Greater Hickory Classic at Rock Barn

CONOVER, NC - The Greater Hickory Classic at Rock Barn Presented by Kia Motors, a PGA TOUR's Champions Tour event at Rock Barn Golf & Spa September 10-16, 2007, has hired Ward Warren for the position of sales associate.  Warren's primary responsibilities are helping identify and procure potential sponsors and manage sponsor fulfillment.

Warren, who resides in Lenoir, N.C., is a former group sales associate with the Carolina Mudcats minor league baseball team in Zebulon, N.C.  He received his B.S. in Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management with a minor in Business Management and a concentration in Sports Management from North Carolina State University. 

"We are very excited to welcome Ward on board and strongly believe he will be a great addition to our tournament family," said Executive Director Jim Correll.  "His prior sales experience will be instrumental in assisting us reach our sponsorship goals for 2007 and beyond."

About the Greater Hickory Classic at Rock Barn Presented by Kia Motors
The Greater Hickory Classic at Rock Barn Presented by Kia Motors features a week's worth of special events and attractions including exhibitions, pro-ams and three days of Champions Tour competition among some of golf's greatest legends.  The tournament returns to Rock Barn Golf & Spa in Conover September 10-16, 2007.  Operated by a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation, the tournament annually donates all net proceeds to charities throughout the Catawba Valley area.  Tournament partners include Anheuser-Busch, BB&T, Bank of America, Charter Communications, CommScope, Corning Cable Systems, Draka-Comteq, Duke Energy, GDS, Greater Hickory Metro, Hickory Daily Record, Hickory Furniture Mart, Hickory Printing Group, IFH, Kia Motors America, NorthStar Financial Group, Pepsi, EMBARQ, Wachovia and Zenith Global Logistics Solutions.  For more information, call (828) 459-4000, visit www.greaterhickoryclassic.com or stop by the tournament office at Rock Barn Golf & Spa.

About Rock Barn Golf & Spa
Located in Conover, North Carolina, Rock Barn Golf & Spa is consistently recognized as one of the best semi-private golf membership clubs in the region.  The facility features two championship-caliber 18-hole golf courses, including the Robert Trent Jones Jr.-designed course that was named the best new course in North Carolina by North Carolina Magazine and rated America's fourth best upscale public course by Golf Digest.  Rock Barn Golf & Spa also offers a state-of-the-art luxury spa; a professional tennis center; an equestrian center; dining and event facilities; and an Olympic-sized swimming pool.  Rock Barn Realty, LLC, actively develops custom home and townhouse real estate within its gated community.  For more information, call (828) 459-1125 or visit www.rockbarn.com.

About Kia Motors America
Kia Motors America - the sales, marketing and distribution arm of Kia Motors Corp. in Seoul, South Korea - offers a complete line of vehicles through more than 630 dealers throughout the United States. For more information, visit www.kiamedia.com.