GLADSTONE, N.J. -- Se Ri Pak has been offered a lifeline for the inaugural HSBC Women's World Match Play Championship receiving the final sponsor's exemption. The $2 million championship, the first official women's match play tournament to be played in America in half a century, will be contested June 30 - July 3, at Hamilton Farm Golf Club with one of the largest first place checks in LPGA history at $500,000.
The 27-year-old Pak from Daejeon, South Korea, who will enter the LPGA Tour and World Golf Hall of Fame in 2007, finished out of the top 60 on the June 20 deadline, but will now have the opportunity to join fellow LPGA Tour and World Golf Hall of Famers Annika Sorenstam, Juli Inkster, Beth Daniel and newly qualified member Karrie Webb for the star-studded event. Pak has 22 LPGA titles, including four major championships, and ranks seventh on the LPGA Career Money List with $8,054,499.
Eligibility for the 64-player field is based on the leading 60 professionals from the ADT Official Money List (as of June 20, 2005), the leader of the JLPGA Tour Money List, Ai Miyazato, (as of May 22, 2005), the 2005 U.S. Women's Open champion and two sponsor's invitations, Se Ri Pak and Shinobu Moromizato. The field for the 2005 HSBC Women's World Match Play is now complete although if the winner of the U.S. Women's Open (June 23-26) is already ranked in the top 60, the 61st ranked player, Brittany Lincicome, will gain entry in the field.
Sorenstam leads the star-studded and internationally diverse field. The winners of the last seven major championships have qualified including last year's U.S. Women's Open Champ, Meg Mallon who qualifies in 60th position. Recent high school graduate Paula Creamer, 18, is the youngest in the field and currently ranks fourth on the money list with more than $600,000 in earnings in her rookie season.
In all, the 64 players in the field represent 15 countries and have combined for a total of 303 LPGA victories, including 31 major championship titles.
About the HSBC Women's World Match Play Championship
The HSBC Women's World Match Play Championship will feature 32 matches during round one on Thursday, June 30; 16 matches in round two on Friday, July 1; eight matches during round three in the morning and four matches (quarterfinals) in the afternoon of Saturday, July 2; semi-finals the morning of Sunday, July 3 and the final match Sunday afternoon.
Ticket pricing:
Wednesday (Pro Am)..........................................$15.00
Thursday (First round - 32 matches)..................$25.00*
Friday (Second round - 16 matches)..................$25.00*
Saturday (Third round - 8 matches/Fourth round Quarter-finals 4 matches).....$35.00*
Sunday (Fifth round Semi-finals 2 matches/Final round Championship 1 match) $35.00*
*Limited tickets available.
To purchase tickets call: 908-901-4121 or visit the Championship Web site at www.hsbcgolf.com.
About The HSBC Group
HSBC is marketed worldwide as 'the world's local bank'. Headquartered in London, HSBC is one of the largest banking and financial services organizations in the world. The Group's international network comprises some 9,800 offices in 77 countries and territories across Europe, the Asia-Pacific region, the Americas, the Middle East and Africa. With listings on the London, Hong Kong, New York, Paris and Bermuda stock exchanges, shares in HSBC Holdings plc are held by nearly 200,000 shareholders in some 100 countries and territories. The shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange in the form of American Depository Receipts. Through an international network linked by advanced technology, including a rapidly growing e-commerce capability, HSBC provides a comprehensive range of financial services: personal financial services; consumer finance; commercial banking; corporate, investment banking and markets; private banking; and other activities. The HSBC Group name was derived from its founding member, The Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited, which was established in 1865 to finance the growing trade between China and Europe. For further information, visit www.hsbc.com.
About the Ladies Professional Golf Association
Featuring the world's best women golfers, the LPGA's membership includes touring, teaching and club professionals. The LPGA Tour in 2005 features 34 events, with total prize money of $45.1 million. Since 1981, the LPGA and its tournaments have raised approximately $160 million for charity. From the dreams of its 13 founders in 1950, the LPGA has evolved into the world's pre-eminent women's professional sports organization. The LPGA has grown from its roots as a playing tour into a non-profit organization involved in every facet of golf. The LPGA Teaching and Club Professional (T&CP) membership boasts a total of nearly 1,200 women golf professionals who serve as teachers, golf professionals, club managers and coaches. Through the LPGA T&CP membership, the LPGA is working to increase the involvement of women and youth in golf, as well as contribute to the growth of the sport overall. The LPGA is headquartered in Daytona Beach, Fla. For more information on the LPGA, log on to www.LPGA.com.
About IMG
IMG was founded by Mark H. McCormack in the early 1960s. The company is the world's premier sports and lifestyle management and marketing firm, with an international staff of approximately 2,200 people in over 60 offices in more than 25 countries. TWI, IMG's television division, is the largest independent distributor and producer of televised sports, managing a library of more than 150,000 hours. TWI annually produces and distributes 6,500 hours of original programming to more than 200 countries covering 200+ sports, as well as being a global leader in digital sports and entertainment. IMG is also commercially involved in an average of 11 major sports and cultural events around the world every day; IMG Consulting works with many of the world's largest corporations on marketing and sponsorship programmes; IMG's stadium and arena group works with leagues and franchises worldwide; IMG is the world's largest non-character licensing firm, and is a leading literary agency and book packager. In addition, IMG Models is the world's number one international model management firm, IMG owns and operates top sports and fitness academies, and IMG Artists is the top global performing arts management firm.
On 30 September 2004, it was announced that Forstmann Little & Co., a New York private investment firm, had acquired IMG with a majority interest in the company. Now formalized, this transaction heralds the beginning of an exciting new era for IMG, and brings with it significant potential for future growth.
About Hamilton Farm
Hamilton Farm is a private golf club situated on an elegant, historic country estate. The club was born in the spirit of the world's greatest golf clubs, destined to set new standards for quality, service and pure enjoyment of the golf club experience. Located on the historic 535-acre James Cox Brady estate west of Manhattan in Gladstone, New Jersey, Hamilton Farm offers two spectacular courses: the par-72 Highlands Course, measuring more than 7,000 yards; and the Hickory Course, an 18-hole par-3 challenge that is the only USGA-rated 'short course' in the United States. The highly respected team of Dr. Michael Hurdzan and Dana Fry designed the two courses. Hamilton Farm is also home to the headquarters and Olympic training grounds for the United States Equestrian Team. For more information on Hamilton Farm, visit www.hamiltonfarmgolfclub.com.
Media Contact:
Brener Zwikel & Associates, Inc.
Steve Brener, Dana von Louda
818-344-6195 ext. 103/107
Chris DeBlasio
212-708-1703
