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PING to Become Official Golf Bag of the AJGA

BRASELTON, Ga. - PING , a top golf club manufacturer and longtime American Junior Golf Association supporter, will be recognized as the Official Golf Bag of the AJGA.

Since 1991, PING has sponsored the AJGA on many levels. Currently an Official Partner, PING will support three events in 2009: the PING Phoenix Junior July 27-30 at Moon Valley Country Club in Phoenix, Ariz., the PING Junior Solheim Cup August 17-19 at Aurora Country Club in Aurora, Ill., and The PING Invitational , one of the AJGA’s top invitationals, October 9-12 at Karsten Creek Golf Club in Stillwater, Okla.

The alliance stems from a long history of PING’s equipment presence at AJGA events. According to equipment surveys taken at all AJGA tournaments, PING has been the No. 1-ranked golf bag since 1984.

Karsten Solheim founded PING 50 years ago out of frustration with his putting. He designed a putter which would make a “pinging” sound upon striking the ball, and thus the family-owned company was born. Today John A. Solheim, Karsten’s youngest son, runs the company out of Phoenix, Ariz. PING is famous for innovative high-quality game-improvement products which can be found in over 70 countries.

“PING has been an excellent supporter over the years,” said Jason Etzen, AJGA executive vice president of corporate partnerships. “We are thrilled to have their support and be able to call them the Official Golf Bag of the AJGA.”

“When we came out with our first lightweight bag in the mid-80s, the AJGA players gave it instant credibility,” said PING Chairman & CEO John A. Solheim, who personally designed the earliest PING carry bags and continues to oversee bag development with his son, Andy. “The AJGA was the ideal proving ground for our bags then and it continues to be today as evidenced by our leadership position.We’re honored by this continued association with the finest juniors in the game.”

The American Junior Golf Association 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 AJGA, the largest Association of its kind, has an annual junior membership (boys and girls ages 12-18) of more than 5,000 junior golfers from 50 states and 30 foreign countries.

AJGA alumni have risen to the top of amateur, collegiate and professional golf. More than 200 former AJGA juniors currently play on the PGA and LPGA Tours and have compiled more than 350 wins. AJGA alumni include Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Jim Furyk, Stewart Cink, Davis Love III, Hunter Mahan, Cristie Kerr, Pat Hurst, Paula Creamer, Brittany Lincicome, Morgan Pressel and Julieta Granada.

For more information, please contact Roseanna Smith (rsmith@ajga.org ) in the AJGA Sponsorship Department at (678) 425-1741.