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Friday, January 28, 2022

Epson Replaces Symetra as Sponsor of Women’s “Road to the LPGA” Professional Golf Tour


Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort Hotel to Host Tour’s Circling Raven Championship in August 2022

(Worley, Idaho) – Circling Raven Golf Club – home of the nationally honored course in Idaho and an amenity of Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort Hotel – today announced that the 2022 Circling Raven Championship will be played in August as part of the newly announced Epson Tour, the LPGA’s official qualifying tour.

The LPGA Tour announced the five-year agreement with Epson America, Inc. yesterday, launching the technology leader’s title sponsorship of exclusive naming rights to the Official Qualifying Tour of the LPGA. The newly named Epson Tour enters its 42nd year of structured competition in 2022 and is the most established women’s qualifying tour in the world as the one “Road to the LPGA.”

The Epson Tour sponsorship takes effect immediately and extends through the 2026 calendar year. The Epson Tour will award LPGA Tour membership to the top-10 players on the Race for the Card money list at the end of each season.

“We are delighted to welcome Epson to the LPGA Tour family. This ground-breaking partnership will provide expanded opportunities for the future stars of the game from around the globe to test their talent and take one step closer to realizing their dreams,” said LPGA Tour commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan. “We are grateful that Epson shares our commitment to supporting young female athletes as they grow and develop and to playing an active role in the growth and equity in women’s sports.”

The commitment to support young women athletes that LPGA Commissioner Marcoux Samaan cites ideally aligns with the Circling Raven Championship. 

“It’s encouraging and exciting to have Epson support the tour, women golfers, and the Circling Raven Championship,” said Laura Penney, CEO, Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort Hotel. “As the tour’s title sponsor, they’re helping create opportunities through golf for females, which is one of objectives the Coeur d’Alene Tribe set when it decided to build Circling Raven and host a women’s professional tournament.”

The inaugural Circling Raven Championship presented by KXLY News 4 Now was played last August, the first in the 3-year agreement with the LPGA. Competitors battled for $200,000 in prize money which was one of the highest purses on the Symetra Tour last year.

Higher purses across the Epson Tour schedule and providing stipends for Epson Tour players graduating to the LPGA Tour are some proactive Epson commitments that will further support the tour and its players. 

Underscoring Epson’s commitment to advancing the careers of talented female golfers, it is contributing funds to initially lower entry fees by 10% per tournament for each player throughout the season, amounting to as much as $1,000 per individual over the course of the year. Part of this initiative is the creation of the Epson Tour DEI Partnership, as Epson and the LPGA are challenging at least four other companies to join them in elevating the competitive drive and dedication of Epson Tour members by working together to cut player-entry fees in half, from $500 to $250. Participating organizations will receive Pro-Am teams and signage at every Epson Tour tournament. 

Sponsorship is crucial at both the tour and tournament levels. Sponsors of the 2021 Circling Raven Championship came from throughout the region, as well as national companies, including the KXLY Broadcast Group, Centennial Distribution, Wildhorse Casino & Resort, Waymaker Wealth Advisors, Bank of America, and Callaway Golf.

There are 2022 Circling Raven Championship sponsor opportunities now available. For more details about this year’s tournament, contact Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort Hotel and Circling Raven at: 1.800.523.2464 or visit www.cdacasino.com.

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