Tournament Established High Standards For Nationwide Tour Schedule
Livermore, CA (May 1, 2008) – The Nationwide Tour’s new event in the San Francisco East Bay Area will be built on a strong foundation in 2009 given the reputation established the past three years by the Livermore Valley Wine Country Championship at Wente Vineyards.
Not only did The Course at Wente Vineyards rank as the toughest on the Nationwide Tour in 2006 and 2007, the festive atmosphere and wine country setting of the 125-year-old winery established the event as one of the players’ favorites.
Next year the Nationwide Tour schedule will not include The Course at Wente Vineyards, but instead will include a stop at the newly opened TPC San Francisco Bay at Stonebrae in Hayward, with the debut of the Stonebrae Classic. The new event assumes the dates of the Wine Country Championship.
“We are proud to have been a host and sponsor for one of the most respected tournaments on the Nationwide Tour schedule, and that this event benefited the Livermore Valley Winegrowers Foundation and the community at large,” said Phil Wente, of Wente Vineyards. “And we are very happy that the Nationwide Tour will remain in the East Bay Area for years to come.”
The Wine Country Championship drew the top players on the Nationwide Tour, as well as pros with multiple wins on the PGA TOUR and others with major championships. Australian Aron Price won this year’s event in a two-hole, sudden-death playoff April 6.
“It really says something about the Livermore Valley and Wente Vineyards that so many of those players want to play in this event,” said Todd Fischer at this year’s tournament. The tour veteran from Pleasanton returned home twice to compete in the Wine Country Championship.
"We appreciate all that Wente Vineyards and the Livermore Valley Winegrowers Foundation have done to host a successful Nationwide Tour event in the East Bay area the last three years,” said Nationwide Tour President Bill Calfee. “The players of the Nationwide Tour enjoyed the challenge of Wente Vineyards as well as the wonderful hospitality and support that was extended by everyone.”
The Wine Country Championship has been a major event in the Tri-Valley community, attracting an estimated crowd of 45,000 over the past three years. Through national media coverage, which included live television broadcasts on the Golf Channel in 2007, the event also provided invaluable exposure for the Tri-Valley as a destination to an international audience. In addition, the Championship provided $300,000 in donations to local charities.
“The Livermore Valley Wine Country Championship brought world-class golf to the Tri-Valley and was an enjoyable experience for everyone,” said Wente.
Contact:
Ed Vyeda
Hunter Public Relations
(831) 375-1747
evyeda@hunter-pr.com
www.hunter-pr.com