ROGERS, ARK. – For the first time in more than 50 years, women’s professional golf is returning to the state of Arkansas. Rogers, Ark., located in the northwest portion of The Natural State, will annually host an international field of LPGA Tour professionals, beginning Sept. 3-9, 2007, at the LPGA NW Arkansas Championship presented by John Q. Hammons at Pinnacle Country Club. The week-long championship will include a variety of community events, Pro-Am play and three days of LPGA competition.
"The LPGA NW Arkansas Championship presented by John Q. Hammons is a welcome addition to our community," said Mayor Steve Womack, City of Rogers. "The LPGA Tour is in good hands, as the people of Rogers have established this community on a foundation of hospitality and unity. We will embrace the Tournament as it becomes a landmark event in our region and will do everything in our power to ensure its success."
"I have supported the LPGA since 2003 and am honored to expand my involvement with this Championship," said Mr. Hammons, founder, chairman and chief executive officer of John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts, LLC. "This world-class tournament represents the very best in women’s golf, and it serves as an opportunity for me to give back to the Northwest Arkansas community, underscoring the area’s reputation as a premier destination."
Tournament officials and regional leaders began working with the LPGA Tour in 2004 to develop an event that will compliment Northwest Arkansas.
"We are thrilled to add the LPGA NW Arkansas Championship presented by John Q. Hammons to the official LPGA schedule next season," said LPGA Commissioner Carolyn F. Bivens. "As the LPGA continues to flourish, we are proud to bring the stars of the Tour to new markets, and from what I’ve seen of the community support so far – even more than a year out from the inaugural event – Northwest Arkansas is more than ready to embrace the LPGA. We truly appreciate the community and its leaders for fostering the launch of what is sure to be a fantastic tradition of golf in Arkansas."
"Octagon is excited to partner with Northwest Arkansas in bringing the momentum of the LPGA to one of the fastest growing regions in the country," said Octagon Golf’s Chief Operating Officer Tim Erensen. "We look forward to developing an annual event that NW Arkansas citizens take pride in."
Course officials at Pinnacle Country Club are busily preparing for the September 2007 event.
"Our Club is eager to test the best lady golfers in the world and showcase our golf course to the citizens of Northwest Arkansas," said Mike Hudson, president of Pinnacle Country Club. "This tournament will certainly become a premier event on the LPGA Tour and will contribute to the esteem of our region."
Next year’s LPGA NW Arkansas Championship presented by John Q. Hammons will be the first LPGA event in the state in 51 years. The LPGA has staged three official events in Arkansas since the organization’s inception in 1950: the Hardscrabble Open, a matchplay event held twice in Fort Smith, was won by Patty Berg in 1950 and Betty Jameson in 1952; and the Arkansas Open, held in Hot Springs in 1956, which was also won by Berg.
About the Ladies Professional Golf Association
Featuring the world’s best women golfers, the LPGA’s membership includes touring, teaching and club professionals. The LPGA Tour in 2006 features 36 events, with total prize money of more than $51 million. Since 1981, the LPGA and its tournaments have raised approximately $170 million for charity. From the dreams of its 13 founders in 1950, the LPGA has evolved into the world’s pre-eminent women’s professional sports organization. The LPGA has grown from its roots as a playing tour into a non-profit organization involved in every facet of golf. In addition to the LPGA Tour members, the LPGA membership includes nearly 1,200 certified Teaching and Club Professionals (T&CP) who serve the golf industry in teaching, coaching and management positions. The LPGA T&CP member programs focus on increasing the involvement of women, girls and youth in golf, as well as contribute to the growth of the sport overall. The LPGA is headquartered in Daytona Beach, Fla. For more information on the LPGA, log on to www.LPGA.com.
About John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts, LLC
Springfield, Mo.-based John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts, LLC is the nation’s leading independent builder, developer, owner and manager of upscale, full-service hotels, resorts and suites, including: Embassy Suites Hotels, Renaissance, Marriott, Radisson, Residence Inn, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Holiday Inn and Courtyard by Marriott brands. With 62 hotels strategically located near demand generators, such as state capitals, universities, airports, corporate headquarters or office parks in secondary and tertiary markets, John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts’ properties are dominant in their markets. Over the course of his impressive career in the hotel business, Mr. Hammons has developed 164 hotels. For more information, visit www.jqh.com.
About Octagon’s Golf Division
Octagon’s Golf Division manages some of the finest professional golf events including two Champions Tour events, The ACE Group Classic and the SAS Championship presented by Forbes; three LPGA Tour events, the Sybase Classic presented by Lincoln Mercury, the John Q. Hammons Hotel Classic presented by SemGroup and the LPGA NW Arkansas Championship presented by John Q. Hammons; and one Nationwide Tour event, The Rex Hospital Open. Octagon’s Golf Division also represents nearly 40 golfing professionals including Davis Love III, Chris Smith, Natalie Gulbis, Christina Kim, Meg Mallon, Beth Daniel, Tom Kite, Gary Koch, and brothers, Bobby and Lanny Wadkins.
About Octagon
Octagon is the world’s largest sports and entertainment representation and marketing agency with global expertise in consulting, athletes & personalities, event management, property representation, marketing solutions, licensing and merchandising, talent procurement and television rights and production. As part of The Interpublic Group (NYSE:IPG), one of the world’s leading organizations of advertising agencies and marketing services, Octagon employs more than 1,000 people in 60 offices around the world. For further information, please visit www.octagon.com.
Contact:
Michelle Berish
Marketing & Communications Manager
(919)531-0233
michelle.berish@octagon.com
