VACAVILLE, Calif. (March 20, 2013) – Now entering its third year, the partnership between the Northern California Section of the Professional Golfers Association of America (NCPGA) and the Northern California Golf Association (NCGA), along with Capital Insurance Group® (CIG), has established a foundation for what is one of the top series of youth golf tournaments on the West Coast.
The Junior Tour of Northern California, which last weekend opened 2013 with the first event on its Spring Series calendar, has thrived under the direction of the region’s two premier golf associations. The JTNC was established by combining the resources of the NCGA and the NCPGA, which prior to 2011 each had its own separate junior tour. The merger, along with the participation of CIG, created a single tour where junior golfers could compete against the best players for an affordable price.
“We are excited about the future of the junior tour,” said Lyn Nelson, CEO and Executive Director of the NCGA. “The real winners continue to be the junior golfers. Competition is on some of the best golf courses in Northern California and tournament operations are exceptional. Our relationships allow us to offer an unparalleled competitive environment.”
The quality of the JTNC tournaments has been recognized the prestigious American Junior Golf Association (AJGA), which recognizes the winners of Boys and Girls Championship Flights, while results also are sent to the Junior Golf Scoreboard for official national rankings.
“We are thrilled with the rapid development of the Junior Tour of Northern California,” said Chris Thomas, Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer for the NCPGA. “With the experience and expertise that both associations possess, along with having a dedicated sponsor behind us, the tour is providing these young players the best experience Northern California has to offer.”
Serving as Presenting Sponsor for the JTNC since its inception in 2011, CIG joins the NCPGA and NCGA in the ongoing effort to provide a superior competitive environment for boys and girls, ages 18 and younger, and who have not started college.
“We at CIG are proud to continue as the Presenting Sponsor of the Junior Tour of Northern California in 2013,” said Peter Cazzolla, President and CEO of the Monterey-based firm. “The competition among these young players is some of the best in the country. And not only do these boys and girls receive a wealth of tournament experience, they also exemplify the health benefits derived from walking 18 holes a day at our partner golf courses.”
Support for the Junior Tour of Northern California is part of the CIG Golf Program through which CIG has become a leader in the support of community golf programs.
“CIG’s role in the junior tour has been vital to our success,” Thomas said. “And the impact CIG has made on hundreds of young golfers, through its ongoing support of the junior tour, is invaluable.”
The 2013 Spring Series is scheduled over three months, with nine events continuing through May. The Summer Series is scheduled from June 10 through Aug. 1, with the Fall Series running from Aug. 17 through Oct. 27.
Each JTNC tournament is 36 holes, played over two days, and features competition for boys and girls ages 18 and younger who have not started college. To qualify for the Boys Championship level, players must have a handicap index of 4.0 or lower, while Girls Championship players are required to have a handicap index of 6.0 or lower.
For more information about the Junior Tour of Northern California or to join, please visit www.jtnc.org.
About Capital Insurance Group (CIG)
Capital Insurance Group® (CIG) has enhanced its dominance as a leading insurer of Northern California golf courses into a successful philanthropic program centered on the sport of golf through its sponsorship of the NCPGA Junior Tour of Northern California, and the annual fund raising golf tournament, The Langley – A Tribute to Legends.
CIG is the leading regional property and casualty insurer serving the Western U.S. since 1898. CIG insures Personal Auto, Homeowners, Farmowners, Condo Owners, Vacation Property, Renters, Apartment Building Owners, and many kinds of Commercial and Agricultural Auto and Property. The 115 year-old company is rated “A” (Excellent) by A.M. Best, the independent financial monitor of the insurance industry. CIG has been selected for the Ward’s 50 as one of the safest and most efficient property/casualty insurers in the U.S. CIG manages personal, business, and agriculture risks underwritten by its affiliate companies: California Capital Insurance Company, Eagle West Insurance Company, Nevada Capital Insurance Company, and Monterey Insurance Company. Types of policies may vary from state to state. For more information, please visit www.CIGinsurance.com.
CIG DELIVERS MORE. Continuously. ™
About the Northern California Section of the PGA of America (NCPGA)
Organized in 1920 to promote interest in the game of golf, the birth of this association was heralded as an important step to the advancement of the game in this district. The Northern California Section is one of the forty-one designated Sections of the PGA of America, the world’s largest working sports organization. With over 1,100 dedicated PGA Professionals and apprentices at over 500 golf facilities in Northern California and Northwestern Nevada, the association continues to have a positive impact on the game of golf and communities both regionally and nationally. For more information, please visit www.ncpga.com.
About the Northern California Golf Association
Founded in 1901, the NCGA is one of the largest regional golf associations in the country, with more than 140,000 individuals who belong to more than 1,250 members clubs throughout Northern California and into Nevada. Among other services, the NCGA provides official handicap indexes, owns and operates two golf courses, Poppy Hills and Poppy Ridge, conducts more than 50 championships annually, publishes NCGA Golf magazine and operates a Foundation to support deserving youth. Poppy Hills is undergoing a yearlong renovation in 2013 that will replace the irrigation system to better manage water usage, redesign and lessen doglegs to help the course unfold more naturally, replace and redesign all putting greens, sand cap fairways to greatly improve drainage and renovate the clubhouse including restaurant and restrooms.
Contact:
Jennifer Noel Ed Vyeda
NCPGA Hunter Public Relations Special Events
(707) 449-4742 (831) 375-1747
jnoel@pgahq.com evyeda@hunter-pr.com
