SUN MOUNTAIN RENEWS SYMETRA TOUR PARTNERSHIP

When the Symetra Tour rolls into the Capital Area in August at Capital Hills @ Albany, it will be rolling with Sun Mountain.

The Symetra Tour will continue its partnership with Sun Mountain for its sixth year as an official partner. As the Official Golf Bag, Outerwear and Push Cart of the Tour, Sun Mountain will continue its distribution of products among the players and will also present a cash prize to a skills challenge champ at the end of the season.

“Sun Mountain is a very good partner of the Symetra Tour – Road to the LPGA and provides our players the very best equipment so they can play their best,” said Symetra Tour CEO Zayra Calderon in a release. “The Sun Mountain golf bag exchange program and Sun Mountain Skills Summit are two programs that our players look forward to every year and greatly appreciate.”

Sun Mountain will choose eight Symetra Tour professionals to receive a free golf bag at four events this season, including the “My Marsh Classic,” “Island Resort Championship,” “Four Winds Invitational” and “Symetra Classic.” The selected players will donate their traded-in bag to junior golf programs near the tournament sites.

“We are very excited to continue our sponsorship with the Symetra Tour,” stated Ed Kowachek, President of Sun Mountain. “Most Symetra Tour players carry their own bags so it is a natural fit for our lightweight carry bags and push carts and gives us the opportunity to receive valuable input from tour players.”

Sun Mountain will also continue sponsoring the player competition “Sun Mountain Skills Summit.” Throughout the season, players carrying a Sun Mountain bag or wearing Sun Mountain rain gear during tournament play are eligible to receive “Sun Points” with additional points awarded to those who finish in the top-10 at each tournament.

The top-20 in the “Sun Point” standings following The Challenge at Musket Ridge will be slated to participate in a skills competition at the Symetra Classic. The final four will advance to the Skills Summit at the “Vidalia Championship” to compete for a $1,000 cash prize.

ABOUT SUN MOUNTAIN

For 30 years Sun Mountain has been a pioneer in the golf industry, revolutionizing golf bags, outerwear and carts. Sun Mountain’s many innovations, including the first lightweight golf bag and modern stand bag, have made it the top golf bag company in North America. Within golf outerwear, Sun Mountain redefined golf-specific performance first with the windshirt, then fleece, and again with its four-way stretch, waterproof, and breathable rainwear. The Sun Mountain Speed Cart® golf push cart transformed walking carts and created an entirely new category of golf products. Sun Mountain’s “Ahead of Time Design” motto drives the company to continually design and refine golf equipment.

ABOUT THE SYMETRA TOUR

The Symetra Tour – Road to the LPGA, is the official developmental tour of the LPGA and enters its 32nd competitive season in 2012. With the support of its new umbrella sponsor, Symetra, the Tour’s mission is to prepare the world’s best young women professional golfers for a successful career on the LPGA Tour. 2012 marks the first season that the top-10 money winners will receive full, equal status for the following season on the LPGA Tour. The 2012 schedule includes 16 tournaments with stops in 11 U.S. states and Mexico and a total purse of nearly $1.8 million. With more than 500 alumnae moving on to the LPGA, former Symetra Tour players have won a total of 362 LPGA titles, including 39 major championships. Symetra Tour events have contributed more than $5 million to charitable organizations throughout the nation since 1989.

Follow the Symetra Tour on the web at www.SymetraTour.com, Facebook.com/RoadtotheLPGA, Twitter.com/Road2LPGA, and YouTube.com/Road2LPGA.

TWITTER HANDLES ON CADDIE BIBS

PITTSFORD, NY (AP) – The LPGA will make following players on social media even easier. Caddies will be sporting bibs with Twitter handles on their backs starting with the LPGA Championship at Locust Hill Country Club in June.

An example: a youngster who attended a morning clinic Monday at Locust Hill donned a bib with “@YaniTseng” on the back as the world’s #1 player looked on with a big smile. Tseng was at Locust Hill for a news conference as the defending champion.

As many as 113 LPGA players have Twitter accounts, according to Kraig Kann, chief communications officer of the LPGA Tour and former Golf Channel anchor.

