Feb. 2, 2005 – Michael J. Hurdzan, Ph.D. and Dana Fry of Hurdzan/Fry Golf Course Design based in Columbus, Ohio have announced that one of their best designs, Hamilton Farm Golf Club in Gladstone, New Jersey has been selected as the site of the inaugural HSBC Women’s Match Play Championship.
The championship will be played over the Independence Day weekend between June 30th and July 3rd, 2005, and will be televised live in the U.S. by CBS on Saturday July 2nd and Sunday July 3rd from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM EDT. The Golf Channel will broadcast the first two days’ play. Internationally, the championship will be seen in major markets around the world with a cumulative reach of an estimated 100 million homes.
Eligibility for the 64-woman field will be based on the leading 60 professionals on the ADT Official LPGA Money List as of June 20th, 2005. Also invited into the field unless otherwise qualified will be the U.S. Women’s Open Champion, leader of the Japanese LPGA Money List, plus two special invitations by the sponsors.
HSBC, one of the world’s largest financial services organizations, has pledged a winner’s check of $500,000, the highest in the history of the LPGA. The five-year deal between HSBC, tournament organizers IMG, and the LPGA includes a total annual prize fund from HSBC of $2 million. The event is the only official match play tournament on the LPGA schedule.
Hamilton Farm is a private club built on an elegant, historic country estate. The 535-acre estate, once owned by James Cox Brady is located only a few miles from the U.S. Golf Association’s headquarters. The Brady Mansion, now called Hamilton House is still an integral part of Hamilton Farm. It features 10 elegantly appointed, one-of-a-kind guest suites for overnight accommodations. Not far from the mansion, and on the same property are the barns and buildings of the United States Equestrian Training Center (USETC), where many riders train for Olympic competition.
Hurdzan/Fry designed two courses at Hamilton Farm, the full-sized Highlands Course, site of the HSBC Match Play event, and an 18-hole par 3 called The Hickory. Michael Hurdzan says, “We’re very proud that Hamilton Farm has been selected for this prestigious event, and happy that the world’s best women golfers will have the opportunity to experience the incredible beauty and test of golf that is Hamilton Farm.”
Contact:
Bob Grossi (614) 457-9955
