Excitement builds for 2015 on heels of successful inaugural tournament
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., 2014-10-31— /EPR Retail News/ — After a successful inaugural tournament that generated $600,000 for food pantries across the Midwest, the Meijer LPGA Classic presented by Kraft will return to Grand Rapids in 2015 for another week of community events and the best women golfers in the world.
The tournament will be held July 20-26, 2015 at Blythefield Country Club, and will once again benefit the retailer’sSimply Give program that restocks the shelves of food pantries across the Midwest.
During the inaugural tournament Aug. 7-10, the crowds exceeded expectations with more than 40,000 spectators coming out for the week. Rookie superstar Mirim Lee claimed her first LPGA Tour victory with a birdie on the second hole of a playoff against fellow South Korean Inbee Park.
“The success of the Meijer LPGA Classic presented by Kraft greatly exceeded our expectations, and afforded us an unmatched opportunity to raise awareness and funding for hunger relief in the Midwest,” Meijer President J.K. Symancyk said. “The community really embraced this tournament, and we look forward to bringing another exciting event to them next year.”
The praise for the inaugural event didn’t stop at the monetary impact on the hungry; it made a tremendous impact on the LPGA professionals during their week in Grand Rapids.
Runner-up Inbee Park noticed the crowds cheering her on throughout the week.
“I was really surprised how they love golf here in Michigan and how supportive they were,” Park said. “I’m very thankful that they are supporting golf and women’s golf.”
Stacy Lewis saw the value in adding locations like Grand Rapids to the LPGA schedule.
“I think just by the fans and all the crowds we’ve had this week, it shows that we need to be here,” said Lewis, the No. 1 ranked player in the world during the Meijer LPGA Classic. “We had a great first year.”
Some even spoke on the excitement for years to come.
“This was a first-class event,” Suzann Pettersen said. “The venue, great golf course. I’m happy to be back here next year.”
Visit MeijerLPGAClassic.com for updates and announcements about next year’s tournament.
About Meijer Simply Give
Meijer is a family-owned retailer based in Grand Rapids, Mich. with a fundamental philosophy aimed at strengthening the communities it serves. Meijer operates 213 supercenters and grocery stores throughout Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky, and proudly donates more than 6 percent of its net profit each year to charities throughout the Midwest. With hunger as a corporate philanthropic focus, Meijer partners with hundreds of food banks and pantries through its Simply Give and food rescue programs. Meijer also supports education, disaster relief, and health and wellness initiatives. For additional information on Meijer philanthropy, please visit www.meijercommunity.com. Follow Meijer on Twitter @twitter.com/Meijer and @twitter.com/MeijerPR or become a fan at www.facebook.com/meijer.
About Blythefield Country Club
Located just north of Grand Rapids, Blythefield has been providing families the best golf and social experience in West Michigan since 1928. With the Rogue River flowing through, Blythefield boasts one of the most beautiful championship layouts in Michigan. Previously, Blythefield has hosted the 1953 Western Amateur, the 1961 Western Open, won by Arnold Palmer, and the 2005 Western Junior won by Rickie Fowler. Beginning in 2014 Blythefield is honored to host the Meijer LPGA Classic. Learn more about Blythefield Country Club at www.blythefieldcc.org.
About the LPGA (Ladies Professional Golf Association)
The LPGA is the world’s leading professional golf organization for women. Founded in 1950, the association celebrates a diverse and storied membership with more than 2,300 members representing more than 30 different countries. With a Vision to inspire, empower, educate and entertain by showcasing the very best of women’s golf, LPGA Tour Professionals compete across the globe, while dedicated LPGA Teaching and Club Professionals (T&CP) directly impact the game through teaching, coaching and management. The Symetra Tour consistently produces a pipeline of talent ready for the world stage. The LPGA is headquartered in Daytona Beach, Florida. Follow the LPGA on its television home, Golf Channel, and on the web via: www.LPGA.com, www.facebook.com/lpga.official,www.twitter.com/lpga, and www.youtube.com/lpgavideo.
About Octagon Global Events
Octagon Global Events is a division of Octagon, the world’s largest sports and entertainment representation and marketing agency. Octagon Global Events focuses on premium event/property management, providing strategic corporate solutions. The division currently manages two Champions Tour events, two LPGA Tour events and the Toyota Texas Bass Classic. For more information, visit http://www.octagonglobalevents.com.
Contacts: Lesley Baker, 616-426-6225, lesley.baker@octagon.com; Christina Fecher, 616-735-7968, christina.fecher@meijer.com
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