Kia will get into the swing of things this spring by once again serving as title sponsor for the Kia Classic, an LPGA tournament to be held at the Industry Hills Golf Club at Pacific Palms in City of Industry, California on March 21 through 27, 2011.

 

Recently signing on for a two-year extension as title sponsor, Kia has further extended its marketing reach into the world of professional sports. Kia is the official automotive partner of the NBA, and recently sponsored its first U.S. motorsports team in the GRAND AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge Series.

 

Two-time LPGA winner Michelle Wie serves as the official golf ambassador and spokesperson for Kia Motors. The LPGA is the world’s leading professional golf organization for women. Founded in 1950, the LPGA celebrates a diverse and storied membership with more than 1,700 members representing 29 different countries.

The 2011 Kia Classic will be the first LPGA event held in the Los Angeles area since 2005. The last LPGA event held at Industry Hills Golf Club at Pacific Palms was the Olympic Gold Classic, played in 1981 and 1982.

 

Situated against the scenic backdrop of the San Gabriel Mountains, Industry Hills Golf Club at Pacific Palms sits on a 650-acre resort property centrally located near four major airports, just 25 minutes outside of both Los Angeles and Disneyland. Golf Digest rates the club as the only four-star golf experience in L.A. County. Pacific Palms Hotel and Conference Center, the only full-service destination hotel in L.A., features 292 guest rooms in addition to a luxurious spa and salon. 

 

The four-day Kia Classic will include a full 144-player field of some of the best golfers on the LPGA tour. The defending champion is Hee Kyung Seo who finished 12 under par at the 2010 Kia Classic to win her first LPGA event. This year’s tournament will be a 72-hole stroke play event carrying a purse of $1.7 million. Play will take place on the two courses at Industry Hills – Dwight D. Eisenhower (The Ike) and Babe Didrikson Zaharias (The Babe). Nine holes from each course will be utilized to compose a par 73 course of 6,700 yards. A one-day 18-hole pro-am on March 23 will precede the four-day tournament.

 

Live television coverage of the Kia Classic will be provided by the Golf Channel from Thursday, March 24 through Sunday, March 27. A full schedule of events, in addition to information on tickets, volunteer and corporate opportunities, is available at www.kiaclassic.com.

 

There’s nothing quite like a great drive, whether it’s on the roadway or the golf course. Kia and the LPGA have formed a successful partnership because they both understand that striving to be the best should be par for the course. The best golfer at the 2011 Kia Classic will be decided in March and both Kia and the LPGA will be in the winner’s circle to share in the celebration.

 

For more information, visit www.lpga.com.