Top Lpga Players Commit to Sybase Classic
NEWS RELEASE For Release: May 4, 2006 Contact: Michelle Berish, Marketing & Communications Manager (919)531-0233 or [email protected] Joan Fronske, Sybase, Inc. (925) 236-4893 or [email protected]
TOP LPGA PLAYERS COMMIT TO SYBASE CLASSIC
Annika Sorenstam and Ai Miyazato Join Field
NEW ROCHELLE, NY – The Sybase Classic presented by Lincoln Mercury today announced the commitment of top players including Lorena Ochoa, Paula Creamer, Mi Hyun Kim, Juli Inkster, Jeong Jang, Natalie Gulbis, Annika Sorenstam, Ai Miyazato and Catriona Matthew to play in the annual LPGA Tour event scheduled May 15 - 21 at historic Wykagyl Country Club in New Rochelle, New York.
“This year is going to be extremely competitive with the world’s leading golfers competing for a $1.3 million purse,” said John Chen, Chairman, CEO and President of Sybase. “This impressive field of golfers will make this year’s Sybase Classic an extraordinary event for fans worldwide.”
“The international buzz regarding the LPGA players has been building the last couple of years,” said Leela Narang, Tournament Director. “We are excited to have Annika Sorenstam and Ai Miyazato join this year’s field of world-class golfers.”
Lorena Ochoa leads the 2006 money list through seven events and five top five finishes. Paula Creamer, the defending champion, became the first LPGA Tour rookie and youngest player to ever qualify for the Solheim Cup where she earned the most points for the victorious U. S. Team with her 3-1-1 record. Jeong Jang has seen 3 top ten finishes this season and was a first-time LPGA Tour winner at the Weetabix Women’s British Open in 2005. Natalie Gulbis stands at 4 top ten finishes including a T3 at the Kraft Nabisco Championship. Mi Hyun Kim took her first 2006 title at the Ginn Club & Resorts Open in Orlando, following two other top ten finishes this season. Tour veteran Juli Inkster won the Safeway International in March, setting a precedent for two more consecutive top ten finishes in the weeks following.
Sorenstam is a member of LPGA and World Golf Hall of Fames. She has 67 career victories, third on the all-time list, including nine LPGA Major Championships. The Swedish Native has been a member of seven European Solheim Cup Teams. She was Rolex Rookie of the Year in 1994 and has since won Rolex Player of the Year eight times, including 2005 when she won 10 times.
Her 2005 season included winning the first two majors of the year, winning 10 of 20 events entered, finishing second in two others, finishing in the top ten in 15 of 20 tournaments, earning a record $2,588,240 and winning the Vare Trophy for the sixth time for lowest scoring average.
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Miyazato is a much heralded rookie on the LPGA Tour after winning the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament presented by American Airlines by a record 12 strokes. She won six events on the Japan LPGA in 2005. Appearing in six LPGA events last year, her best finish was a tie for ninth at the HSBC Women’s World Match Play Championship. She also tied for 11th at the Weetabix Women’s British Open. She started playing golf at the age of four and signs all autographs “Ai 54” - translating to what she calls the perfect round of golf, 18 birdies on a par 72 golf course, one of her many goals.
Entering its 17th year, the Sybase Classic has seen some of the Tour’s best win at Wykagyl, including LPGA Hall of Fame Members Betsy King and Sorenstam, both two-time winners, Beth Daniel and Juli Inkster. In 2005, 18-year old Paula Creamer became the youngest winner of a multi-round event in Tour history by edging out Jeong Jang and Gloria Park by one stroke.
The Sybase Classic supports The Greater New York City Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Tickets and packages for the Sybase Classic are on sale now and can be purchased by logging onto www.sybaseclassic.com or by calling (800) 444-LPGA (5742).
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 Komen Greater NYC The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation was established in 1982 to eradicate breast cancer as a life- threatening disease by advancing research, education, screening and treatment. Komen is a global leader and the largest private source of funding in the fight against breast cancer. The Greater New York City Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation was formed in 1990 and serves the five boroughs of NYC (Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island), Long Island, and Rockland and Westchester counties. Up to 75% of the Affiliate's net proceeds are dedicated to fighting breast cancer by funding innovative grassroots programs in underserved local communities. At least 25% of the Affiliate's net proceeds fund national breast cancer research. This year, through local fundraising efforts including the signature event, the Komen New York City Race for the Cure(r), the Affiliate will award $3.2 million in grants. To learn more about the organization, or to make a donation, go to www.komennyc.org.
About Ladies Professional Golf Association Featuring the world’s best women golfers, the LPGA includes touring, teaching and club professionals. The LPGA Tour in 2006 features 34 events, with total prize money of nearly $50 million. Since 1981, the LPGA and its tournaments have raised approximately $170 million for charity. From the dreams of its 13 founders in 1950, the LPGA has evolved into the world’s preeminent 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, visit www.LPGA.com.
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About Octagon’s Golf Division Octagon’s Golf Division manages two Champions Tour events, The ACE Group Classic and the SAS Championship presented by Forbes; two LPGA Tour events, the Sybase Classic presented by Lincoln Mercury and the John Q. Hammons Hotel Classic presented by SemGroup; and one Nationwide Tour event, The Rex Hospital Open. Octagon’s Golf Division also represents nearly 40 golfing professionals including Davis Love III, Chris Smith, Natalie Gulbis, Christina Kim, Meg Mallon, Beth Daniel, Tom Kite, Gary Koch, and brothers, Bobby and Lanny Wadkins.
About Octagon Octagon is the global sports and event marketing company of The Interpublic Group (NYSE:IPG), the world’s largest advertising and marketing communications group. It offers worldwide expertise across all eight major sports and event marketing disciplines: athletes & personalities, event management, consulting, property representation, TV rights and production, licensing and merchandising, talent procurement and marketing solutions. Octagon employs over 1,500 people on all major continents. For more information, visit: www.octagon.com.
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