The LPGA Championship has been sponsored by Wegmans Food Markets the past three years. The contract is up after this year, but both sides plan to sit down in late June or early July to work on a new deal.

On the same day that the USGA formally accepted Donald Trump’s invitation to play the U.S. Women’s Open, biggest event in women’s golf, at Trump National in Bedminster in 2017, he says he wants more.

Trump, 65, told the Associated Press on Thursday he would like to host the U.S. Open. Currently, his “Apprentice” and “Celebrity Apprentice” program airs on NBC and the network has the rights to the U.S. Open and other USGA events.

The Tom Fazio-designed old course at Trump National is big, bold, and tough, Trump said, and he believes it could stand up against the best in the world. It was the site of the U.S. Junior Amateur and the Girls’ Junior championships in 2009. Trump said having the U.S. Open would be the next step after the Women’s Open.

Trump, who loves golf, and had a show on Golf Channel showcasing his outlets and some made-for-TV competitions – ala “Shell’s Wonderful World of Golf” – owns golf courses in North America and Europe.

NINE SITES SET FOR WOMEN

The Northeastern Women’s Golf Association has set its 2012 schedule which will begin after Memorial Day and finish on September 11th.

Sign-ups for the first event, a two-player scramble, begins Thursday, May 3 and runs until Thursday, May 17.

Click here for their website.

2012 NEWGA TOURNAMENTS

May 31: Two-person scramble, Winding Brook
June 13: Invitational at Van Schaick Island CC
June 16: Four-ball at Olde Kinderhook CC
July 2: Gail Sykes Better Ball at Saratoga National
Aug. 1: Two-person stableford, Wiltwyck
Aug. 12-13: NEWGA Championship, Western Turnpike
Aug. 21: Team Match Play, CC of Troy
Aug. 28: Mixed Invitational, Hiland Golf Club
Sept. 10-11: Senior Championship, Cobleskill Golf & CC

NEW AWARDS AND FOOD BANK OFFERS

The Symetra Tour — Road to the LPGA has a trio of new awards for this season that will recognize notable accomplishments on the Tour this year:

-Symetra Swift Award: Presented to the player getting off to the fastest start, ranking #1 in earnings at the Tour’s mid-point ($1,500 cash prize).

-Symetra Rising Star Award: Presented to the player who has made the biggest jump on the money list from the end of 2011 to the end of the 2012 season ($1,500 cash prize).

-Symetra Tour Player of the Year: Presented to the season’s money leader ($3,500 cash prize).

Symetra also will make a $1,000 donation to each award winner’s favorite charity in her name.

“We’re delighted that through the 2012 Symetra Player Awards we have the opportunity to recognize three outstanding performances that capture Symetra’s spirit as a company on the rise,” said Jim Pirak, Symetra senior vice president of marketing, in a statement. “We’re also pleased to include a charitable-giving component to the awards. We know that giving back to communities is as important to the players as it is to Symetra.”

Several tournaments are also linking to the local community with “Food Bank Day,” when patrons who bring non-perishable food items to the golf course will receive free admission. In addition, Symetra Tour players will volunteer at food banks, and net proceeds from select tournaments will benefit the food banks.

“The Symetra Player Awards further highlight Symetra’s commitment and dedication to the Tour and its players,” said Symetra Tour CEO Zayra Calderon. “We are thrilled to have a title sponsor like Symetra that is fully invested in the Tour and the future of women’s golf.”

ABOUT SYMETRA TOUR

The Symetra Tour — Road to the LPGA, is the official developmental tour of the LPGA and enters its 32nd competitive season in 2012. With the support of its new umbrella sponsor, Symetra, the Tour’s mission is to prepare the world’s best young women professional golfers for a successful career on the LPGA Tour.

2012 marks the first season that the top-10 money winners will receive full, equal status for the following season on the LPGA Tour. The 2012 schedule includes 16 tournaments with stops in 11 U.S. states and Mexico and a total purse of nearly $1.8 million. With more than 500 alumnae moving on to the LPGA, former Symetra Tour players have won a total of 362 LPGA titles, including 39 major championships.

