He's Back....

[Flagstick Golf Magazine]

After a little blogging break (I spent some time on a few golf trips doing research for future stories) I am back.

 

It's been a busy two days in golf news with SRI Sports completing a deal to acquire Cleveland Golf and today brought even more industry news.

 

The first item of note was one many people certainly saw coming. I mean, how can you resist signing Woody Austin to a rain gear apparel deal after the now famous "Aqua Man" incident at the Presidents Cup? Zero Restriction actually announced the deal yesterday but somehow my spam filter felt it wanted to keep this news from me and managed to chuck it out. Bad Spam Filter!!

 

Of bigger importance to Canadians and to the PGA Tour, today finally brought word that the Royal Canadian Golf Association had finally found a title sponsor for the venerable Canadian Open. The Canadian Open will now become the RBC Canadian Open.

 

Here are details released after today's media conference:

 

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RBC BECOMES TITLE SPONSOR FOR CANADIAN OPEN

- Agreement secures long-term future for RBC Canadian Open -

Oakville, Ont. (RCGA) – The Royal Canadian Golf Association (RCGA) announced today that RBC has agreed to a sponsorship agreement to become title sponsor of the PGA Tour’s Canadian Open through 2012. Financial details and terms of the partnership were not disclosed.

The RBC Canadian Open, Canada’s only PGA Tour event, will debut from July 21-27, 2008. Next year will mark the 99^th playing of the Open championship.

“This is a landmark day for golf in Canada. For over 100 years, RBC has earned its standing as a leading national institution and today is Canada’s most respected corporation. To unite our historic national golf championship with the brand, strength and commitment of RBC is in many ways a perfect partnership,†said Scott Simmons RCGA Executive Director. “RBC has given us an opportunity to continue and grow the Canadian Open with excellence. Our Board, staff, volunteers along with over five million golfers have a lot to be excited about today, all thanks to RBC.â€

“Working with the RCGA to re-energize and strengthen this great property gives us an ideal platform and an exceptional opportunity to reach our target markets in Canada and build the RBC brand in the U.S. and internationally,†said Jim Little, Chief Brand and Communications Officer, RBC. “We are committed to working together with the RCGA to ensuring the RBC Canadian Open is a premier stop on the PGA Tour.â€

“On behalf of the PGA TOUR, I would like to congratulate both RBC and the Royal Canadian Golf Association on today’s exciting news regarding the Canadian Open. RBC is a highly respected global brand and world-class financial institution, and we look forward to supporting RBC as our newest partner on the PGA TOUR,†said PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem. “The RCGA has been a valued partner of the PGA TOUR for a number of years and the Canadian Open, as the fourth-oldest tournament on TOUR, has been an integral part of our schedule. Through the RBC Canadian Open, we will continue to showcase the PGA TOUR and golf at its highest level to millions of golf fans in Canada, across North America and throughout the world.â€

Plans are already underway for the 2008 RBC Canadian Open. For corporate hospitality, tickets, volunteer and sponsorship information please visit www.thecanadianopen.ca or call 1-800-571-OPEN.

NOTE: a webcast featuring today’s news conference will be available online at www.rcga.org and www.thecanadianopen.ca

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And finally, the LPGA released the qualifiers for the LPGA Tour Qualifying. The list includes 137 players from 23 countries.

 

Check and see if there is someone you know on the final roll...

2007 LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament

LPGA International ~ Daytona Beach, Florida ~ Nov. 28-Dec. 2, 2007

Jennifer Ackerson – U.S.A.

Beth Allen – U.S.A.

Sofie Andersson – Sweden

Lori Atsedes – U.S.A.

Rachel Bailey – Australia

Jean Bartholomew – U.S.A.

Beth Bauer – U.S.A.

Patricia Baxter-Johnson – U.S.A.

Erica Blasberg – U.S.A.

Isabelle Beisiegel – U.S.A.

Chris Brady – U.S.A.

Vanessa Brockett – U.S.A.

Audra Burks – U.S.A.

Emma Cabrers-Bello – Spain

Christi Cano – U.S.A.

Kelly Cap – U.S.A.

Hana Chae – South Korea

Clarissa Childs – U.S.A.

Irene Cho – U.S.A.

Misun Cho – South Korea

Jeanne Cho-Hunicke – U.S.A.

