HEIDMAR BLUE & GRAY GOLF Classics Spo.. - USMMA KP Alumni ...

about:blank1 of 2 7/22/2011 1:02 PMFor Immediate ReleaseJuly 18, 2011ANNIKA ACADEMY BECOMES NATIONAL SPONSOR OF THE HEIDMAR BLUE & GRAY GOLF CLASSICSKings Point, N.Y. - The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Alumni Association and Foundation is proud to announcethat the ANNIKA Academy, the renowned golf teaching facility founded by Hall of Fame LPGA golfer AnnikaSorenstam, will become a national sponsor of the 2011 Heidmar Blue & Gray Golf Classics and its “SkillsChallenges.” The tour will feature five on-course contests called the “ANNIKA Academy Skills Challenges” andconsist of the Longest Drive, Straightest Drive, Closest to the Pin (2) and the Par 5 Challenge.The Merchant Marine Academy will benefit through a revenue sharing program with the ANNIKA Academy, whichfeatures multiple golf school vacation packages geared toward world-class instruction. The ANNIKA Academy willdonate a percentage of proceeds to the Merchant Marine Academy for all three day golf packages booked byUSMMA graduates, families and friends. Additionally, the ANNIKA Academy has donated an “ANNIKA Academy”auction package to the New York Heidmar Blue & Gray Golf Classic. This special package features a private,one-hour lunch for two (2) with Annika Sorenstam, plus two-nights at Reunion Resort near Orlando, Florida and around of golf for two on one of three signature resort courses (Palmer, Watson, Nicklaus).“We are honored to support the Heidmar Blue & Gray Golf Classics and the men and women of the United StatesMerchant Marine Academy,” said Annika Sorenstam of the cause. “We are excited to be connected to this uniqueand special tour and I personally invite the Merchant Marine Academy community and Heidmar Blue & Gray GolfClassics participants to our facility. Come share my passion for golf, fitness and nutrition by joining us in Florida fora little fun, golf and instruction.”The ANNIKA Academy, located on the property of Reunion Resort just miles from Disney World, is personallyoperated under Sorenstam and her team of instructors, personal swing coach Henri Reis, personal trainer KaiFusser sister, LPGA winner, Charlotta Sorenstam, and Mark Bereza. Together, their style and approach toteaching golf has reshaped the skill levels of thousands of golfers.“This is a wonderful opportunity to introduce the ANNIKA Academy to the Merchant Marine Academy family andthe Heidmar Blue & Gray Golf Classics,” said Gregg Matalas, Director of Marketing/Blue & Gray for the USMMAAlumni Association and Foundation. “The ANNIKA Academy is one of the top golf teaching facilities in the worldand has redefined the golf instruction. What better way to master the game than from Annika Sorenstam and herpersonal coaches? In the end, it’s a win-win for all, the Merchant Marine Academy benefits and everyone fixestheir slice.”For package details and more information on the ANNIKA Academy, please visit the ANNIKA Academy’s websiteat http://www.theannikaacademy.com/. To book and schedule a vacation as well as help support the U.S.Merchant Marine Academy, please contact Michelle McGee at michellem@theannikaacademy.com or

about:blank2 of 2 7/22/2011 1:02 PM407-385-1244 and book your package today.The Heidmar Blue & Gray Golf Classics are 12 national golf tournaments coordinated by the USMMA AlumniAssociation and Foundation that benefit the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and its Department of Athletics. Theproceeds go directly to support varsity sports and the entire physical education department.The events are coordinated during the calendar year and serve U.S. Merchant Marine Academy alumni, parents,maritime organizations and friends of the Academy. The tour stops in Las Vegas, Fort Lauderdale, Washington,D.C., Houston, New York, Norfolk (Va.), Baltimore, San Francisco, Kings Point (N.Y.), Tampa, Los Angeles andNew Orleans. The tour, which is attracting record numbers in 2011, has averaged just over 1,200 attendees a yearfor the last four years.Heidmar Inc., the tour’s National Title Sponsor, leads a string of national sponsors that provide critical support tothe outings. Heidmar is a successful tanker vessel trader, a leading worldwide commercial manager of tankers anda marine services provider to the energy industry. Located in Norwalk (Conn.), Heidmar employs nine MerchantMarine Academy graduates, including Heidmar President, Tim Brennan '87.The tour will stop next in New York at the Engineers and North Shore Country Clubs on Monday, July 25. Theevent is the largest on the tour and sees over 300 attendees. For more information on the Heidmar Blue & GrayGolf Classics, please visit www.blueandgraygolf.com.About Annika:Annika is the greatest female golfer of our generation and often regarded as the best of all-time. During her15-year Hall of Fame career, she rewrote the LPGA and Ladies European Tour record books, won countlessawards and changed the way women’s golf was played, viewed, and covered. She amassed 89 worldwideprofessional victories, including 72 LPGA wins, ten of which are Major Championships. Annika stepped away fromprofessional golf after the 2008 season to focus on her family and the ANNIKA brand of businesses, including theANNIKA Academy, ANNIKA Financial Group, ANNIKA Course Design, the ANNIKA Collection of apparel withCutter & Buck, signature high-end wines with Wente Vineyards and an online retail shop,http://www.shopannika.com/. In 2007, Annika created the ANNIKA Foundation as a way to teach children theimportance of living a healthy, active lifestyle through fitness and nutrition, and offer aspiring junior golfersopportunities to pursue their dreams. In 2008, Annika joined Arnold Palmer as only the second Ambassador of theUnited States Golf Association, and in 2009, along with Jack Nicklaus, she was named a Global Ambassador bythe International Golf Federation and aided in the successful bid for golf in the 2016 Olympic Games. Annika willserve as a vice-captain for The 2011 European Solheim Cup Team at Killeen Castle in County Meath, Ireland,Sept. 23-25. More information can be found at http://www.annikasorenstam.com/.Gregg MatalasDirector of Marketing / Blue & GrayUSMMA Alumni Association and Foundation300 Steamboat Road, Kings Point, NY 11024516-773-5544 (Direct) / 516-482-5308 (Fax)gregg.matalas@alumni.usmma.eduHeidmar Blue & Gray Golf Classics: http://www.blueandgraygolf.com/USMMA Alumni Association and Foundation: http://www.usmmaaf.com/U.S. Merchant Marine Academy: http://www.usmma.edu/USMMA Sports: http://www.usmmasports.com/USMMA Alumni Association and Foundation300 Steamboat Road - Babson Center, Kings Point, NY 11024If you wish to be removed from this group's mailing list, click here