Irvine, Calif. – The University of California, Irvine women's golf program and Kia have partnered to create a unique and elite women's collegiate golf opportunity.
A sponsor exemption into the 2013 Kia Classic will be awarded to the winner of the 2013 UC Irvine Invitational presented by Kia on Feb. 25-26 at Santa Ana Country Club. This partnership will make the UC Irvine Invitational presented by Kia the only collegiate tournament in the country that will allow the winner to participate in an LPGA event.
The UC Irvine Invitational presented by Kia field will feature BYU, Gonzaga, Idaho, Long Beach State, Montana, North Dakota State, Northern Colorado, Portland State, Sacramento State, Santa Clara, UC Riverside and host UC Irvine.
"At Kia Motors we are passionate about the game of golf and proud to support events throughout the Orange County community we call home, including the UC Irvine Invitational, which offers up-and-coming collegiate golfers the unique opportunity to qualify for our namesake LPGA tournament," said Michael Sprague, executive vice president of marketing & communications, Kia Motors America. "Sports marketing initiatives and partnerships have significantly raised awareness and consideration for the brand and our vehicles and we look forward to hosting the winner of the UC Irvine Invitational in March at the Aviara Golf Club, the new home of the Kia Classic."
The fourth-annual Kia Classic will be held on March 18-24 at Aviara Golf Club located at the Park Hyatt Resort in Carlsbad, which was named by Golf Digest and Golf Magazine as one of the best resort golf courses in America and the No.1 golf resort in San Diego according to the readers of Condé Nast Traveler. The event will feature a field of 144 of the top female golfers in the world, including Natalie Gulbis, Paula Creamer, Se Ri Pak and defending champion, Yani Tseng, competing for a $1.7 million purse.
Kia supports UC Irvine Athletics to highlight its continued support for higher education while displaying their key brand attributes: Commitment to excellence, Excitement, and Youthfulness.
Julie Brooks, Head Coach UC Irvine Women's Golf - "I want to thank Kia for giving the UC Irvine Invitational their exemption into the 2013 Kia Classic. As a coach, I am always looking to take our program to the next level and this exemption is an opportunity to do that in a big way. A partnership with a company that shares similar values of excellence and education can help to grow the UC Irvine Invitational into one of the premier collegiate golf tournaments in the country."
Michael Izzi, UC Irvine Athletic Director - "We are thrilled about the partnership with Kia, which is providing women's golf student-athletes an extraordinary opportunity. We appreciate Kia's leadership and dedication to the student-athlete experience."
About the UC Irvine Invitational Women's Golf Tournament:
UC Irvine women's golf is hosting the UC Irvine Invitational presented by Kia Feb. 25-26 at the Santa Ana Country Club. The tournament field includes 14 teams and seven individuals. Participants will play 36 holes Monday followed by 18 on Tuesday. The event is free and open to the public.
About UC Irvine Athletics:
UC Irvine is a NCAA Division I member sponsoring 18 intercollegiate athletic teams (nine men's teams and nine women's teams). UC Irvine teams compete in the Big West Conference as well as the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation. In the past six years, UC Irvine has finished in the nation's top five of the Learfield Sports Division I-AAA All-Sports Trophy competition (recognizing athletic achievement among the nation's 95 Division I non-football schools). UC Irvine has finished second the past two years and
was first in 2007. UC Irvine has won 27 national team championships in nine different sports, has had 64 individual national champions, and 54 Olympic participants. UC Irvine has also had over 400 All-Americans. For more UC Irvine Athletics news, visit ucirvinesports.com
About Kia Motors America:
Kia Motors America is the marketing and distribution arm of Kia Motors Corporation based in Seoul, South Korea. KMA offers a complete line of vehicles through more than 755 dealers throughout the United States and serves as the "Official Automotive Partner" of the NBA and LPGA. In 2011, KMA recorded its best-ever annual sales total and became one of the fastest growing car companies in the U.S. Kia is poised to continue its momentum and will continue to build the brand through design innovation, quality, value, advanced safety features and new technologies. Information about Kia Motors America and its full vehicle line-up is available at its website – www.kia.com. For media information, including photography, visit www.kiamedia.com.
About the University of California, Irvine:
Founded in 1965, UC Irvine is a top-ranked university dedicated to research, scholarship and community service. Led by Chancellor Michael Drake since 2005, UC Irvine is among the most dynamic campuses in the University of California system, with more than 28,000 undergraduate and graduate students, 1,100 faculty and 9,400 staff. Orange County's second-largest employer, UC Irvine contributes an annual economic impact of $4.3 billion. For more UC Irvine news, visit news.uci.edu.
About Aviara Golf Club:
Named by Golf Digest and Golf Magazine as one of the best resort golf courses in America, Aviara Golf Club overlooks the protected Batiquitos Lagoon and is the only golf course in San Diego designed by Arnold Palmer. Aviara features a memorable par 72 coastal layout that stretches 7,007 yards and is uniquely sculpted around rolling hillsides, native wildflowers, and plenty of bunker and water challenges. Hole after hole, Aviara golf stimulates the senses with colorful flowers and flora and then sneaks in an ocean view hole just to ensure you'll never forget this magnificent Park Hyatt golf experience. The elegant two-story, 32,000-square-foot Spanish Colonial clubhouse features a bar, cozy lounge with fireplace and the adjoining Argyle Steakhouse with indoor and outdoor balcony seating. Showers, locker rooms, an upscale golf shop, driving range and an oversized practice putting green round out all the Aviara experience.
About Park Hyatt Aviara Resort:
Secluded amidst 200 acres of verdant hillsides and rolling valleys within the master-planned community of Aviara, Park Hyatt Aviara Resort is AAA Five Diamond-rated and provides an appealing setting for any function. The resort's Spanish colonial architecture welcomes with a sense of casual elegance. Each of the 329 spacious guest rooms – including 44 suites – features a private balcony or landscaped terrace offering magnificent views. Expansive facilities for meetings and special events are enhanced by complete resort amenities, from acclaimed dining at four on-site restaurants, to a full-service spa, swimming, tennis, a fitness center and an Arnold Palmer-designed 18-hole championship golf course. Follow Park Hyatt Aviara on Twitter, @ParkHyattAviara and become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ParkHyattAviara. www.parkhyattaviara.com
