Daytona Beach, FL., June 21, 2016 – Insurance Office of America (IOA) has built a unique partnership with the Symetra Tour, Road to the LPGA, over the last three years. In 2016, IOA became the title sponsor of two Symetra Tour events for the first time – the IOA Championship presented by Morongo Casino Resort & Spa in Beaumont, Calif. and the IOA Golf Classic at Alaqua Country Club in Longwood, Fla. IOA is the only company that title sponsor’s two Symetra Tour or LPGA Tour events.
“IOA has been a tremendous partner of the Tour and their commitment to women’s golf is incredible,” said Chief Business Officer Mike Nichols. “The IOA Golf Classic has become a staple on the Tour schedule and the IOA Championship is really going to help the Tour grow on the West Coast so we’re excited about both events.”
The relationship began in 2013 when the IOA Golf Classic was first played at Innisbrook Golf Resort. The tournament moved to its current location of Alaqua Country Club in 2014.
Erynee Lee won the inaugural IOA Championship to open the 2016 season. The former UCLA All-American became the first rookie to win the Symetra Tour season opener since 2005 when Jin Young Pak won the Lakeland FUTURES Classic. Jackie Stoelting won the IOA Golf Classic in 2015, her second straight win at the time. Other winners of the IOA Golf Classic have included Kendall Dye (2014) and Katy Harris (2013).
“We are pleased to expand our involvement with the LPGA’s Symetra Tour,” commented John Ritenour, Chairman & Co-Founder of IOA, on the announcement. “Our inaugural event in our home state of Florida is now joined by the IOA Championship in our fastest growing state, California.”
The IOA Golf Classic will be played October 7-9 in Longwood, Fl. This year’s tournament has adopted the cause of “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer” with all the proceeds benefiting the American Cancer Society, a charity close to John and Valli Ritenour.
For more information about the IOA Golf Classic, visit www.ioagolfclassic.com or contact Keal Blache at 407-362-8076 or email GolfClassic@www.ioausa.com.
About Symetra Tour
The Symetra Tour — Road to the LPGA is the official developmental tour of the LPGA and is in its 36th competitive season in 2016. 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 $3.5M in prize money awarded over the course of 23 tournaments — the most events in 28 years (1988). With more than 600 alumnae moving on to the LPGA, former Symetra Tour players have won a total of 418 LPGA titles. Follow the Symetra Tour on the web at www.SymetraTour.com, Facebook.com/RoadtotheLPGA, Twitter.com/Road2LPGA, and YouTube.com/Road2LPGA.
About Insurance Office of America (IOA)
IOA is the tenth largest privately-held insurance agency in the United States with its headquarters in Longwood, Florida. With over 50 offices and 1200 associates, IOA is one of the fastest growing agencies in the country. IOA has become the agency of choice for the full complement of insurance needs by an ever increasing number of business and personal clients around the US and with the opening of a London office in 2013 serving Europe as well. Within the realm of sports, IOA continues to be the leader with over 50 partners and its experience and client base continues to grow with sports leagues, teams, facilities, and athletic associations including members of the NFL, NBA, NHL, AHL, WNBA MLL, USA Swimming, Verizon Center, Mountain West Conference, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, Pro Football Hall of Fame Village, LPGA, Arnold Palmer Enterprises, Symetra Tour, Time Warner Cable Arena, Tavistock Cup.
Contacts
Bret Lasky, Manager, Symetra Tour Strategic Media, bret.lasky@lpga.com, 386-679-1292