Symetra Tour events have contributed more than $5 million to charitable organizations throughout the nation since 1989. Follow the Symetra Tour on the web at www.SymetraTour.com, www.Facebook.com/RoadtotheLPGA, www.Twitter.com/Road2LPGA, and www.YouTube.com/Road2LPGA.

ABOUT SYMETRA

Symetra Financial Corporation (NYSE: SYA) is a diversified financial services company based in Bellevue, WA. In business since 1957, Symetra provides employee benefits, annuities and life insurance through a national network of benefit consultants, financial institutions and independent agents and advisors. For more information, visit www.symetra.com.

KENTWOOL ADDED AS LATEST SYMETRA TOUR PREFERRED PARTNER

The Symetra Tour has signed an agreement with KENTWOOL – the premium performance sock company – designating the brand as a “Preferred Partner” of the Tour.

“KENTWOOL is a great addition to our group of preferred partners who create a strong support base for our Tour,” said Symetra Tour CEO Zayra Calderon. “The high quality of their products directly represents the excellence our players demonstrate each time they step on the course.”

As part of this agreement, KENTWOOL will receive branding and product exposure through various Symetra Tour channels, including its website, tournaments, pro-ams and mobile office. The company also will establish a Symetra Tour Brand Ambassador program to expand its roster of elite staff players, which already features Symetra Tour alumni Ryann O’Toole & Kristy McPherson as well as current Masters winner Bubba Watson, 2009 Turning Stone Resort Championship winner Matt Kuchar and 2011 Hyundai Tournament of Champions winner Jonathan Byrd.

“The Symetra Tour is an amazing proving ground for the next generation of global stars,” says Mark Kent, President and CEO of KENTWOOL. “We’re proud to support these young women on the Road to the LPGA while ensuring they compete in total comfort by wearing the world’s best golf sock.”

For additional on-site exposure, Tour staff will be outfitted in KENTWOOL products on tournament site throughout the 2012 season.

ABOUT KENTWOOL

Founded in 1843, KENTWOOL is one of the nation’s longest-running, family-owned textile companies. It is the only company in the western hemisphere – and one of 50 in the world – to receive the Usterized Quality Certification indicating the highest level of quality assurance in yarn production.

An avid golfer, KENTWOOL CEO Mark Kent had the idea to produce the “World’s Best Golf Sock” after standing in the 18th fairway of the BMW Nationwide Tour Pro-Am tending to blistered, bleeding feet instead of concentrating on the eagle opportunity guaranteeing him a spot in the final round.

Born from that moment is golf’s leading, premium merino wool golf sock. It enables golfers of all abilities to play their best while benefiting from abrasion and fatigue resistance, as well as KENTWOOL’s BlisterFree Guarantee. It utilizes its nearly two-century-old heritage of superiority in textiles to create socks which draw upon wool’s natural and cool performance fibers for moisture management, sheer comfort and other performance-enhancing benefits.

ABOUT SYMETRA TOUR

The Symetra Tour – Road to the LPGA, is the official developmental tour of the LPGA and enters its 32nd competitive season in 2012. With the support of its new umbrella sponsor, Symetra, the Tour’s mission is to prepare the world’s best young women professional golfers for a successful career on the LPGA Tour.

2012 marks the first season that the top-10 money winners will receive full, equal status for the following season on the LPGA Tour. The 2012 schedule includes 16 tournaments with stops in 11 U.S. states and Mexico and a total purse of nearly $1.8 million. With more than 500 alumnae moving on to the LPGA, former Symetra Tour players have won a total of 362 LPGA titles, including 39 major championships. Symetra Tour events have contributed more than $5 million to charitable organizations throughout the nation since 1989.

Follow the Symetra Tour on the web at www.SymetraTour.com, Facebook.com/RoadtotheLPGA, Twitter.com/Road2LPGA, and YouTube.com/Road2LPGA.

SPIKE COMPANY BACK FOR 13TH YEAR

CHAMP/MacNeill Engineering, The World Leader in Sport Cleat Technology® extends its well established partnership with the Symetra Tour, entering its 13th straight year as an official sponsor of the now-Symetra Futures Tour.

