Tournament Golf Foundation Donates $752,000 to Charities From 2003 Safeway Classic Proceeds

February 19, 2004 – Portland Oregon

Tom Maletis, President of Tournament Golf Foundation Inc. (TGFI), today announced that local children’s charities would benefit in the amount of $752,000 from proceeds from the 2003 Safeway Classic, presented by Pepsi.

The tournament is the oldest event on the LPGA Tour. The 2004 Safeway Classic will mark the 33rd consecutive year the LPGA tour event has been brought to Portland by TGFI. The event, originally called the Portland Classic, has now donated over $8 million to local children’s charities since its inception in 1972, with $4.1 million coming in the past seven years with Safeway as title sponsor.

The money will be given to the Safeway Foundation, which will disburse the funds to local organizations in Oregon. The main charities from the 2003 event include Easter Seals of Oregon, the Evans Scholars Foundation, Boys & Girls Clubs of Portland, Waverly Children’s Home, Police Activities League and Oregon Junior Golf. In addition, several smaller local children’s charities will be impacted with supplemental distributions from the 2003 tournament.

“Our goal has been to donate at least half as much money to charity as we have in our purse each year. The success of the 2003 event allows us to more than meet that goal,” said Maletis. “As we enter our 33rd year of operation, TGFI is proud to be able to bring this important event to Portland yet again,” said Maletis.

“Once again, we are pleased to host the Safeway Classic. The 2004 event will mark the 8th anniversary of Safeway as title sponsor, and this year promises to be even more exciting than in previous years,” said Safeway’s NW Regional President, Mr. Lyle Waterman. “In addition to being a great event for fans, the money that is raised for worthwhile children’s charities in Oregon makes it even more rewarding for us. We are proud to continue our support of such a great event.”

The 2004 edition of the The Safeway Classic, presented by Pepsi, will be held at Columbia-Edgewater Country Club, September 13-19. The purse for the event for this year will be $1.2 million. The Golf Channel will again broadcast the event all three days of tournament play.

Annika Sorenstam won the 2002 and 2003 editions of the tournament and it is anticipated she will return to Portland to defend her title. The field for the event in 2003 was one of the strongest on the LPGA tour last year, and Maletis anticipates that the 2004 edition will be no exception.

“Safeway has become the sponsor for two LPGA tournaments,” says Maletis, “here in Portland and the Safeway International in Phoenix in March. Safeway’s commitment to the LPGA tour and local charities in each market are a tribute to their company and to the growth in popularity of the LPGA tour.

” Tournament Golf Foundation Inc. is comprised of a local Portland area group of volunteers who donate their time and provide the primary operations for the annual event. Begun in 1972, the group is now comprised of 47 local individuals and couples. TGFI is also the owner and operator of the Safeway International.