DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., March 18, 2009 – Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) and the Bell Micro LPGA Classic announced today that the annual tournament in Mobile, Ala., will shift from its October date to April. The event will not be held in October 2009 but instead move to April 2010, with the tournament and title sponsor honoring the remaining two years of its three-year agreement.
“We’re able to accommodate Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail and Bell Micro by moving them into a date that better suits the title sponsor and allows the venue to continue with their facility and course enhancements,” said LPGA Commissioner Carolyn Bivens. “While it’s tough for LPGA players to miss a playing opportunity this year, this date shift provides the tournament with its best chance for long-term success.”
The Bell Micro LPGA Classic, held for the first time last year, will conduct its next two events in 2010 and 2011. The host venue currently is undergoing significant enhancements to the course, to the tune of $5.1 million, to provide players with an upgraded facility. The new timeline gives the course an extra six months to mature.
“The Bell Micro LPGA Classic in Mobile was a great success for our company – we hosted many of our top customers and vendors throughout the week,” said Don Bell, president and CEO, Bell Microproducts. “We are excited about our continued partnership with the LPGA and are pleased with our new tournament date of April 2010. The tournament move to the spring is a more favorable time of year for our customers and vendors. We look forward to welcoming the LPGA back to the Bell Micro LPGA Classic in the spring of 2010.”
John Cannon, president of the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, believes the new April date will be very beneficial to the players, sponsors and the golf fans. “With the complete redesign and renovation of the Crossings course at Magnolia Grove totaling $5.1 million, the course will be even more spectacular and challenging in April,” said Cannon. “With blooming azaleas, comfortable temperatures, great players and a new course design, we are very excited about the Bell Micro LPGA Classic’s new date. We are pleased the LPGA was flexible and willing to accommodate the schedule change. In addition to benefiting Bell Micro and their customers, the April date should draw even more fans, since spring is a great time for golf in Alabama.”
About Bell Micro
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About the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail
Twenty-six world-class courses on 11 sites – 438 holes of breathtaking golf – comprise Alabama’s Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail. Offered the opportunity to tackle the world’s largest contemporaneous golf construction project, legendary designer Robert Trent Jones, Sr. emerged from semi-retirement to create distinctive courses challenging golfers from first-timers to pros. The Trail was named the #1 value for golf in the country by Golf Digest and also has the top public golf courses, according to Golf World readers. Through the RTJ Golf Trail, Alabama has turned into a golfer’s paradise and earned the Trail accolades from sources as diverse as Robb Report and Travel + Leisureto Southern Living and The New York Times. The Trail is an investment of the Retirement Systems of Alabama and features eight hotels in its resort division, plus a spa trail. For more information on the RTJ Golf Trail, visitwww.rtjgolf.com.
About the Ladies Professional Golf Association
The LPGA features a membership comprised of world-class LPGA Tour professionals and dedicated Teaching and Club Professionals (T&CP). Today’s LPGA Tour features the most talented global group of professional athletes who, in 2009, will compete in 29 official money events in 10 countries with total prize money of nearly $52 million. In addition to its dynamic Tour members, 1,200 certified LPGA T&CP members serve the golf industry in teaching, coaching and management positions, and oversee programs aimed at increasing the involvement of women, girls and youth in golf. The LPGA’s Vision is to inspire, empower, educate and entertain by showcasing the best golf professionals in the world. Its Mission is to be a leader in the world of sports, to promote economic empowerment for all members, and to serve as role models on and off the course. The LPGA is headquartered in Daytona Beach,Fla. For more information on the LPGA, log on to www.LPGA.com.
Contact:
Connie Wilson, LPGA,
Barbara Thomas, Bell Micro LPGA Classic, Bthomas@rtjgolf.com, (205) 298-7360
Joe Cousin, Bell Microproducts, jcousins@bellmicro.com, 408-467-2784
