BOCA RATON, FL – Tournament officials for the Allianz Championship have announced that Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America has extended its commitment to the Champions Tour and will title sponsor the South Florida event through 2012. The 2009 Allianz Championship will be contested at the Old Course at Broken Sound in Boca Raton February 9-15.
“Allianz is pleased to extend our sponsorship of the Champions Tour for an additional three years,” said Gary C. Bhojwani, President and CEO of Allianz Life. “The Allianz Championship is one of our most successful events of the year. In addition to allowing us to connect with key markets in South Florida, the Championship enables us to demonstrate one of our core strengths, supporting communities in which our consumers and distribution partners work and live.” Each year, the proceeds for the Allianz Championship go to support the lifesaving efforts of the Boca Raton Community Hospital, which is quickly become a leading institution for cardiac care.
The agreement is a three-year extension from 2010 – 2012. The event traditionally kicks off the early Florida swing on the Champions Tour and has had exciting finishes in each of its first two years at Broken Sound. In 2008, Scott Hoch trailed by three strokes with eight holes to play and eventually held off Brad Bryant and Bruce Lietzke by a stroke. The tournament has become a fixture on the Champions Tour early in the season and has featured World Golf Hall of Fame members such as Hale Irwin, Tom Kite, Gary Player, Nick Price and Curtis Strange over the last two years.
“Allianz’s partnership with the Champions Tour dates back 17 years with their sponsorships at our 3M Championship in Minneapolis and over eight years as title sponsorship of the Allianz Championship in both Des Moines and now Boca Raton,” said Champions Tour President, Mike Stevens. “Their title sponsor extension speaks to the value of our product and the Champions Tour’s platform to enhance their business development strategies and community profile.”
Founded in 1896 and based in Minneapolis, Allianz Life provides fixed and variable annuities, life insurance policies, and long term care insurance products in the United States. Allianz products are offered through a nationwide network of independent distribution. The company is part of Allianz SE, a global financial services group that is the 14th largest corporation in the world based on revenue (Fortune, July 2008). Allianz SE employs more than 177,000 people worldwide.
“We’re grateful for Allianz’s continued commitment to South Florida. Today’s announcement ensures that the proven winners on the Champions Tour will return to the Boca Raton area to the delight of area golf fans. More importantly, the tournament’s primary charitable beneficiary, the Boca Raton Community Hospital, can extend its efforts in providing health services to those in need,” said Hollis Cavner, President and CEO of Pro Link Sports.
Ticket, sponsor and volunteer information are available at www.allianzchampionship.com or (561) 241-4653.
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About Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America
Founded in 1896 and based in Minneapolis, Allianz Life provides fixed and variable annuities, life insurance policies, and long term care insurance products in the United States. Allianz products are offered through a nationwide network of independent distribution. The company is part of Allianz SE, a global financial services group that is the 14th largest corporation in the world based on revenue (Fortune, July 2008). Allianz SE employs more than 177,000 people worldwide.
About the Champions Tour
The Champions Tour is a division of the PGA TOUR, Inc., a tax-exempt membership organization of professional golfers age 50 and older. Conceived in 1980 as the Senior PGA Tour, it started with just four events and purses totaling $475,000. The Champions Tour features 29 official events offering $55.6 million in prize money in 2008 and its highest average purse ever of $1.92 million. The Champions Tour operates under the umbrella of the PGA TOUR which includes the PGA TOUR, Champions Tour and Nationwide Tour. The Champions Tour’s primary purpose as an entity of the PGA TOUR is to provide significant competitive and earnings opportunities for players age 50 and older; to protect the integrity of the game; and to help grow the reach of the game in the U.S. and around the world. In addition to providing competitive opportunities for its membership, Champions Tour events also generate significant sums of money for charity. The commissioner of the PGA TOUR is Tim Finchem. Mike Stevens is president of the Champions Tour. TOUR headquarters is in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.
About Pro Links Sports
Established in 1993, Pro Links Sports manages six events on the PGA Champions Tour, as well as numerous corporate outings, sponsor hospitality programs, corporate merchandise programs and player appearances. With offices in Minneapolis, Houston, San Antonio, Austin and Boca Raton, Pro Links Sports has quickly established itself as an industry leader.
Contact:
Juli Wall
Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications
Allianz Life
(763) 765-5909
juli.wall@allainzlife.com
Hollis Cavner
President & CEO
Pro Links Sports
(763) 783-8232
hcavner@3mchampionship.com
Michael McPhillips
Director, Communications
Champions Tour
(904) 273-3470
michaelmcphillips@pgatourhq.com
