Booz Allen Classic

PGA TOUR's Fred Funk Joins Booz Allen Classic's Board of Governors

POTOMAC, Md. -- What does it take to attract the world's most talented golfers to a PGA TOUR event?

Just like the weather, lots of people talk about it, but few, if anyone, do anything about it.

That is - until now!

The Booz Allen Classic this week appointed PGA TOUR professional and College Park, Md., native Fred Funk to its Board of Governors with the goal of further enhancing the nation's capital region's longstanding PGA TOUR event for players and fans alike.

"We are so pleased and proud to welcome Fred to the Board of Governors," said Board of Governors Chairman Ben Brundred, Jr.  "Without question, Fred is one of the most respected and knowledgeable players on the PGA TOUR - and we look forward to his direction, insight and recommendations as to how to provide PGA TOUR players and golf fans with the best possible PGA TOUR experience."

Washington area golf fans will see this as the first of a number of steps we'll be taking this spring to make the event one of the most player-friendly tournaments on the TOUR," said Ralph Shrader, chairman and chief executive officer of Booz Allen Hamilton Inc.

The greater Washington area's exclusive PGA TOUR event returns to the Tournament Players Club (TPC) at Avenel in Potomac, Md., June 21-27 with a tournament-record purse of $4.8 million.

As a member of the Board of Governors, Funk will serve as a tournament liaison with the TOUR and its players, advise on ways to attract top players, help make an impact within the community and promote the greater Washington market and its only PGA TOUR event.

Funk, who has six career victories (five PGA TOUR; one international), has earned more than $1 million on the TOUR's money list in five of the last six years, including a career-best 13th place in 2002 with more than $2.3 million. Last year, United States Team Captain Jack Nicklaus selected Funk as a member of the 2003 Presidents Cup team. Funk is a former University of Maryland golfer and graduate (1976-1981), and served as its head golf coach (1982-1988) before joining the TOUR in 1989.

"It is a great honor to be appointed to the Board of Governors of the Booz Allen Classic," said Funk. "I have many fond memories of playing in my hometown tournament and always enjoy returning to the area to play in front of many well-wishers. I look forward to working with all the wonderful people associated with the Booz Allen Classic."

The 2004 Booz Allen Classic begins a new era for one of the area's top professional sporting events and its title sponsor - Booz Allen Hamilton. To date, the tournament has distributed nearly $8 million to local and national charities, at a rate in recent years of approximately $500,000 annually. Beginning with the 2004 Booz Allen Classic, tournament host Washington Golf Charities, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization formed in 2003 to host the Booz Allen Classic, and Booz Allen Hamilton have committed to significantly increasing the amount raised for charity, with 100 percent going to Washington area charities, more than doubling any prior year's charitable giving to the local community.

The tournament has been operated by KemperSports Management since 1979.

CONTACT:

Michael Myers
KemperSports Marketing
(847) 480-4842
mmyers@kempersports.com

Brian Bishop / Charlie Brotman
Brotman Winter Fried Communications
(703) 534-4600
bbishop@bwfcom.com / cbrotman@bwfcom.com