HERSHEY, PA – March 7, 2005 – Officials from the Nationwide Tour have announced that The Reese's Cup Classic, scheduled to be contested in the week of May 23-29 in Hershey, Pa., has been cancelled.

A fixture on the Nationwide Tour schedule for the past eight seasons, the Reese's Cup Classic has been one of the top events on the Tour thanks to the support of the local community, the title sponsor and the quality of the golf course. The Hershey Country Club East Course is annually one of the most demanding stops on the Nationwide Tour.

Tour officials cited difficulties associated with staging a week-long professional golf tournament during Hershey Country Club's recently announced multi-million dollar renovation as the primary reason for their decision.

"We are very disappointed that we have to cancel our scheduled appearance in Hershey," said Bill Calfee, chief of operations for the Nationwide Tour. "This is an outstanding event and one of those stops on Tour that our members eagerly await each season"

"The Reese's Cup Classic is truly a unique tournament in this area. Being a week-long commitment with over 40,000 spectators in attendance, it presents some significant challenges for us during our renovations far above and beyond what we experience with our regular play," said Jim Reed, head golf professional at Hershey Country Club. "Our clubhouse renovation will not have any impact on our normal tournament and group golf bookings for 2005, but these activities don't pose the kind of logistical challenges that are present in hosting a Nationwide Tour event."

Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Company announced last summer an US$18 million renovation project for the Hershey Country Club, including a new clubhouse, swimming pool, year-round pavilion and enhanced tennis facilities. The project is set for completion by April 2006.

While the tournament will not be contested as scheduled in May, PGA TOUR officials are still reviewing options to return to the Hershey area in 2006.

Source: PGA Tour