CHAMP will also continue its designation as the Official Golf Spike of the Tour and remains the No. 1 brand used among Symetra Tour professionals.

“We are pleased to have CHAMP, one of our longest-standing partners, continue their support for our Tour,” said Symetra Tour CEO Zayra Calderon. “Their spikes provide the perfect foundation for our players’ games and create great footing for their swings. Our players have consistently chosen their product while playing on the Symetra Tour and as they continue their careers on the LPGA.”

Symetra Tour players will be provided spikes at all domestic events in 2012. Additionally, pro-am participants at select events throughout the season will receive complimentary spike changes.

“We take significant pride in being a partner with the Symetra Tour and also being the No. 1 spike amongst the players,” said Jessica Georgenes, the CHAMP Marketing Manager/Tour Coordinator. “We know that the foundation of any golfer’s swing begins at the ground level and we provide that for the world’s top players.”

LAST CHAMP STANDING

CHAMP will also continue its added support of the Symetra Tour by sponsoring the player competition “Last CHAMP Standing.” The match play competition takes place over the last six weeks of the season and all eligible players, those who wear CHAMP spikes in official tournaments, will earn performancebased qualifying points in designated events and are seeded in a bracket contest.

Also, CHAMP will sponsor the year-end CHAMPions Reception which will follow the LPGA Tour Card ceremony at the Daytona Beach Invitational. A $2,500 prize will be awarded to the winner of the contest, while the runner-up will collect a $500 bonus.

ABOUT CHAMP

MacNeill Engineering Worldwide, owner of the CHAMP brand of athletic products, is the world’s foremost and largest designer and manufacturer of Traction Technology for athletic and industrial footwear. No company in the world has designed, engineered, or sold more athletic cleats.

MacNeill is The World Leader in Sport Cleat Technology and CHAMP spikes are the choice of some of the biggest names in the footwear and sporting goods industries, a testament to our long history of exceptional service and quality.

CHAMP spikes and custom MacNeill components are original equipment on footwear for adidas, Asics, ECCO, Etonic, Fila, FootJoy, Hi-Tec, New Balance, Nike, Puma, Reebok, Under Armour and many other brands around the world.

ABOUT SYMETRA TOUR

The Symetra Tour – Road to the LPGA, is the official developmental tour of the LPGA and enters its 32nd competitive season in 2012. With the support of its new umbrella sponsor, Symetra, the Tour’s mission is to prepare the world’s best young women professional golfers for a successful career on the LPGA Tour.

2012 marks the first season that the top-10 money winners will receive full, equal status for the following season on the LPGA Tour. The 2012 schedule includes 16 tournaments with stops in 11 U.S. states and Mexico and a total purse of nearly $1.8 million. With more than 500 alumnae moving on to the LPGA, former Symetra Tour players have won a total of 362 LPGA titles, including 39 major championships.

Symetra Tour events have contributed more than $5 million to charitable organizations throughout the nation since 1989. Follow the Symetra Tour on the web at www.SymetraTour.com, Facebook.com/RoadtotheLPGA, Twitter.com/Road2LPGA, and YouTube.com/Road2LPGA.

ALOE UP NAMED SYMETRA TOUR PREFERRED PARTNER

The Symetra Tour announced April 9 that “Aloe Up” has renewed its partnership and will now be a preferred partner of the Tour. The sun & skin care product company will enter its second year partnering with the Symetra Tour and will continue its distribution of products among affiliated groups and will also present an end-of-the-year gift to top performers.

“We look forward to continuing our relationship with the leading sunscreen in the golf industry, Aloe Up,” said Zayra Calderon, Symetra Tour CEO. “This partnership will continue to give us a platform to provide Aloe Up products to our players, staff and fans.”

Aloe Up will provide gift bags containing its renowned sun care products to all Symetra Tour professionals and staff. In addition, product will be distributed through samples at all Tour junior clinics and four pro-ams: My Marsh Classic, Tate & Lyle Players Championship, Eagle Classic and Daytona Beach Invitational.

A congratulatory gift basket will be presented to the top-10 players on the season-ending money list for earning their LPGA Tour card at season-ending ceremony in Daytona Beach following the Daytona Beach Invitational.

