Meijer LPGA Classic presented by Kraft Takes Home Top Honor at LPGA Gold Driver Awards

First time a second-year event won the distinction

News provided by

Jan 13, 2016, 10:00 ET

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Jan. 13, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Meijer LPGA Classic presented by Kraft received the top honor at the recent LPGA Annual Gold Driver Awards event, marking the first time a second-year event took home the Gold Driver – Dave Goff Series Award.

The tournament accepted a total of seven awards during the annual luncheon that honors excellence in event management and marketing across the entire LPGA tournament schedule.

"We are dedicated to making the Meijer LPGA Classic an event the community can stand behind, and this award highlights that effort," Meijer Co-Chairman Doug Meijer said. "This event continues to exceed our expectations, and we cannot thank the community enough for their continued support."

The Gold Driver – Dave Goff Series Award recognizes the entire body of work from a tournament, and is considered the ultimate prize awarded by the LPGA and Tournament Owners Association.

"We are thrilled to receive this recognition for the Meijer LPGA Classic – just in its second year," Tournament Director Lesley Baker said. "Meijer really goes above and beyond to make this a cannot miss event in the Grand Rapids community, all while supporting local food pantries through Simply Give."

Here is the complete list of 2015 Gold Driver Awards received by the second annual Meijer LPGA Classic:

Gold Driver – Dave Goff Series Award
Silver – Marketing Sales Material
Silver – Print Advertising
Silver – Social Media
Silver – Website
Bronze – Overall Tournament Experience
Bronze – TV Advertising

Proceeds from the tournament benefit the Meijer Simply Give program, which restocks the shelves of Midwest food pantries. The inaugural tournament raised more than $600,000, and the 2015 Meijer LPGA Classic generated $750,000 for the Simply Give program.

The 2016 Meijer LPGA Classic will be held June 13-19 at Blythefield Country Club.

Contacts:

Lesley Baker, Tournament Director, Octagon
[email protected] or 616-426-6225

Christina Fecher, Public Relations Manager, Meijer
[email protected] or 616-735-7968

About Meijer Simply Give

Meijer is a family-owned retailer based in Grand Rapids, Mich. with a fundamental philosophy aimed at strengthening the communities it serves. Meijer operates more than 200 supercenters and grocery stores throughout Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and Wisconsin, and proudly donates more than 6 percent of its net profit each year to charities throughout the Midwest. With hunger as a corporate philanthropic focus, Meijer partners with hundreds of food banks and pantries through its Simply Give and food rescue programs. Meijer also supports education, disaster relief, and health and wellness initiatives. For additional information on Meijer philanthropy, please visit meijercommunity.com. Follow Meijer on Twitter @twitter.com/Meijer and @twitter.com/MeijerPR or become a fan at www.facebook.com/meijer.

About Blythefield Country Club

Located just north of Grand Rapids, Blythefield has been providing families the best golf and social experience in West Michigan since 1928. With the Rogue River flowing through, Blythefield boasts one of the most beautiful championship layouts in Michigan. Previously, Blythefield has hosted the 1953 Western Amateur, the 1961 Western Open, won by Arnold Palmer, and the 2005 Western Junior won by Rickie Fowler. In 2014, Blythefield hosted the inaugural Meijer LPGA Classic presented by Kraft. Learn more about Blythefield Country Club at www.blythefieldcc.org/.

About the LPGA (Ladies Professional Golf Association)

The LPGA is the world's leading professional golf organization for women. Founded in 1950, the association celebrates a diverse and storied membership with more than 2,300 members representing more than 30 different countries. With a Vision to inspire, empower, educate and entertain by showcasing the very best of women's golf, LPGA Tour Professionals compete across the globe, while dedicated LPGA Teaching and Club Professionals (T&CP) directly impact the game through teaching, coaching and management. The Symetra Tour consistently produces a pipeline of talent ready for the world stage. The LPGA is headquartered in Daytona Beach, Florida. Follow the LPGA on its television home, Golf Channel, and on the web via: www.lpga.com, www.facebook.com/LPGA, www.twitter.com/lpga, and www.youtube.com/user/lpgavideo.

About Octagon Global Events

Octagon Global Events is a division of Octagon, the world's largest sports and entertainment representation and marketing agency. Octagon Global Events focuses on premium event/property management, providing strategic corporate solutions. The division currently manages two Champions Tour events, two LPGA Tour events and the Toyota Texas Bass Classic. For more information, visit http://www.octagonglobalevents.com/.

SOURCE Meijer