Nearly 45,000 Amateur Golfers to Participate in Chrysler Club Championship, Presented by Golf Digest and Golf for Women

Nearly 45,000 Amateur Golfers to Participate in Chrysler Club Championship, Presented by Golf Digest and Golf for Women
Press Release

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., July 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Chrysler brand announced today the inaugural Chrysler Club Championship, presented by Golf Digest and Golf For Women. The tournament kicks off in July and will include almost 45,000 amateur club golfers nationwide, competing to become the National Club Champion and for a chance to play in the PGA Tour's Bob Hope Chrysler Classic in January 2005.

The Chrysler Club Championship begins with club members at nearly 300 facilities across the country competing this summer in their established local club championships. First place male and female finishers will advance to four PGA-sanctioned sectional tournaments, which will be held in Potomac Falls, VA (Lowes Island Country Club, Sept. 1), Dallas, TX (Gentle Creek Golf Club, Sept. 13), Pleasanton, CA (Ruby Hill Country Club, Sept. 13), and Grand Rapids, MI (Egypt Valley Country Club, Sept. 28-29).

Thirty-two finalists will then travel to Tampa, FL, to play in the national finals, which will be a one-day stroke play event held in conjunction with the PGA Tour's Chrysler Championship at Innisbrook Resort & Spa, Oct. 24- 30. The two winners -- male and female -- will then travel to Palm Desert, CA, to compete alongside the world's best players in the 2005 Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, Jan. 24-30, at Bermuda Dunes Country Club, Tamarish Country Club, La Quinta Country Club and the Palmer Private Course at PGA West.

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society (National MS Society) and the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) will partner with Chrysler and Golf Digest Companies as the Chrysler Club Championship's charitable partners. Both the National MS Society and AJGA will benefit from charitable contributions at each of the 300 local club championships across the U.S., and also receive a portion of entry fees.

"The Chrysler Club Championship extends the Chrysler brand's deep association with the sport of golf in the United States, which almost dates back to when Walter P. Chrysler originally formed Chrysler in the 1920s," said Jeff Bell, Vice President - Chrysler. "More importantly, the Chrysler Club Championship will help inspiring young men and women earn college scholarships, and raise much needed charitable contributions to help find inspired solutions to end the devastating effects of MS."

Adidas has joined the Chrysler Club Championship as the official apparel sponsor while Taylor-Made has signed on as the event's official equipment sponsor. Both will provide prizes at each stage of the event.

The AJGA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the overall growth and development of young men and women who aspire to earn college golf scholarships through competitive junior golf.

The mission of the National MS Society is to end the devastating effects of MS. The society and its nationwide network of chapters fund research, provide a wide range of programs and services that assist people living with MS throughout all stages of their lives and advocate on critical issues that affect people with disabilities.

The launch this year of the Chrysler 300, Chrysler Town & Country, Chrysler PT Cruiser Convertible, Chrysler Crossfire Roadster and Chrysler Crossfire SRT-6 continues the Chrysler brand's rapid-fire product offensive and decade-long growth. Chrysler brand sales have increased 109 percent over the last 10 years -- from 221,990 to 463,590 in 2003. This year, Chrysler brand sales have increased another 18 percent. The Chrysler brand's objective is to grow market share and brand image through its elegant design, inspired engineering and exceptional value.

Golf Digest Companies is an independent unit of Advance Magazine Publishers Inc., an Advance Publications company. The Golf Digest Companies include Golf Digest, Golf World, Golf for Women, Golf World Business, Golfdigest.com, Golf Digest International, the Golf Digest Research Resource Center, Golf Digest Sports Marketing, the Database of Golf in America, the Golf Digest Schools and Golf Digest Licensing & Publishing.