Dec. 26, 2013, Paradise Island, Bahamas – For the first time in 13 years, the LPGA tournament schedule is set to begin in January, and the 2014 slate couldn’t get started in a better place, amid an inviting tropical climate and great venue that produced a memorable finish seven months ago.
Though a young tournament, the second-annual Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic gets the honor of serving as the Tour’s season-opening event when it returns to the Ocean Club Golf Course at Atlantis, Paradise Island, Bahamas, Jan. 20-26, 2014. The tournament, won in an exciting 36-hole event by Ilhee Lee, who claimed her first professional title, is moving from late May to the head of the LPGA schedule just before the traditional February Asia-Pacific Swing.
The last time the LPGA played an official money event in January was 2001, when three were contested during the month. The season opened with Se Ri Pak winning the YourLife Vitamins LPGA Classic in Orlando that concluded on Jan. 14.
“I think it is positive for the players, our sponsors and our Golf Channel partner to kick off the season in the East Coast time zone,” said Mike Whan, LPGA commissioner. “It will give us a chance to engage more easily with our fans right from the beginning of the season.
“Nothing could be better than showing off the LPGA in the Bahamas in January while the rest of us are shoveling snow. I look forward to giving the Pure Silk and Bahamas sponsors the event they deserve. Looking forward, I think we know how good it is going to be.”
Golf Channel is providing four-day live coverage of the season-opening 72-hole event that offers a $1.3 million purse.
Lee showed great skill and perseverance in becoming a Rolex First-Time Winner as the event was trimmed to 36 holes because of heavy rainfall that made playing the tournament a challenge. But the LPGA, the Ocean Club staff, and the management team at Global Golf Management also showed great skill and perseverance in making the tournament an official event.
Moving the event to January will only make the tournament stronger.
“It was a challenging inaugural year, but it also was a great exercise in learning that no matter what the obstacles, we can help the LPGA put on a first-rate event,” said Jeff Raedle, president of Global Golf Management, which returns to oversee the 2014 edition. “We all are excited about the prospect of having a great 72-hole event this time around that gets the LPGA season off to a terrific start. A January spotlight in the Bahamas is something the LPGA deserves.”
For more tournament information, visit www.puresilkbahamasclassic.com or contact the Tournament Office at (242) 363 2000 (extension 67179).
About Pure Silk
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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 1,700 members representing 29 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.official, 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 500 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; https://globalgolfmanagement.com/, http://www.twitter.com/GlobalGolfMgmt, www.twitter.com/GlobalGolfMgmt
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Media contact:
Craig Smith, Media Official, Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic, csmith8742@nullgmail.com; +1 484-456-9145