Buick Invitational

Jan. 10, 2002
DETROIT --  Buick announced today that it has signed Matt Gogel and David Berganio Jr. to new one-year sponsorship agreement's for the 2002 season. Each player will wear a Buick hat at all PGA TOUR events, appear in Buick advertisements and make appearances on behalf of the company.

"Matt and David are quality individuals who are just beginning to reach their potential," said Larry Peck, golf marketing manager for Buick. "We look forward to watching them develop into outstanding PGA TOUR players."

Gogel, 30, is in his second year as a Buick touring professional. He completed his best year as a pro in 2001, earning $729,783 while recording four top-10 finishes and seven top-25 finishes. He finished in the top-10 in three of his last seven events, earning $423,750 during that span.

Berganio, 32, had a career season in 2001. He recorded six top-25 finishes, including four top-10's. Berganio earned $685,082, more than three times his previous high of $196,512, earned on the 2000 Buy.Com Tour. Berganio is now in his sixth year as a Buick touring pro.

J.J. Henry, 26, is now in the second year of a two-year contract with Buick. In 2001, he became one of only seven rookies in PGA TOUR history to eclipse the one million dollar mark in earnings for one season. Henry recorded five top-10 finishes in 2001, including runner-up finishes at the Kemper Insurance Open and the Texas Open at LaCantera. He accumulated $1,073,847 in official earnings for the year, finishing 49th on the PGA TOUR money list.

Now in its fifth decade of PGA TOUR sponsorship, Buick is title-sponsor of four PGA TOUR events: The Buick Invitational (February 4-10), Torrey Pines Golf Course, La Jolla, Calif.); the Buick Classic (June 3-9), Westchester Country Club, Harrison, N.Y.); the Buick Open (August 5-11), Warwick Hills Golf & Country Club, Grand Blanc, Mich.); and the Buick Challenge (October 21-27), Callaway Gardens, Pine Mountain, Ga.).

The official car of the PGA TOUR since 1984, Buick is an official sponsor of the domestic events of the World Golf Championships and the presenting sponsor of the Tampa Bay Classic. Buick has a sponsorship agreement with golf instructor Butch Harmon and four PGA TOUR professionals, including Tiger Woods. Through its five tournaments, which are all televised nationally, Buick has donated more than $22 million to local charities since 1982.