Na-Yeon Choi – South Korea

Song Choi – South Korea

Amie Cochran – U.S.A.

Jenna Daniels – U.S.A.

Danielle Downey – U.S.A.

Meredith Duncan – U.S.A.

A.J. Eathorne – Canada

Michelle Ellis – Australia

Lauren Espinosa – U.S.A.

(a) Shanshan Feng – China

Lisa Fernandes – U.S.A.

Lisa Ferrero – U.S.A.

Danah Ford – U.S.A.

Louise Friberg – Sweden

(a) Sandra Gal – Germany

Nikki Garrett – Australia

Sophie Giquel – France

Jennifer Gleason – U.S.A.

Mandy Goins – U.S.A.

Ashley Gomes – U.S.A.

Jennifer Greggain – Canada

Anna Grzebien – U.S.A.

Russy Gulyanamitta – Thailand

Nicole Hage – U.S.A.

Shinah Ham – U.S.A.

Allison Hanna-Williams – U.S.A.

Tracy Hanson – U.S.A.

Leah Hart – Australia

Samantha Head - England

Riko Higashio – Japan

Angie Hill – U.S.A.

Janell Howland – U.S.A.

Jamie Hullett – U.S.A.

Sarah Huarte – U.S.A.

Diane Irvin – U.S.A.

Brandi Jackson – U.S.A.

Liz Janangelo – U.S.A.

(a) Dana Je – South Korea

Jimin Jeong – South Korea

Nicole Jeray – U.S.A.

Angela Jerman – U.S.A.

Hannah Jun – U.S.A.

Hanna Kang – South Korea

Sarah Kemp – Australia

Sarah-Jane Kenyon – Australia

Hana Kim – U.S.A.

Jin Hyun Kim – South Korea

NaRi Kim – South Korea

Song Hee Kim – South Korea

Su A Kim – South Korea

Anastasia Kostina – Russia

Kelli Kuehne – U.S.A.

Kelly Lagedrost – U.S.A.

Vikki Laing – Scotland

Caroline Larsson – Sweden

Christina Lecuyer – Canada

Hwan Hee Lee – U.S.A.

Yeon Joo Lee – South Korea

Taylor Leon – U.S.A.

Siew-Ai Lim – Malaysia

Carolina Llano – Colombia

Becky Lucidi – U.S.A.

Paige Mackenzie – U.S.A.

Paula Marti – Spain

Mo Martin – U.S.A.

Maru Martinez – Venezuela

Kiran Matharu – England

Catherine Matranga – U.S.A.

Simi Mehra – India

Shayna Miyajima – U.S.A.

Anja Monke – Germany

Joanne Morley – England

Virada Nirapathpongporn - Thailand

Sarah Oh – Australia

Lee-Anne Pace – South Africa

HeeYoungPark – South Korea

Jin Young Pak – South Korea

Jane Park – U.S.A.

Cindy Pasechnik – Canada

Pornanong Phatlum – Thailand

Ashley Prange – U.S.A.

Anna Rawson – Australia

Nina Reis – Sweden

Kristen Samp – U.S.A.

Sarah Lynn Sargent – U.S.A.

Onnarin Sattayabanphot – Thailand

Sophia Sheridan – Mexico

Ashleigh Simon – South Africa

Michelle Simpson – U.S.A.

(a) Kristie Smith – Australia

Sae-Hee Son – South Korea

Nontaya Srisawang – Thailand

Louise Stahle – U.S.A.

(a) Manuela Maria Tarazona - Argentina

Tiffany Tavee – U.S.A.

Celeste Troche – Paraguay

Yani Tseng – Taiwan

Kristina Tucker – Sweden

Natalie Tucker – U.S.A.

Brooke Tull – U.S.A.

Eileen Vargas – Colombia

Whitney Wade – U.S.A.

Lee Ann Walker-Cooper – U.S.A.

D’Rae Ward – U.S.A.

Kim Welch – U.S.A.

Adrienne White – Canada

LeAnna Wicks – U.S.A.

Leah Wigger – U.S.A.

Kim Williams – U.S.A.

Caryn Wilson – U.S.A.

May Wood – U.S.A.

Sukjin Lee Wuesthoff – U.S.A.

Amy Yang – Australia

Jacqueline Yang – South Korea

Eunjung Yi – U.S.A.

Annie Young – U.S.A.

(a) denotes amateur

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