“Aloe Up is excited yet honored to be partnered with the Symetra Tour once again in 2012,” said Neal Klein, Aloe Up Director of Sales, in a statement. “It’s humbling to be able align ourselves with an organization that is dedicated to the sport and the development of the world’s best young women professional golfers. We consider ourselves (sun protection) as another piece of equipment that is a must to perform at the highest level.”

Through its roots in all sports-specific markets, including the golf industry, Aloe Up will continue to integrate and help educate the players, staff as well as fans on the importance of sun protection.

ABOUT ALOE UP

Since 1983, Aloe Up has been providing the sports-specific industries with high quality, aloe-based sun & skin care products. From sunscreen to sunburn relief, insect repellent to lip balm ~ Aloe Up has you covered. Found at sports retailers, including your local pro shop, across the country.

ABOUT THE SYMETRA TOUR

The Symetra Tour – Road to the LPGA, is the official developmental tour of the LPGA and enters its 32nd competitive season in 2012. With the support of its new umbrella sponsor, Symetra, the Tour’s mission is to prepare the world’s best young women professional golfers for a successful career on the LPGA Tour.

2012 marks the first season that the top-10 money winners will receive full, equal status for the following season on the LPGA Tour. The 2012 schedule includes 16 tournaments with stops in 11 U.S. states and Mexico and a total purse of nearly $1.8 million.

With more than 500 alumnae moving on to the LPGA, former Symetra Tour players have won a total of 362 LPGA titles, including 39 major championships. Symetra Tour events have contributed more than $5 million to charitable organizations throughout the nation since 1989.

-Tour issued release

The Symetra Tour and Penske Truck Rental has signed a one-year sponsorship renewal and will enter its seventh year as the Official Equipment Truck of the Symetra Tour. The global transportation services provider will receive several Pro-Am opportunities, extensive on-site branding and marketing exposure, along with the sponsorship of two player-performance competitions.

“Penske has played such an integral role in the success of our Tour over the past seven years, and we are pleased to continue our partnership,” said Symetra Tour CEO Zayra Calderon. “Flawless transportation of equipment, signage, and supplies is essential to the operation of a tour and Penske’s products and services make it possible. Their commitment to customers, dedication to excellence and innovative thinking match perfectly with the core values of our tour.”

The Symetra Tour will receive two equipment trucks which will transport equipment to all 15 domestic events. Penske will also extend its player performance competition sponsorship which will support two season-long contests in 2012. Players will be vying for the Penske Total Driving Experience – recognizing accuracy and driving distance – and the Penske Accuracy Advantage – recognizing driving accuracy – while each winner will receive a prize of $500 in addition to a trophy at the end of the season.

“We’re very pleased to support the Symerta Tour’s transportation needs once again,” said Penske’s Don Mikes, Vice President of Rental. “The tour provides us with an opportunity to connect with our customers and prospects in communities across the United States.”

Penske Truck Rental will receive four Pro-Am teams at the Florida’s Natural Charity Classic and the Daytona Beach Invitational as well as a private Penske Pro-Am to host clients in the home state of Penske’s headquarters, Pennsylvania. Penske will also be positioned with onsite signage, digital branding and marketing presence on SymetraTour.com, as well as visibility on the Tour’s mobile office which travels to each event.

ABOUT PENSKE

Penske Truck Rental is a business unit of Penske Truck Leasing and headquartered in Reading, Pa. A leading global transportation services provider, Penske Truck Leasing operates more than 200,000 vehicles and serves customers from more than 1,000 locations in North America, South America, Europe and Asia. The company provides full-service truck leasing, contract maintenance, commercial and consumer truck rentals, used truck sales, and logistics solutions. Visit www.GoPenske.com to learn more.

ABOUT SYMETRA TOUR

The Symetra Tour – Road to the LPGA, is the official developmental tour of the LPGA and enters its 32 competitive season in 2012. With the support of its new umbrella sponsor, Symetra, the Tour’s mission is to prepare the world’s best young women professional golfers for a successful career on the LPGA Tour.

