New match-play tournament


on LPGA Tour in May

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE LPGA
Together with Octagon and Sybase, Inc., the LPGA today announces the debut of the Sybase Match Play Championship, a unique match-play tournament to be held at the prestigious Hamilton Farm Golf Club in Gladstone, New Jersey, from May 20-23 this year.
An official LPGA event, the Sybase Match-Play Championship will invite 64 of the top LPGA Tour professionals to compete for a $1.5-million purse. Matches will be held in a bracket-style format (Editor's note: Sudden-death match-play rather than a league table format?).
The match-play format creates the excitement of head-to-head golf that is not found in traditional tournament stroke play.
The champion of this inaugural event will take home $375,000, which is currently tied for the third largest pay-out on the LPGA Tour in 2010. Golf Channel will broadcast round two through the finish, worldwide Friday through Sunday.
“We're pleased that Sybase has enabled the LPGA to bring a prestigious women's golf event back to the Greater New York area,” said LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan. “It is especially gratifying to continue the momentum that the LPGA has been enjoying since the end of last season, thanks to great partners like Sybase and Octagon.”
Sybase has had a long-standing partnership with the LPGA Tour. It previously was the title sponsor of the Sybase Classic from 2001 through 2009.
“Sybase is excited to extend our partnership with the LPGA by sponsoring the Sybase Match Play Championship,” said John Chen, chairman, CEO and president, Sybase. “We are committed to providing outstanding opportunities for world-class golf as well as valuable charity endeavors.”
Hamilton Farm Golf Club, host club for the event, was the site of the 2005 and 2006 HSBC Women's World Match Play Championship. Located less than an hour from New York City, it is renowned for its historic setting and admired as one of the nation's elite clubs.
More information on the Sybase Match Play Championship will be available at www.sybasematchplaychampionship.com.