Safeway Classic to Increase Purse to $1.4 Million for 2005

Tom Maletis, President of Tournament Golf Foundation, announced today the purse for the Safeway Classic will increase to $1.4 million in 2005.

The Safeway Classic has moved its dates for 2005 to August 15-21, and will again be held at Columbia-Edgewater Country Club. Hee-Won Han was the winner of the 2004 event in a playoff with Lori Kane. Annika Sorenstam was the winner in both 2002 and 2003.

“With increased sponsorship from Safeway and their suppliers, along with more support from local sponsors, we are able to increase our purse for the LPGA players, while also increasing the amount we anticipate to donate to local charities,” said Maletis.

Contributions to charities through the Safeway Foundation from the 2003 Safeway Classic were $752,000. Contributions from the 2004 Safeway Classic have yet to be announced.

The Safeway Classic featured one of the strongest fields on the LPGA tour in 2004. According to Maletis, “we appreciate the support the LPGA players have shown for our event. The increase in the purses is one way we can thank them for their continued loyalty.”

The Safeway Classic will again be broadcast nationally on the Golf Channel in 2005.

Tournament Golf Foundation is a volunteer group who donates their time and provides the primary operations of the annual events. Begun in 1972, the group is now comprised of 47 Portland area individuals and couples. To date, TGFI has donated over $9 million to local children’s charities in Portland, over $3 million in the past four years. The Safeway Classic is the second oldest continuous event on the LPGA tour.

For more information on Tournament Golf Foundation and the Safeway Classic, visit www.safewaygolf.com.