(London, Singapore and Seoul, Wednesday, 15 December 2004)
Parallel Media Group plc (“PMG”) and JoongAng Broadcasting Corporation are proud to announce the inaugural Singapore Ladies Masters. Set to follow the popular Caltex Masters presented by Carlsberg, Singapore, in the first week of February 2005, the Singapore Ladies Masters is the second installment of Singapore’s Festival of Golf. The Tri-sanctioned ladies event will be staged at the prestigious Laguna National Golf and Country Club (“Laguna”) from February 3rd – February 5th 2005 over 54 holes, featuring a Pro-Am on Wednesday February 2nd and Sunday February 6th. It will be the first time in history that a Professional Ladies Golf Tournament has been played on the same course within a week of a Professional Men’s Tour event.
The Singapore Ladies Masters, to be held under the auspices of the Robe di Kappa Ladies European Tour (“LET”), The Korean Ladies Professional Golfers Association (“KLPGA”), The Ladies Asian Golf Tour (“LAGT”) and the Singapore Ladies Golf Association, is to offer prize money of US$200,000, with points counting towards the Solheim Cup and official LET and KLPGA Orders of Merit.
Peter Kwee, Chairman of Laguna stated, “We are delighted and indeed honored that such an important development in the Ladies Professional Game should coincide with the Caltex Masters; Laguna and my team are fully committed to the success of the tournament. We look forward to welcoming the Ladies from far and wide, and are positive that the course and facilities will be enjoyed by all.”
Seok Kyu Hong, the Chairman of KLPGA went on, “This is a significant step for ladies golf in Korea. We have been encouraging stronger ties in the world game and to see the tournament becoming reality is the result of combined efforts from all. We are excited to begin our 2005 season in Singapore and look forward to seeing the tournament mature in years to come. We eagerly anticipate the arrival of our fellow professionals from abroad in the name of fair play and sportsmanship.”
Karen Lunn, Chairman of the LET was quoted, “With a 2005 schedule already including the Thailand Ladies Open in late March, it is with great pleasure that we are able to offer our members the opportunity of being a part of the Singapore Ladies Masters. We would like to use this opportunity to thank our promoter, Parallel Media Group for following up their initiatives in Thailand so quickly, and welcome J Golf as their co-promoter for this event.”
Mr. Koichi Kato, Tour Coordinator of the LAGT added, “We are very excited about jointly participating in the Singapore Ladies Masters, it is very encouraging to see the majority of the field represented by players from Asia. On behalf of the Ladies Asian Golf Tour, I would like to thank not only PMG, but also JoongAng Broadcasting Corporation, Laguna and everyone concerned for their great support in realizing this tournament. The event is sure to be supported not only by the sponsors, but also by the media and golf fans alike.”
Mr. Yoon Chon, President of JoongAng Broadcasting Corporation added, “We are proud to be involved with the inaugural Singapore Ladies Masters. The vision behind this tournament fits well with our new investment – J Golf. It is particularly pleasing to see the involvement of the KLPGA and we hope that this will be the start of an exciting relationship between ourselves, our joint-promoter PMG, the LET, LAGT and KLPGA.”
Charlie Perring, Director of Golf, PMG summed up, “International Ladies golf is developing at a tremendous rate, never more so than with the increasing interest in the game in Asia. We are delighted to have the opportunity of hosting the inaugural Singapore Ladies Masters and would like to thank both the LAGT and the KLPGA for their vision in partnering the Robe di Kappa Ladies European Tour for what I am sure will be a tremendous festival of golf for both participants and spectators alike.”
About Parallel Media Group
Parallel Media Group plc (PMG) is LET’s exclusive partner in Asia and a leading sports marketing, media and management Company specializing in global professional golf. PMG has commercial arrangements with several leading golf Tours, including the LET, Tour de Las Americas (TLA) and the European PGA Tour, to stage premier joint sanctioned men’s and ladies events in Asia and beyond. PMG aims to provide its clients with a world-class professional service combining local market knowledge with international business expertise and deliver a new vision for professional golf.
About Ladies Asian Golf Tour
Ladies Asian Golf Tour (“LAGT”), under the auspices of Asia Pacific Golf Confederation, was established in 1983 as the Ladies Asia Golf Circuit. PMG has been appointed commercial partner of the Tour, while Mr. Koichi Kato is appointed to serve as the Tour Coordinator. The LAT will host qualifying schools in Taiwan and China in January 2005 to select the best 40 from more than 140 players for the Singapore Ladies Masters.
Singapore is a familiar venue for the LAT, having held the Singapore Ladies Open on six occasions in the past; 1987 & 1988 and from 1990 to 1993. The high-light being Swede Liselotte Neumann’s victory in 1987 at Tanah Merah Country Club, which preceded her Major win at the US Women’s Open in 1988.
About J Golf
J Golf is the exclusive rights holder to all PGA European Tour, South African Tour and Australasian Tour events from 2005 through 2009 and the 2006 Ryder Cup for Korean territory. Its birth marks only the fifth all-golf channel in the world. Along with Q Channel, a non-fiction documentary channel and The History Channel of Korea, J Golf will become the third channel of the JoongAng Broadcasting Corporation (JBC) when it launches on January 7th, 2005.
J Golf will put heavy emphasis on creating unique and interesting golf programs that will appeal to all levels of golfers, and plans to be actively involved in bringing international events to Korea.
For further information, please contact:
Wynton Faure – Group Communications, Parallel Media Group plc w.faure@parallelmediagroup.com
Grant Slack – VP Sales & Marketing, Parallel Media Asia g.slack@parallelmediagroup.com
Martin Park – Tour Communications, Robe di Kappa Ladies European Tour
mailtmpark@ladieseuropeantour.com
Koichi Kato – Coordinator, Ladies Asian Golf Tour marumi@lilac.ocn.ne.jp
Mike Kim – Director of Marketing, J Golf golffan@joongang.co.kr
Sam Kwak – KLPGA
mailtsam@klpga.com