest on the LPGA tour and 2006 should be no exception.
Begun in 1972, TGFI is comprised of 47 individuals and couples, whose mission is to provide world class golf while helping raise money for local charities. TGFI is also the owner and operator of the Safeway Classic in Portland, OR.
For more information on the Safeway International and Tournament Golf Foundation, visit their website: www. safewaygolf.com.
Contact:
Tom Maletis
(503) 702-5000
Reid Hutchins
(503) 291-0109
