TOURNAMENT RETURNS TO SEASON-OPENING EVENT
FOR 2016 AT OCEAN CLUB GOLF COURSE
August 10, 2015, Paradise Island, Nassau, Bahamas – Tournament officials of the Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic announced today a three-year sponsorship extension that will keep the tournament at the Ocean Club Golf Course at Atlantis, Paradise Island resort through 2018.
Pure Silk and the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism together signed a three-year contract, which includes a purse increase of $100,000 to $1.4 million, and establishes the Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic as the season-opening event on the LPGA schedule; a position it occupied in 2014. The 2016 tournament is scheduled for January 25-31.
“We cannot thank our partners at Pure Silk and the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism enough for their loyal support,” said Jeff Raedle, president of Global Golf Management, the organization that manages the tournament. “Their generous commitments provide a solid foundation for the tournament moving forward. We feel that cementing the Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic as the lead-in event on the LPGA calendar is pure magic.”
“We’re so pleased to extend our sponsorship of this world-class event,” said John Price, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Perio, Inc., parent company of Pure Silk. “The idyllic location, combined with competition featuring the best golfers in the world, continues to make the Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic one of the best events on the Tour.”
“We are very excited to be partnering with Pure Silk to host the already popular Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic for another three years,” the Honorable Minister of Tourism, Obie H. Wilchcombe said. “Sports are intrinsic to the Bahamian culture, and we have a particularly close relationship to golf, and are fast tracking our golf product to be the best in the region. Hosting this wonderful tournament for the LPGA allows us to both support a beloved sport as well as share our courses with golf enthusiasts around the world. We truly look forward to further strengthening the popularity of this wonderful competition and cannot wait to watch the tournament in 2016.”
“Pure Silk and Bahamas Tourism have been wonderful partners to the LPGA and we’re thrilled to extend our relationship for the next three years,” said LPGA Commissioner Michael Whan.
“The tournament is not only a first-class golf event, but also a premiere travel destination on the LPGA schedule. Our players will be overjoyed to open the season in paradise.”
Renewing the contract for three years was an easy decision given the popularity of the tournament, Wilchcombe said. More than 40 credentialed media attended, providing Global In-Telecast Media Equivalency value of more than $4.1 million to Pure Silk and $4.6 million to The Bahamas. Nearly 1,100 media placements were seen across 41 countries, with 411,827 unique users visiting the LPGA.com website and App and generating 6,237,004 page views.
The Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic has produced three exciting finishes since being added to the LPGA schedule, and has quickly become a popular event among LPGA golfers.
Earlier this year in the third edition of the tournament, 22-year-old LPGA rookie Sei Young Kim of South Korea became a Rolex first-time winner when she sank a 4-foot birdie putt on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff to defeat Sun Young Yoo and Ariya Jutanugarn. The event drew seven of the top 10 professional golfers in the Rolex World Rankings and 28 of the top 30 on the 2014 LPGA Money List.
In 2014, Jessica Korda recorded her second career LPGA victory, firing a final-round 7-under 66 that included a birdie on the final hole to edge Stacy Lewis by one stroke. Korda completed 72 holes in 19-under 273. The 2013 edition was shortened to 36 holes due to inclement weather. Ilhee Lee of South Korea won her first LPGA title.
The official name of the tournament is the Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic. For more information, visit online at www.PureSilkBahamasClassic.com, www.facebook.com/PureSilkLPGAClassic or follow the tournament on Twitter via www.twitter.com/PureSilkLPGA.
About Pure Silk
Pure Silk is the “Official Rich & Luxurious Shave Cream of the LPGA” and sponsors a roster of talented professional golfers on the LPGA Tour. Pure Silk moisturizing shave creams provide the smoothest, most touchable skin without irritation. The rich lather contains ingredients that give you a closer, longer lasting shave for legs that look and feel like Pure Silk. Available in seven aloe-infused, deliciously scented varieties, shaving with Pure Silk is the easiest way to love your legs! Pure Silk is available at mass merchandise, grocery and drugstores nationwide. For more information, visit www.Pure-Silk.com, www.facebook.com/puresilkshavecream or follow us on twitter via www.twitter.com/puresilkshave.
About the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism The Islands Of The Bahamas have a place in the sun for everyone from Nassau and Paradise Island to Grand Bahama to The Abaco Islands, The Exuma Islands, Harbour Island, Long Island and others. Each island has its own personality and attractions for a variety of vacation styles with some of the world’s best golf, scuba diving, fishing, sailing, boating, as well as, shopping and dining. The destination offers an easily accessible tropical getaway and provides convenience for travelers with pre-clearance through U.S. customs and immigration, and the Bahamian dollar at par with the U.S. dollar. Do everything or do nothing, just remember It’s Better in The Bahamas. For more information on travel packages, activities and accommodations, call 1-800-Bahamas or visit www.Bahamas.com. Look for The Bahamas on the web on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. To purchase one-of-a-kind items from The Bahamas, visit www.eshopbahamas.com.
About the LPGA (Ladies Professional Golf Association)
The LPGA is the world’s leading professional golf organization for women. Founded in 1950, the association celebrates a diverse and storied membership with more than 2,300 members representing 28 different countries. With a Vision to inspire, empower, educate and entertain by showcasing the very best of women’s golf, LPGA Tour Professionals compete across the globe, while dedicated LPGA Teaching and Club Professionals (T&CP) directly impact the game through teaching, coaching and management. The Symetra Tour consistently produces a pipeline of talent ready for the world stage. The LPGA is headquartered in Daytona Beach, Florida. Follow the LPGA on its television home, Golf Channel, and on the web via: www.LPGA.com, www.facebook.com/lpga, www.twitter.com/lpga, and www.youtube.com/lpgavideo.
About Global Golf Management
Global Golf Management is a worldwide sports event management company. With headquarters in Chicago, GGM has successfully staged more than 600 events on five continents since its inception in 1989. GGM specializes in professional golf tournament production but also handles corporate outings and other golf-related event ventures. For more information, visit www.GlobalGolfManagement.com or www.twitter.com/GlobalGolfMgmt.
Media contacts:
Dave Shedloski, Media Official, Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic Shedloski@nullgmail.com +1 740-501-2265
Mike Harmon, Global Golf Management, mike@nullglobalgolfmanagement.com; +1 205-281-6704
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