Chattanooga, Tenn -- The annual Nationwide Tour stop in Chattanooga will have both a new management team and host organization in 2007 with Thursday’s announcement that Friends of the Festival will take over operation of the Chattanooga Classic.

Friends of the Festival has a long history in Chattanooga of running successful events. The Riverbend Festival, one of the nation’s largest music festivals, has been a part of Chattanooga’s downtown renaissance since 1981.

“Friends of the Festival is excited to be associated with the Nationwide Tour professionals and the 2007 Chattanooga Classic,” said Chip Baker, Executive Director of Friends of the Festival. “The rich heritage of the Chattanooga Classic, combined with the 27-year event management expertise of Friends of the Festival, will make the Classic one of the top Nationwide Tour events.”

The Chattanooga Classic will be entering its fifth year on the Nationwide Tour and will once again be held at The Black Creek Club. Kyle Reifers won the 2006 Chattanooga Classic in a playoff over Brandt Snedeker after each posted tournament record scores of 26-under 262.

The Classic 150, a local civic and charitable organization, had served as the host organization since the event’s inception in 2004. With the change, its membership will continue to support the annual golf event by providing financial, as well as operational assistance.

“This is a great opportunity for the Chattanooga Classic to raise the event to another level with the expertise of Friends of the Festival, the regions premier event management company,” said Paul Apyan, Tournament Chairman. “Our vision remains to have Chattanooga become one of the most anticipated events on the Nationwide Tour.”

The Nationwide Tour is owned and operated by the PGA TOUR and will be in its 18th season in 2007. The 2006 season saw the Tour play in three countries and 22 states with the 31 tournaments playing for nearly $17 million in prize money.

“The Nationwide Tour is very pleased to partner with Friends of the Festival,” said Bill Calfee, Chief of Operations for the Nationwide Tour. “Chattanooga is a very good market for the Tour and we feel strongly that the tournament will reach new heights in 2007 with their assistance.”

The 2007 Chattanooga Classic will be held the week of May 7-13.

About the Nationwide Tour

Founded in 1990, the Nationwide Tour is owned and operated by the PGA TOUR from its Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., headquarters. The Tour has sent 498 players to the PGA TOUR over the past 17 seasons, including such familiar names as Jim Furyk, Ernie Els, Stewart Cink, David Toms, John Daly, Chris DiMarco and Tom Lehman. To date, former Nationwide Tour players have won 194 PGA TOUR titles, including 10 major championships. Each season, the Top 20 money winners graduate to the PGA TOUR for the following year. The Tour’s web-site is www.pgatour.com.

About Nationwide

Nationwide, based in Columbus, Ohio, is one of the largest diversified insurance and financial services organizations in the world with more than $157 billion in assets. Nationwide ranks #99 on the Fortune 100 list. The company provides a full range of insurance and financial services, including auto, homeowners, life, health, commercial insurance, administrative services, annuities, mutual funds, pensions and long-term savings plans.

Nationwide and the Nationwide Framework are federally registered service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. On Your Side is a service mark of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company.