NAPERVILLE, IL – The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) announced today at an event held at Hotel Arista that Calamos Investments and Rolex, will participate as Ambassador Sponsors for the second edition of the LPGA’s International Crown, to be played in July 2016 at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove/Big Rock, IL.

The International Crown is the first-of-its-kind biennial, team match play competition featuring the best female golfers from the top eight countries across the globe, based on the combined Rolex World Ranking of the top four players from each country. The inaugural event crowned Team Spain as the best golf nation in the world this past week at Caves Valley Golf Club outside of Baltimore. The tight competition came down to the last day with Team Spain sweeping their singles matches and winning by 4 points over Team Sweden.

“The LPGA is pleased to announce the support of our Ambassador Sponsors for the second staging of International Crown Tournament in two short years,” said LPGA Commissioner Michael Whan. “Calamos Investments and Rolex are tremendous global brands that we are proud to have associated with our new marquee global event in women’s professional golf.”

These two companies enjoy a history with the LPGA and have sought to partner on the International Crown because of the unique team match play format and the passion that the players exhibit in representing their country.

Calamos Investments, partnered with the LPGA back in 2009 for The Solheim Cup, bringing clients and guests to the event, as well as having an advertising presence. “Rich Harvest Farms is a spectacular course and we embrace being a part of this global event to showcase the resources and world class amenities of Chicago’s western suburbs,” said John P. Calamos, Sr, CEO of Calamos Investments. CityGate Centre, the corporate campus of Calamos Investments, is also home to Hotel Arista and will be a hub of activity for the 2016 International Crown. “We are pleased to host the many visitors from abroad during the event and provide them with world-class hospitality,” said Calamos.

Rolex, the “Official Timepiece of the LPGA,” has partnered with the association for the last 34 years. Rolex honors the best of the best each year on the LPGA through the Rolex Player of the Year Award, the Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year award and the Rolex First-Time Winner award. Since 2006, Rolex also has titled the Rolex Rankings, the first-ever comprehensive world rankings system for women’s golf and since 2009 as a Global Partner of the Solheim Cup.

“We are extremely pleased that Rolex is extending its global support and continuing as a partner of The International Crown,” said Whan.

At today’s press conference, Commissioner Whan presented the custom International Crown trophy, which was designed and hand crafted by Tiffany & Co. The trophy weighs 20 pounds and stands 23 inches tall. One hundred and sixty-five hours of labor went into crafting the trophy, including silversmith soldering, hand bending and polishing the trophy into its finished pristine product.

Individual tickets to the tournament will go on sale in 2015 and fans can sign up to join the Crown Club and receive tournament information at www.LPGAInternationalCrown.com.

Sponsorship opportunities are available with hospitality, Pro-Am and advertising options. Interested corporations should contact Kurt Olson, Director of Corporate Partnerships at kurt.olson@lpga.com.

LPGA Announces 2016 International Crown Ambassador Sponsors and Officially Brings Trophy to Illinois

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