Newport Beach, Calif., Nov. 2, 2010 – Before the Toshiba Classic looks forward to its 17th-annual Champions Tour golf tournament in March, the 14th event under the auspices of Hoag, it took time to recognize its glorious past by announcing the creation of the Toshiba Classic Hall of Fame and naming its first Hall of Fame class at a special induction ceremony and dinner Nov. 1 at Newport Beach Country Club.
The Toshiba Classic’s inaugural Hall of Fame class is comprised of past champions (chronologically, from the most recent champion to the first) Fred Couples, Eduardo Romero, Bernhard Langer, Jay Haas, Brad Bryant, Mark Johnson, Tom Purtzer, Rodger Davis, Hale Irwin, Jose Maria Canizares, Allen Doyle, Gary McCord, Bob Murphy, Jim Colbert and George Archer, Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc. Chairman of the Board Atsutoshi Nishida and longtime Toshiba Classic chairman Hank Adler.
Toshiba Classic Hall of Fame inductees Irwin (the Toshiba Classic’s only two-time champion, in 1998 and 2002), Haas (the 2007 champion who holds the Classic’s scoring record at 19-under-par 194), Purtzer (the long-hitting 2004 champion who holds the tournament single-round record with an 11-under-par 60), McCord (1999 champion and a Southern California native) and Adler were present at Monday night’s induction ceremony.
“The Toshiba Classic is the Champions Tour’s most charitable tournament and longest-running event with the same title sponsor. We feel our new Toshiba Classic Hall of Fame best recognizes the golfers, people and personalities who have played a vital role in the successes of the Toshiba Classic and have shaped the culture and history of our event,” Toshiba Classic Tournament Executive Director Jeff Purser said. “Our Hall of Fame will be displayed at Newport Beach Country Club for all fans to see as they attend the 2011 Toshiba Classic.”
The Toshiba Classic Hall of Fame will display its membership on a wall beside the practice putting green at Newport Beach Country Club – home of the Toshiba Classic – and will continue to add to its membership with annual induction classes.
The 2011 Toshiba Classic is March 7-13. Daily tickets are $20 if purchased in advance, or $25 at the gate. Season patron badges, providing admission to the grounds and clubhouse for practice rounds and the tournament, are $100. Daily patron tickets, providing access to the grounds and the clubhouse on a single day, are $40. All tickets, including corporate ticket packages, can be obtained by calling 949-660-1001 or visiting www.ToshibaClassic.com.
Of the Toshiba Classic Hall of Fame’s player inductees, Langer (2008 Toshiba Classic champion, 1985 and 1993 Masters champion, and the first No. 1-ranked player in the world) and Irwin, the Champions Tour’s all-time leader in wins (45), are also members of the World Golf Hall of Fame. The 15 player inductees have combined to win 78 PGA TOUR titles, including seven major championships, and 155 Champions Tour titles.
The Toshiba Classic’s annual initiative to induct community members who have assumed vital leadership positions for the Toshiba Classic led to the inductions of Nishida and Adler.
Nishida was president of Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc. when Toshiba began its sponsorship of the Toshiba Classic in 1994. He has been a key decision maker and leader in shaping the Classic’s past, present and future and ensuring a long-lasting relationship with the Toshiba Classic at Newport Beach Country Club.
Adler was the Toshiba Classic’s chairman for 13 years, retiring after the 2007 tournament. He was the face and conscience of the tournament to the local community and on his watch, the Toshiba Classic became the charitable envy of the Champions Tour. During his tenure, the Toshiba Classic was the only Champions Tour event that contributed at least $1 million to charity annually. Even in retirement, Adler remains a highly-visible and beloved figure at the Toshiba Classic.
The Toshiba Classic’s lead charity and operator is Hoag Hospital Foundation and the 2011 tournament will benefit the Mary and Dick Allen Diabetes Center at Hoag. During the last 13 years, the Toshiba Classic generated more than $13 million for charity, the most on the Champions Tour. Hoag Hospital Foundation also received the inaugural PGA Champions Tour Charity of the Year Award in 1998.
Toshiba Classic supporters can congregate online at its official fan pages on Facebook (www.facebook.com, search “Toshiba Classic”) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/ToshibaClassic). Fans can also tap into archived Toshiba Classic videos through the Classic’s YouTube page at www.youtube.com/user/TheToshibaClassic. Register to become a fan or follower of the Toshiba Classic at each fan page, meet and chat with new friends and golf fans, and stay up to date on all tournament and player information. Tournament information, statistics, activities and updates are also available at the tournament’s official web site, www.ToshibaClassic.com.
The Toshiba Classic
Hoag Hospital Foundation produces the annual Toshiba Classic and the 2011 tournament will benefit the Mary and Dick Allen Diabetes Center at Hoag. During the last 13 years, the Toshiba Classic has generated more than $13 million for charity, the most on the Champions Tour. Televised domestically to over 81 million households on The Golf Channel, and an additional 86 million households internationally, the Toshiba Classic provides invaluable exposure for the communities of Orange County. In addition, the tournament generates an estimated $25 million in annual economic impact, benefiting the businesses of Newport Beach and Orange County. For more information, please call 949/660-1001 or log onto ToshibaClassic.com.
About Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian
Hoag is a not-for-profit regional healthcare delivery network in Orange County, Calif., consisting of two acute-care hospitals, seven health centers and a network for more than 1,300 physicians, 5,000 employees and 2,000 volunteers. Hoag Hospital Newport Beach, which has served Orange County since 1952, and Hoag Hospital Irvine, which opened in 2010, are designated Magnet hospitals by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). Hoag offers a comprehensive mix of health care services, including Centers of Excellence in cancer, heart and vascular, neurosciences, orthopedics and women’s health. National Research Corporation has endorsed Hoag as Orange County’s most preferred hospital for the past 14 consecutive years. And for an unprecedented 15 years, residents of Orange County have chosen Hoag as the county’s best hospital in a local newspaper survey. Visit www.hoag.org.
Contact:
Toby Zwikel/Brian Robin/Damian Secore
818-462-5599/5610/5614
Jessica Roswell
949/660-1001
