Rotellini named executive director of Legends event

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SAVANNAH, Ga. -- The PGA TOUR today announced that Joe Rotellini has been named the new executive director of the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf tournament in Savannah, Ga. Rotellini, who most recently served as senior vice president of Peter Jacobsen Sports, will oversee one of the most unique events on the Champions Tour, which features a two-man team better-ball format.

Rotellini replaces Tim Iley, who served as the event's executive director of 15 years and is now relocating to Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., to take a position at TOUR headquarters as director of tournament business affairs for the Nationwide Tour.

The Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf is played in April at the Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa.

"While it is hard to replace Tim Iley and his wealth of experience with this event and in this community," said David Pillsbury, Executive Vice President of Championship Management, "we are fortunate to have Joe Rotellini ready, willing and able to step in, bring some fresh ideas and take the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf to the next level for Savannah and our title sponsor. We're excited to welcome Joe back to the PGA TOUR family."

With Peter Jacobsen Sports (PJS) from 2004-08, Rotellini oversaw the planning and execution of PJS-managed professional golf-related events that included at one time or another, the JELD-WEN Tradition (Portland, Ore.), Hard Rock Invitational and Eagles Concert (Myrtle Beach, S.C.), PNC Pro-Am (Ligonier, Pa.), and Save Mart Shootout (Fresno, Calif.), among others. Rotellini was responsible for staffing, budget development, sponsor relations, vendor and host club negotiations, player recruitment/relations, volunteer organization and training and on-course construction and break-down.

Also during his time with PJS, Rotellini served as executive director of the CVS/Caremark Charity Classic in Providence, R.I., from 2006-08, which is a PGA TOUR sanctioned "Challenge Event" golf tournament, and the Constellation Energy Classic in Baltimore, Md., from 2002-06, a Champions Tour event. From 1999-2002, Rotellini was executive director of the PGA TOUR's Pennsylvania Classic.

Rotellini spent 15 years as a college coach, administrator and instructor at numerous institutions, including Salisbury University in Salisbury, Md., Shippensburg University in Shippensburg, Pa., and Alfred University in Alfred, N.Y.

"I am extremely appreciative of the opportunity to return as an employee of the PGA TOUR," said Rotellini. "Also, I am very excited to work with Liberty Mutual, the Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa, the fine city of Savannah, and the legendary players of the Champions Tour - many that I already know and have a great respect for. This is a wonderful new chapter in my life, and I'm excited to get started and do all I can to ensure the continued success of this great event."

The Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf Tournament has been played in Savannah since 2003, and has donated more than $1 million to local charities. For more information about the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf, including ticket information for the 2009 tournament, go to www.lmlog.com or call the Tournament Office at (912) 236-1333.