2012 marks the first season that the top-10 money winners will receive full, equal status for the following season on the LPGA Tour. The 2012 schedule includes 16 tournaments with stops in 11 U.S. states and Mexico and a total purse of nearly $1.8 million. With more than 500 alumnae moving on to the LPGA, former Symetra Tour players have won a total of 362 LPGA titles, including 39 major championships.

Symetra Tour events have contributed more than $5 million to charitable organizations throughout the nation since 1989. Follow the Symetra Tour on the web , Facebook (RoadtotheLPGA), Twitter (Road2LPGA) and YouTube.com (Road2LPGA).

SYMETRA TOUR PAVES THE “ROAD TO THE LPGA”

The “Road to the LPGA” is now offering 10 exempt LPGA Tour Cards and the season-ending event, which used to be in the Capital Area, will now be at the LPGA Headquarters. The Symetra Tour also has a new umbrella sponsor.
2012 will feature 16 events in 12 different states and Mexico and the top-10 on the season-ending money list will get entry into all full-field LPGA Tour events.

“We see the Symetra Tour as the best pathway for up-and-coming female professionals to earn their way to the LPGA Tour,” said LPGA Commissioner Michael Whan. “By offering 10 exempt spots, we are solidifying the Symetra Tour as the proving ground for the LPGA and creating what amounts to a year-long battle to see which 10 players will earn equal playing status on next year’s LPGA Tour.”

While the developmental tour used to close in the Capital Area – at Capital Hills at Albany – it will now conclude at the Daytona Beach Invitational Presented by Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, played at LPGA International, just minutes from LPGA Headquarters in Daytona Beach, FL.

As the LPGA previously announced in December, Symetra Financial Corporation, a Bellevue, WA-based provider of employee benefits, annuities and life insurance, signed a multi-year agreement securing the naming rights for the Symetra Tour (formerly known as the LPGA Futures Tour, and before that the Duramed Futures Tour). Symetra will also title sponsor an event at Raintree Country Club in Charlotte, NC.

This season the Symetra Tour will return to Winter Haven, FL for the season-opening Florida’s Natural Charity Classic; Nuevo Vallarta, Nayarit, Mexico for the Riviera Nayarit Classic; Cedar Rapids, Iowa for the Ladies Titan Tire Challenge; Decatur, IL. for the longest-standing tournament in Symetra Tour history, the Tate & Lyle Players Championship; Harris, MI for the Island Resort Championship; Concord, NH for the Northeast Delta Dental International; Syracuse, NY for the Credit Union Classic Presented by Wegmans; Albany, NY for The Empire Championship Presented by SEFCU; Richmond, VA for the Eagle Classic; and Vidalia, GA for Vidalia Championship.

In addition, the Symetra Tour will make inaugural stops in Sarasota, FL for the Sara Bay Classic; Fishers, IN for the My Marsh Golf Classic; South Bend, IN for the Four Winds Invitational; Myersville, MD for the Challenge at Musket Ridge and Charlotte, NC for the Symetra Classic.

2012 by the numbers:

$1.8 million: Total season purse
$110K: Total average purse
3: # of tournaments with purses equal to or more than $125,000 – Four Winds Invitational ($150,000)is the largest purse in the Tour’s regular-season history
16: # of events in 12 states and Mexico
4: # of tournament cities hosting the Tour for 10 or more years, including Syracuse – 16th consecutive year – and Decatur, IL – the Tour’s longest-running tournament, 27 years

ABOUT SYMETRA TOUR

The Symetra Tour, the official developmental tour of the LPGA, enters its 32nd competitive season in 2012. With the support of its new umbrella sponsor, Symetra, the Tour’s mission is to prepare the world’s best young women professional golfers for a successful career on the LPGA Tour.

2012 marks the first season that the top-10 money winners will receive full, equal status for the following season on the LPGA Tour. The 2012 schedule includes 16 tournaments with stops in 11 U.S. states and Mexico and a total purse of $1.76 million. With more than 500 alumnae moving on to the LPGA, former Symetra Tour players have won a total of 362 LPGA titles, including 39 major championships. Symetra Tour events have contributed more than $5 million to charitable organizations throughout the nation since 1989.

Follow the Symetra Tour on the web and on Facebook and Twitter.