Safeway International Amateur Open Will Provide
Guaranteed Spot in LPGA Tournament to Winner

January 17, 2005 – Phoenix, AZ

Tournament Golf Foundation Inc., the organizers of the Safeway International LPGA Tournament, announced a unique event that will guarantee a spot in the prestigious LPGA event to the winner of a one day amateur qualifying tournament.

The Safeway International Amateur Open will be held at Superstition Mountain Golf and Country Club (site of the LPGA event) on Thursday, February 17th. Starting times will begin at 10:00 AM. Any woman amateur golfer with an established USGA handicap of 3.4 or less is eligible to compete. The field will be limited to 72 players.

The winner of the event will earn a guaranteed spot in the 72-hole tournament proper to be held March 17-20. The second and third place finishers will earn spots in the Monday qualifying event for LPGA players, to be held on March 14th. The two low scores from that Monday Qualifier will also earn entry into the Safeway International.

According to Tom Maletis, President of Tournament Golf Foundation and General Chairman of the Safeway International, "This is a unique opportunity for amateur golfers to win a chance to compete at the highest level in the game."

Maletis had previously announced that the other exemption for the event would be awarded to Michelle Wie. Wie just completed competing in the Sony Open on the PGA tour, in her home state of Hawaii, for the second consecutive year.

The Safeway International Amateur Open will have a $75 entry fee, payable to TGFI. Players can apply by calling the Safeway International office at 602-495-GOLF. Entry deadline for the event will be February 11th.

The Safeway International has been a featured event on the LPGA Tour since 1983. The event has now donated over $9 million to local charities, with cancer research programs at Banner Health Foundation being the primary beneficiary.

The 2005 edition of The Safeway International, presented by Coca-Cola, will be held at Superstition Mountain Golf and Country Club, March 14-20. The purse for the event this year will be $1.4 million, and it will be broadcast on The Golf Channel.

Annika Sorenstam won the 2004 edition of the tournament and will return to defend her title. The field for the event in 2004 was one of the strongest on the LPGA tour last year and 2005 should be no exception.

Begun in 1972, TGFI is comprised of 47 individuals and couples, whose mission is to provide world class golf while helping raise money for local charities. TGFI is also the owner and operator of the Safeway Classic in Portland, OR.