Feb. 26, 2007
Orlando, Fla. (www.ucfathletics.com) - Tournament officials for the Sybase Classic have announced that a sponsor's exemption will be offered to the individual winner of the UCF Challenge hosted by the University of Central Florida on March 5-6. This agreement will allow a top NCAA female golfer the opportunity to participate in the LPGA Tour event. The Tournament enters 2007 with an increased purse of $1.4 million and a new host venue, Upper Montclair Country Club. The LPGA Tour returns to the New York metro area May 14 - 20.
"This is a great opportunity for a rising golfer to experience the LPGA Tour," said Tournament Director Michael Ryan. "It is the first time that a spot in a LPGA event has been offered to the winner of a college golf tournament. With all the All-American caliber golfers in the field, fans could catch a glimpse of the next Annika Sorenstam at the Sybase Classic."
The UCF Challenge features 13 of the top Division I women's golf programs in the country competing in team-play and individual competitions. The individual champion from the two-day tournament will be allotted a sponsor's exemption for the Sybase Classic.
"The timing happened to work out perfectly," said Tim Erensen, Octagon Golf's Chief Operating Officer. "The Sybase Classic, May 14 - 20, falls in between NCAA Regionals and Finals. Tournament officials jumped on this opportunity to add excitement to our prestigious event."
The UCF Challenge is held at Grand Cypress Resort in Orlando, Fla., March 5-6. The 2007 field includes Alabama, Arkansas, Duke, Florida, Georgia, LSU, New Mexico, Ohio State, Pepperdine, Purdue, SMU, UCF and Vanderbilt.
"There is no better way to prepare for the NCAA Tournament than playing against the world's best. The ladies that will be in contention for the Sybase Classic sponsor's exemption are the same ladies that hope to win a national championship the week after," said UCF women's golf coach and former LPGA pro Emilee Klein.
Among the top golfers competing for the exemption are Anna Grzebien (Duke), Taylor Leon (Georgia) and Jacqui Concolino (Vanderbilt). Grzebien was the 2005 NCAA individual champion and is a two-time, first-team All-American. Leon currently ranks first in Golfweek's individual standings and Concolino is third.
As of the February 15 Golfweek women's ratings, Georgia stands No. 1, with Duke No. 3, followed by Pepperdine at No. 4 and Vanderbilt is No. 5. Twelve of the 13 teams rank in the top-35. Duke won its second straight national championship in 2006 and has four all-time team titles.
The Sybase Classic marks the return of championship golf to Upper Montclair, a course with a storied past of hosting golf's greatest professionals. 2006 champion Lorena Ochoa will defend her title against the top lady golfers in the world. The Club has hosted the Champions Tour from 1993 to 2002, the LPGA Tour in 1979, 1980 and 1984 and the PGA TOUR in 1962, 1966-1968 and 1970.
About Sybase
Sybase is the largest global enterprise software company exclusively focused on managing and mobilizing information from the data center to the point of action. Sybase provides open, cross-platform solutions that securely deliver information anytime, anywhere, enabling customers to create an information edge. The world's most critical data in commerce, communications, finance, government and healthcare runs on Sybase. For more information, visit the Sybase Web site: http://www.sybase.com.
About the Ladies Professional Golf Association
Featuring the world's best women golfers, the LPGA's membership includes touring, teaching and club professionals. The LPGA Tour in 2007 features 35 events, with total prize money of nearly $55 million. Since 1981, the LPGA and its tournaments have raised approximately $180 million for charity. From the dreams of its 13 founders in 1950, the LPGA has evolved into the world's pre-eminent women's professional sports organization. The LPGA has grown from its roots as a playing tour into a non-profit organization involved in every facet of golf. The LPGA is headquartered in Daytona Beach, Fla. For more information, log on to www.LPGA.com.
About Octagon's Golf Division
Octagon's Golf Division manages two Champions Tour events, The ACE Group Classic and SAS Championship presented by Forbes; three LPGA Tour events, Sybase Classic, LPGA NW Arkansas Championship presented by John Q. Hammons, and SemGroup Championship presented by John Q. Hammons; and one Nationwide Tour event, Rex Hospital Open. Octagon's Golf Division also represents nearly 20 golfing professionals including Chris Smith, Natalie Gulbis, Christina Kim, Meg Mallon, and Beth Daniel. Additionally, Octagon represents marketing rights to Davis Love III, Gary Koch, and brothers, Bobby and Lanny Wadkins.
About Octagon
Octagon is the world's largest sports and entertainment representation and marketing agency with global expertise in consulting, athletes & personalities, event management, property representation, marketing solutions, licensing and merchandising and talent procurement. As part of The Interpublic Group (NYSE:IPG), one of the world's leading organizations of advertising agencies and marketing services, Octagon employs more than 1,000 people in 60 offices around the world. For further information please visit: www.octagon.com.