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Ginn Sports Entertainment To Stage One Of Richest LPGA Tour
Events With $2.6 Million Ginn Tribute Hosted By Annika Sorenstam
In Charleston, S.C.
Arnold Palmer Designed Rivertowne
Country Club Course To Host World's Greatest Female Players May
31-June 3
MT. PLEASANT, S.C., July 17, 2006 - Ginn
Sports Entertainment LLC announced today that Ginn Clubs &
Resorts will sponsor and stage its second LPGA tournament-- the
Ginn Tribute Hosted by Annika Sorenstam at the Arnold Palmer
designed RiverTowne Country Club Course at the Belvidere Resort,
May 31-June 3, 2007. The announcement was made today by Ginn
Clubs & Resorts President Bobby Ginn and LPGA Commissioner
Carolyn F. Bivens.
Ginn also announced that the Ginn Tribute
Hosted by Annika Sorenstam will be run and operated exclusively
by IMG and televised nationally by NBC Sports.
The 72-hole event will also focus on a
tribute to an LPGA great each year. The player will be honored
and saluted in ceremonies during tournament week.
The addition of this $2.6 million event
brings the fast growing Ginn Clubs & Resorts portfolio to four
professional golf events-two on the LPGA Tour and two on the
Champions Tour. Ginn Clubs & Resorts hosted the LPGA's Ginn Open
in Reunion, FL earlier this year and two Champions Tour events
have recently been announced for 2007-the Ginn Championship at
Hammock Beach set to be played March 26-April 1 with a $2.5
million purse and the Ace Group Classic Champions Tour event in
mid-February of 2007 which will be hosted at Ginn's Quail West
community and golf courses in Naples, FL.
"It is unbelievable how fast we are
growing," said Bobby Ginn, President and CEO of Ginn Clubs &
Resorts. "I certainly didn't think we'd be where we are this
fast with four professional events for our rapidly developing
golf resort and real estate communities. "We had an unbelievable
first venture with the LPGA in Reunion and we'll stage another
fantastic event in Charleston. To have Annika Sorenstam, the
world's greatest female player as our host makes this tournament
even more special."
"I am thrilled and excited to host this
prestigious inaugural event," said Annika Sorenstam. "I have a
great relationship with Bobby Ginn and Ginn Clubs and Resorts
and this tournament further highlights the direction that we are
taking together."
"We are very excited to once again team up
with Bobby Ginn and the Ginn Company for the Ginn Tribute Hosted
by Annika Sorenstam, which will debut in 2007," said Carolyn
Bivens, LPGA commissioner. "Ginn's initial event with us, the
2006 Ginn Clubs & Resorts Open in Orlando, was world-class from
the start. I am confident that this will be repeated at the
inaugural event in Charleston where players will experience
exceptional hospitality and a fabulous course and fans will be
treated to great competition by the best players in the world."
The Arnold Palmer designed course at
RiverTowne Country Club that will test the skills of the
greatest women players in the world was named the 2004 South
Carolina Course of the Year by the South Carolina Golf Course
Owners Association. The 18-hole par 72 layout measures 6,679
yards from the medal tees.
Sixteen golf courses have either been
constructed or are in development and Ginn's course architects
are a Who's Who in the world of golf-Hall of Famers Jack
Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Nick Faldo, Nick Price, Tom Watson and
Tom Kite all have either designed or are designing courses on
Ginn's resort properties.
The Ginn Company commissioned golf legend
Arnold Palmer to develop Charleston's first Arnold Palmer
Signature Golf Course. The 18-hole championship course includes
13 holes that wind along the Wando River and Horlbeck Creek. The
five sets of tees on this 7,200-yard venue provide spectacular
challenges that are meant to deliver a memorable golfing
experience to every player of the game. RiverTowne Country Club
received a 4.5 star rating in Golf Digest's Place to Play in
2005 and it was the South Carolina Course of the Year in 2004.
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