Charles Schwab Cup Championship

(Sonoma, CA)  --  Leon Gilmore, formerly of The First Tee and the Wal-Mart First Tee Open at Pebble Beach, has been named to replace Charles Schwab Cup Championship Tournament Manager, Jackie Allison, who has accepted a position with PriceWatershouseCoopers, it was announced today by Ron Cross, Vice President of the PGA TOUR's Championship Management division which runs the event.   

Gilmore, 35, will assume the title of Executive Director for the Charles Schwab Cup Championship.  His first day on the job will be June 12th.

A native of Ohio, Gilmore has established impressive credentials in the golf industry.  After spending a year-and-a-half in 1996 and '97 as Director of East Lake Junior Golf Academy in Atlanta, GA, he accepted a position with The First Tee, initially as Associate Director of Development, based at First Tee headquarters in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, then as Director of Development/West Region in Phoenix, AZ.  During his tenure at The First Tee Gilmore was responsible for facility development strategy in nine states and was involved in the successful launch of 35 facilities.  In July 2003, he was named Executive Director of the Monterey Peninsula Foundation where he was responsible for business development for the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, the Wal-Mart First Tee Open at Pebble Beach and The First Tee of Monterey County. 

Gilmore is a graduate of Hampton University (B.S., Communications, 1993) where he was a member of the golf team and captain his senior year.  He went on to receive a masters degree in Sports Administration from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst in 1995.

He will be responsible for all sales, promotional and operational aspects of the Champions Tour's season-ending event. 

Gilmore will report to Cross, the former World Golf Championships - American Express Championship Executive Director.   

"Leon has excelled in his previous positions within the golf business, most recently down the road with the Monterey Peninsula Foundation," said Cross.  "He is going to step into this new role and do a terrific job.  Anyone who comes in contact with him will immediately like and respect him, be it a sponsor, volunteer, club member or media representative."

"The PGA TOUR will miss Jackie Allison," Cross continued.  "She was offered and accepted a wonderful opportunity with PriceWatershouseCoopers.  We wish her well and know she will be an asset to PWC as she has been to us for several years."

The 2006 Charles Schwab Cup Championship will be played Oct. 24-29.  Tom Watson is the defending champion.