POTTSTOWN, Pa. — Raven’s Claw Golf Club in Montgomery County, a golf-rich suburb of Philadelphia, will host the inaugural Valley Forge Invitational from Thursday, May 24 through Saturday, May 26, one of three new events on the Symetra Tour schedule in 2018.
In addition, a “Meet the Players” party will take place on Tuesday, May 22, with a festive Pro-Am event following on May 23, which will allow local businesses to entertain their top customers and prospects alongside future LPGA Tour stars.
Several sponsors have already signed on to bring the Valley Forge Invitational to southeast Pennsylvania including Yuengling, the oldest operating brewing company in the United States.
“The new Valley Forge Invitational will be instrumental for women’s golf and our sports scene for the greater Philadelphia area,” said Yuengling’s Chief Operating Officer, David Casinelli. “The Yuengling Brewery is happy to be a supporter of this week-long celebration, and we look forward to a long and successful run for this prestigious event in our community.”
Other organizations that have stepped forward include the Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board, Yamaha, The SunnyBrook Ballroom and Elmwood Park Zoo. Located in Norristown, Pa., Elmwood Park Zoo is home to Noah, the bald eagle mascot for the 2018 Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles.
Another partner for the Valley Forge Invitational is the Pottstown Area Health & Wellness Foundation.
“The Foundation is excited to welcome the LPGA Symetra Tour to Pottstown,” said Howard Brown, the Program Officer for Schools, Active Learning & Community Development with Pottstown Area Health & Wellness Foundation. “The Valley Forge Invitational not only aligns with our mission of motivating people to adopt healthy lifestyles, but will also benefit local nonprofit organizations.”
Local charities, as designated by the foundation, that serve the people of Pottstown and residents in seven public school districts within a 10-mile radius of the borough, will be the beneficiary of the funds raised during the tournament.
“Montgomery County is home to some of the best golf courses in the country,” said Dr. Val Arkoosh, Chairman for the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners. “We are thrilled to welcome this talented group of women athletes to our county, and I wish them the best of luck on the Tour.”
With the backing of these dedicated companies, the momentum for the first-ever Valley Forge Invitational continues to build.
“Having an event of this caliber will have a hugely positive economic impact on Montgomery County and the region,” said President and CEO of the Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board, Mike Bowman. “Besides highlighting women’s professional golf, the Tour spotlights Raven’s Claw, and the more than 50 other great public courses and private clubs that we have in Montco.”
Since it opened in 2005, Raven’s Claw Golf Club has been a consistent selection on the list of “Pennsylvania’s Top 10 Daily Fee” courses, as selected by Golfweek.
The Valley Forge Invitational will mark the first professional golf event played on the challenging Ed Shearon-designed course, and the first time the Symetra Tour has played a tournament in the Keystone State since 2011.
“Working with the Valley Forge Tourism board has made our welcome to the greater Philadelphia area a fantastic one,” said Mike Nichols, Chief Business Officer for the Symetra Tour. “We hope to build off the great list of sponsors that have already joined in supporting this professional women’s sporting event. We also look forward to adding new corporations that share the vision of further developing the next generation of LPGA Tour standouts.”
This season, 21 events make up the calendar for the official qualifying tour of the LPGA. The top-10 players on the season-ending Race for the Card money list will be awarded LPGA membership for 2019.
For more information about the Valley Forge Invitational, visit montcogolf.com.
ABOUT RAVEN’S CLAW GOLF CLUB
Designed by Pennsylvania native Ed Shearon and opened in 2005, Raven’s Claw Golf Club is a classic example of strategic golf course architecture. The course stretches to 6,739 yards from the tips and plays to a challenging 71.0 rating and 130 slope. Regarded as the top daily fee facility in golf-rich Montgomery County, Raven’s Claw has hosted a number of events – most notably the Montgomery County Amateur Championship for more than 10 years. The course is accentuated by a driving range and short game practice area, as well as an Irish pub-style clubhouse and wrap-around deck that affords an up-close view of the action on the dramatic 18th hole.
ABOUT VALLEY FORGE TOURISM & CONVENTION BOARD
The Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board (VFTCB) is a nonprofit, membership-based sales and marketing organization that actively promotes Valley Forge and Montgomery County, Pa., as a convention site and leisure visitor destination by encouraging patronage of its 500+ member hotels, restaurants, attractions and services. The award-winning website links visitors, meeting planners, tour operators and residents to a diverse portfolio of brands focused on reasons to visit the region. The organization’s Destination Montco Golf brand promotes the county’s more than 50 golf courses on MontcoGolf.com. For more information about Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board, visit valleyforge.org.
ABOUT SYMETRA TOUR
The Symetra Tour is the official qualifying tour of the LPGA Tour and enters its 38th competitive season in 2018. With the support of its umbrella partner Symetra, the Tour’s mission is to prepare the world’s best young women professional golfers for a successful career on the LPGA Tour. Since Symetra’s inaugural sponsorship year in 2012, the Symetra Tour has grown from 16 tournaments and $1.7M in prize money to $3M in prize money awarded over the course of 22 tournaments. With more than 600 alumnae moving on to the LPGA, former Symetra Tour players have won a total of 427 LPGA titles. Follow the Symetra Tour on the web at www.SymetraTour.com, Facebook.com/RoadtotheLPGA, Twitter.com/Road2LPGA, and YouTube.com/Road2LPGA.
ABOUT SYMETRA
Symetra Life Insurance Company is a subsidiary of Symetra Financial Corporation, a diversified financial services company based in Bellevue, Washington. In business since 1957, Symetra provides employee benefits, annuities and life insurance through a national network of benefit consultants, financial institutions and independent agents and advisors.
Symetra began its partnership with the Road to the LPGA in 2010 as the title sponsor of the Symetra Classic. It secured naming rights for the Symetra Tour in November 2011. In addition to its title sponsorship of the Tour, which runs through 2021, Symetra sponsors two events on the tournament schedule—the Symetra Classic and the season-ending Symetra Tour Championship.
For more information about Symetra, visit www.symetra.com.
MEDIA CONTACT
Zach Sepanik, Symetra Tour Media and Public Relations Official
zachary.sepanik@lpga.com, (386) 795-0594
