Ginn Resorts to host PGA TOUR event PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. -- The PGA TOUR announced Thursday that a new event, the Ginn Classic at Tesoro, will be held Oct. 22-28, 2007 at Tesoro, a Ginn Resorts community in Port St. Lucie, Fla. and become part of the PGA TOUR's Fall Series. Under terms of the five-year agreement with Ginn Resorts, the Ginn Classic at Tesoro will rotate throughout various Ginn Resorts properties. "We are delighted to welcome the Ginn Classic at Tesoro to the PGA TOUR schedule," said PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem. "The Fall Series is an important part of the TOUR schedule, and The Tesoro Club will be a wonderful venue to challenge the best golfers in the world as they attempt to secure their place in the 2008 FedExCup." "We are thrilled to expand our burgeoning golf tournament portfolio by partnering with the PGA TOUR to present the Ginn Classic at Tesoro," said Bobby Ginn, president and CEO of Ginn Resorts. "We sponsored and produced a Champions Tour event this year and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. However, this event marks our first foray with the PGA TOUR and we look forward to hosting the greatest golfers in the world at Tesoro this October." "We welcome this new Fall Series event and think it is terrific for the golf fans of south Florida and in particular, the Treasure Coast, to have an opportunity to see the PGA TOUR pros compete this October," said Ken Kennerly, executive director of The Honda Classic. "The Fall Series events feature many young players competing for spots on the season-ending money list, and this will make for good competition. Also, any time people have the opportunity to see professionals compete, it helps boost the interest in the game of golf both for adults and kids alike. Furthermore, we anticipate that a one-time playing of this event on the Treasure Coast will help promote additional interest in The Honda Classic, and look forward to having many Treasure Coast residents attend the 2008 Honda Classic." The Tesoro Club is a par-72, 7,210-yard Arnold Palmer design which opened in 2005. The Ginn Classic at Tesoro replaces the Running Horse Championship in Fresno, Calif. on the 2007 schedule. The original developers of Running Horse Golf & Country Club had run into financial difficulties, causing the project to fall behind schedule. The property has since been purchased by Elon Golf Construction, Inc. with the intention of finishing the project. "Fresno remains an attractive market for the PGA TOUR, but in light of these issues we will not be able to play there in 2007," added Finchem. "Our intention, as those issues become resolved, is for Fresno to be a part of the schedule again in 2008 and beyond." Beyond featuring nearly two months of exciting golf through the fall, the Fall Series also plays a key role in determining eligibility for the following season's FedExCup competition. At the time of THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola, only the 30 competitors in that event have their eligibility secured for the following year. The remainder of the top 125 fully exempt positions will be determined by season-long official earnings, and the Fall Series will offer players significant opportunities to improve their position and secure their eligibility. Additionally, players will be competing to improve their position in the Official World Golf Ranking and earn eligibility for World Golf Championships events and selected invitationals and majors. |