LAKELAND, Fla., Jan. 18, 2007 — The Duramed FUTURES Tour announces today that it has signed a two-year agreement with the National Golf Coaches Association for title sponsorship of the All-American golf teams for NCAA Women’s Division I, II and III. Collegiate All-American golf teams are announced annually in late May.
In addition to the title sponsorship, the Duramed FUTURES Tour will grant each first-team Division I All-American three (3) exemptions to compete in Duramed FUTURES Tour tournaments during the 2007 season. The Tour also will work closely with college coaches throughout the year to help prepare their senior players with the transition from amateur to professional golf.
"Being named to the Duramed FUTURES Tour NGCA All-American Golf Team will be one of the most prestigious honors for women collegiate golfers," said Roger Yaffe, NGCA Executive Director. "Many of these players will eventually compete on the Duramed FUTURES Tour, so the NGCA sees this new partnership as a seamless transition for these players and one that will benefit all who aspire to compete at the highest level."
Supporting the Duramed FUTURES Tour’s mission to prepare the world’s best young women professional golfers for a career on the LPGA Tour, the Tour’s new alignment with the NGCA will help link the two entities as steppingstones to the LPGA. By providing actual playing experiences in a professional tournament setting, the Duramed FUTURES Tour hopes collegians will see the benefit of four years of college golf and have a better understanding of competition for their next transition in the game.
"We are very excited about our platinum-level sponsorship of the NGCA," said Zayra F. Calderon, president and CEO of the Duramed FUTURES Tour. "Through our partnership with the NGCA, our goal is to educate all collegiate coaches and players about the challenges and rewards of transitioning to professional golf after graduating."
About the National Golf Coaches Association
The National Golf Coaches Association, founded in 1983, is a non-profit organization representing women’s collegiate golf coaches. The NGCA was formed to encourage the playing of college golf for women in correlation with a general objective of education and in accordance with the highest tradition of intercollegiate competition. Today, the NGCA represents over 400 coaches throughout the U.S. and is dedicated to educating, promoting and recognizing both its members and the student-athletes they represent.
About the Duramed FUTURES Tour
Celebrating its 27th competitive season this year, the Duramed FUTURES Tour has remained committed to developing the skills and dreams of women golfers, establishing role models for youth and creating LPGA stars of tomorrow. With nearly 300 alumnae as current members of the LPGA Tour, former Duramed FUTURES Tour players have won a total of 314 LPGA titles, including 33 major championships. Designated as "the official developmental tour of the LPGA," the Duramed FUTURES Tour has become the largest international developmental tour and the second largest women’s golf tour in the world. At season’s end each year, the top five players on the Tour’s money list earn automatic LPGA Tour exemptions for the following year. Throughout its first quarter century, membership has increased from approximately 150 North American players to more than 300 players from 31 different nations. The Duramed FUTURES Tour currently conducts 19 tournaments in 14 states and has raised nearly $4 million for charitable organizations since 1989. For more information, please visit www.duramedfuturestour.com.
Contact:
Duramed FUTURES Tour NGCA
Abby Pearson Roger Yaffe
863-709-9100, Ext. 110 800-381-0769
apearson@barrlabs.com roger@ngca.com
