LET announce Singapore Ladies Masters for 2005

(Cheshire, England December 15 2004) Laguna National Golf and Country Club in Singapore will host a two week festival of golf early next season as today, the Robe di Kappa Ladies European Tour announced the latest addition to its 2005 tournament schedule.

The US$200,000 Singapore Ladies Masters will become the first event of the 2005 LET Schedule and will be co-sanctioned with the Ladies Asian Golf Tour (LAT) and the Korean Ladies Professional Golfers Association (KLPGA).

The event will take place from February 3-5 2005 at the prestigious Laguna National Golf and Country Club in Singapore, a week after the men’s European Tour contest the Caltex Masters at the same venue.

Format of play will be stroke play over three rounds with the Tournament field consisting of 144 players with a minimum of 60 players qualifying directly from the Ladies European Tour, 40 players will be selected from the Ladies Asian Golf Tour and 40 leading professionals selected by the KLPGA from their 2004 Order of Merit.

“With a 2005 schedule already including the Thailand Ladies Open in late March, it is with great pleasure that we are able to offer our members the opportunity of being a part of the Singapore Ladies Masters,” said Karen Lunn, Chairman of the LET.

“We would like to use this opportunity to thank our promoter, Parallel Media Group for following up their initiatives in Thailand so quickly and I am sure this will be the beginning of a long and fruitful relationship whereby we can assist the development of women’s golf in Asia.

“This provides further evidence of the growth and prosperity of women’s golf on a global scale and we at the LET are delighted to be making another groundbreaking development.

“The hard work, dedication and professionalism shown by everyone involved with the Ladies European Tour is beginning to show dividends with more tournaments in new and exciting destinations around the globe.”

Parallel Media Group (PMG), a company with vast experience in hosting and promoting both men’s and women’s golf events in the past, will act as tournament promoters.

“International ladies golf is on the move,” says Charlie Perring from Parallel Media Group.

“With the exciting Women’s World Cup the following week in South Africa, we are witnessing the extension of the game internationally. PMG has significant experience in Asia and we look forward to making Singapore Ladies Masters, one of the world’s great events.”

Parallel Media Group is a leading sports marketing, media and management company. Established in 1987, PMG specialises in the world of professional golf, owning extensive commercial and broadcast rights throughout Asia, Europe and Central/South America. PMG aims to provide its clients with a world class professional service combining local market knowledge with international business expertise and deliver a new vision for sport.

Laguna National Golf and Country Club boasts two championship courses. The Masters, an 18 hole par 72 course is built in the old Scottish masters style of golf course architecture, where the fairway mounds are more pronounced and the water features more prominent.

Golfers will find gentler mounds and fewer water hazards at the Laguna Classic course. Also a par 72, this 18 hole course reflects classic American golf course architecture. Great waste bunkers delineate many holes and set up strategic shot making. The holes are shorter in length and there will be great premium on the golfer’s short game.