Las Vegas’ Annual PGA TOUR Event Taking Shape with More Sizzle and Star Power

Las Vegas, Nevada, Feb 13,2008--The PGA TOUR’s 26th annual Las Vegas event has some exciting changes in the works for 2008, the first of a five-year title sponsor commitment from Shriners Hospitals for Children. 

Returning as Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open is Gary Davis, local businessman and Shriner.  Davis has been involved with the tournament for over twenty years in various capacities. Assisting Davis is new Tournament Director, Mark Gardner who returns to Las Vegas to assume the key financial and operational aspects of the event. Gardner’s recent posting was as Assistant Tournament Director for the Travelers Championship PGA TOUR event in Hartford, CT for the past six years where he served as the Director of Operations and Financial Affairs.  Prior to Hartford, Gardner was a graduate student in UNLV’s Sport Management Department. 

Complimenting the management team is Jan Leone, returning for the second year as Director of Sales and Marketing.  Leone came aboard in 2007 after spending 20 years working in various marketing roles at the PGA TOUR in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL.  She now resides in Las Vegas and is spearheading all sales and marketing efforts for the event.  Mike Zampini, Operations Manager, is also marking his second year with the Las Vegas tournament.  Zampini completed his M.A. Degree in Sport Management at Ohio State University in June 2007 and then joined the staff in Las Vegas where he was integral to the success of the 2007 Frys.com Open. Zampini will oversee Volunteer Coordination and Vendor Relations among other areas for the 2008 event.

The Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open will take place at TPC Summerlin October 13-19, 2008.  This year’s hospitality experience will again include “The Hill” a 22,000 square-foot area overlooking the 16th, 17th and 18th holes where guests can enjoy a fan-friendly atmosphere resplendent with seating areas, tables and large plasma screen televisions for keeping up with all of the sports action. The Hill features a 10,000 square foot covered venue as well as outside patio tables and seating. In true Vegas fashion, The Hill offers guests an incredible experience by granting views of the picturesque Las Vegas skyline and Red Rock Canyon. Some of the city’s finest restaurants will be on hand near The Hill, at Restaurant Row. The Hill will be open Wednesday through Sunday of tournament week. Additional enhancements to the event include a celebrity Pro-Am on Wednesday, October 15th complimenting the regular Pro-Am taking place on Monday, October 13th.   The Tournament Host, Justin Timberlake will perform a private concert for the Wednesday Celebrity Pro-Am participants and corporate hospitality clients.  Details on Timberlake’s concert will be announced at a later date. 

A preliminary schedule of events includes:
 Monday, October 13th   Pro-Am
Tuesday, October 14th Pro-Am Draw Party
 Wednesday, October 15th  Celebrity Pro-Am
 Thursday, October 16th  Professional Competition
 Friday, October 17th   Professional Competition
 Saturday, October 18th  Professional Competition
Sunday, October 19th Final Day of Professional Competition, Trophy Presentation by Justin Timberlake

Note - A full schedule of tournament events will be released in the coming months so stay tuned and mark your calendar for a week that promises to showcase world-class golf and entertainment – Vegas style. 

Gary Davis enthuses “This year we will begin to capitalize on the format changes announced after last year’s tournament; such as the Celebrity Pro-Am on Wednesday and a return to the traditional four-days of play for the professional competition.  All 72 holes of the championship will be played at one course, TPC Summerlin and will allow us to continue enhancing the experience for our spectators.  I am confident that this year’s management team will achieve our goal of making the PGA TOUR’s Las Vegas stop the premier event of the Fall Series.”

The event is expected to draw some of the top names on the PGA TOUR and will offer a $4.1 million purse with the winner taking home $738,000.  Last year’s champion, George McNeill (who scored his first-ever PGA TOUR victory) will return to defend his title. 

Corporate Sponsorships, Tickets and spots in the Pro-Am are on sale now and available for purchase by calling the tournament office at 702-873-1010 or via e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .  Grounds tickets start at $10 per day and tickets to The Hill are $25, a steal for the venue and entertainment value. 

About Shriners Hospitals for Children:
Shriners Hospitals for Children is a network of facilities in North America that provides superior medical care at no charge to children under the age of 18.  The first Shriners Hospital opened in Shreveport, LA in 1922, and the network today encompasses 22 hospitals in the United States, Canada and Mexico. To date, Shriners Hospitals for Children has spent $11 million treating children in Southern Nevada.

About Justin Timberlake:
Timberlake, born Jan. 31, 1981, is a singer, songwriter, record producer and an actor. He came to fame as one of the members of *NSYNC and has won 4 Grammy Awards as well as an Emmy Award.  In 2002, he released his debut solo album, Justified, which sold more than 7 million copies worldwide. Timberlake’s second solo release, FutureSex/LoveSounds, was released in 2006 with the U.S. number-one hit singles “SexyBack,” ”My Love,” “What Goes Around...Comes Around” and “Summer Love.”  With his first two albums, Timberlake has sold nearly 15 million copies to date.  He is the Chairman/CEO of his own record label, Tennman Records.  He is also a partner in the fashion label, William Rast.  In January 2007, Timberlake embarked on the hugely successful FutureSex/LoveShow World Tour.

About The PGA TOUR:
The PGA TOUR is a tax-exempt membership organization of professional golfers. Its primary purpose is to provide competitive earnings opportunities for past, current and future members of the PGA TOUR, Champions Tour and Nationwide Tour; to protect the integrity of the game; and to help grow the reach of the game in the U.S. and around the world.

In 2008, the three Tours are competing in approximately 108 events for approximately $355 million in prize money.  Tournaments are being held in nine countries outside the U.S. and in 37 states.  In addition to providing competitive opportunities for its membership, TOUR events also generate significant funds for local charities.  In fact, the three Tours have surpassed the $1 billion mark in overall charitable contributions.  The PGA TOUR’s web site address is www.pgatour.com and the company is headquartered in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL.
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Contacts:

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Las Vegas, Nevada
United States.
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