Oneida Nation of Wisconsin to Sponsor New LPGA Tour Event in Green Bay in 2017

The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) announced today that the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin has agreed to title sponsor a new event in 2017, the Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic, on the Oneida Reservation immediately near Green Bay, Wisconsin. The tournament will take place at Thornberry Creek at Oneida, a course owned by Oneida Nation and managed by the Oneida Golf Enterprise Corporation. The specific dates for the event will be announced in the coming months.

The event will feature a full field of 144 players who will compete for a $2 million purse, tied for the largest domestic non-major purse on the LPGA Tour. The Oneida Nation has agreed to a three-year deal with the LPGA Tour starting in the summer of 2017.

"It's exciting to have the Oneida Nation and Thornberry Creek at Oneida on board with over a year and a half to prepare for what I think has the potential to be one of the top stops on Tour," said LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan. "Green Bay is already a great sports town and we hope the community, and all of the cheeseheads, will be out in full force to cheer on the best female golfers on the planet"."

The Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic will mark the first time the LPGA, or PGA Tour, has hosted a sanctioned event in the greater Green Bay area. The last time the LPGA stars played in the state of Wisconsin was the 2012 U.S. Women's Open conducted by the USGA at Blackwolf Run in Kohler.

Thornberry Creek at Oneida is the official golf course of the Green Bay Packers. The Green Bay Press Gazette tagged Thornberry as the 2015 Best of the Bay. In 2014, Thornberry served as a qualifying site for the Wisconsin State Open.

"This newfound partnership between the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin and the LPGA couldn't be more exciting," said Joshua R. Doxtator, PGA General Manager at Thornberry Creek at Oneida. "The world will have an opportunity to see what the Oneida Nation has to offer; world class gaming, superior lodging, retail to tourist interests and of course the best golf course in Northeast Wisconsin. We're confident this event will be a favorite amongst the players and spectators alike and we look forward to setting a precedent for entertainment and hospitality in the professional arena."

IMG will operate this new event. In addition to operating the Oneida LPGA Classic, IMG also produces the ANA Inspiration, the RICOH Women's British Open, the Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic, the Coates Golf Championship presented by R+L Carriers and six LPGA tournaments in Asia.

"IMG Golf is the biggest promoter of golf globally and we are delighted to be adding the Oneida LPGA Classic to our North American portfolio," said Grant Slack, Senior Vice President and Head of Golf Events at IMG. "This tournament will be a celebration of the best that women's golf has to offer and we are looking forward to working with Oneida Nation and everyone at Thornberry Creek at Oneida to deliver a new champion to Titletown, USA!"

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