IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Jamie Carbone

January 17, 2008 561/624-8446

STATE FARM INSURANCE EXTENDS SPONSORSHIP OF PGA

MINORITY COLLEGIATE GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP THROUGH 2010

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. – State Farm Insurance has extended its sponsorship to support the PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship through the 2010 season. The championship, conducted since 1998 at The PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Fla., is a showcase of collegiate golf teams from some of the country’s Historical Black Colleges and Universities and Hispanic Serving Institutions.

The State Farm sponsorship provides funding of a one-hour championship highlight program on Golf Channel. The 22nd PGA Minority College Golf Championship will be conducted May 8-11, and utilize two of the three premier courses at The PGA Golf Club. Last year, the championship featured 175 golfers representing 32 universities.

The State Farm sponsorship also includes funding for scholarships to eligible student contestants. Each year, 10 students are selected as recipients of State Farm/PGA of America Collegiate Scholarships.

“We’re excited to extend our sponsorship of the PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship. This tournament attracts the most talented student golfers from the country’s best Historical Black Colleges and Universities and Hispanic Serving Institutions,” said State Farm Assistant Vice President – Advertising Mark Gibson.

“The PGA of America is very pleased to have State Farm extend its support of the PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship. Through this eight-year partnership, we have experienced significant growth in the number of collegiate golfers,” said PGA of America President Brian Whitcomb. “Some contestants have become PGA Professionals, while others have become outstanding professionals while still utilizing golf as a viable business asset. We are extremely proud that State Farm is a strategic partner in our efforts to help young people enjoy and profit from this wonderful game of golf.”

The PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship originated from a meeting in November 1986 following the Jackson State University Golf Tournament. The late Dr. Herschel Cochrane, President and Dr. Joe D. Saunders of the National Negro Golf Association, Jackson State University Golf Coach Eddie Payton, Rose Harper-Elder of the Sports Management Institute and William (Bill) Dickey founder of the Bill Dickey Scholarship Association and the 1999 PGA Distinguished Service Award winner, are credited as the founders for this Championship.

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The goal was to elevate the game of golf in minority colleges and universities by giving them a chance to compete in a championship because of being denied opportunities to compete in NCAA Collegiate Golf events.

The first Championship was conducted in the spring of 1987 at Highland Park Golf Course in Cleveland, Ohio. Since 1998, The PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Fla., has been host to the Championship. The PGA of America was granted complete ownership and management of the championship by the National Minority Collegiate Golf Scholarship Fund in 2006.

Since 1916, The PGA of America's mission has been twofold; to establish and elevate the standards of the profession and to grow interest and participation in the game of golf.

By establishing and elevating the standards of the golf profession through world-class education, career services, marketing and research programs, the Association enables PGA Professionals to maximize their performance in their respective career paths and showcases them as experts in the game and in the $195 billion golf industry.

By creating and delivering dramatic world-class championships and exciting and enjoyable golf promotions that are viewed as the best of their class in the golf industry, The PGA of America elevates the public's interest in the game, the desire to play more golf, and ensures accessibility to the game for everyone, everywhere. The PGA of America brand represents the very best in golf.

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The PGA of America, 100 Avenue of the Champions, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418