LPGA Tour adds new tournament in Bahamas sponsored by Pure Silk

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- The LPGA Tour has a new tournament this year that will be played in the Bahamas.

Commissioner Mike Whan said that Pure Silk will be the title sponsor of the Bahamas LPGA Classic, to be played May 23-26 at Ocean Club Golf Course at Atlantis in Paradise Islands. The 72-hole event will have a $1.3 million purse.

Whan says there are few things more enjoyable for a commissioner than to tell his players they're going to The Bahamas for Memorial Day weekend.

Pure Silk also signed on as an official marketing partner of the LPGA. The company that makes shaving cream for women already had deals with players such as Stacy Lewis, Natalie Gulbis and Brittany Lincicome.

The full LPGA schedule is expected to be announced later this week.

In addition, the LPGA Tour has announced that Marathon Petroleum Corporation has become the title partner of the Toledo-based tournament previously known as the Jamie Farr Toledo Classic. The event, to be played July 18-21 at Highland Meadows Golf Club in Sylvania, Ohio, will be renamed the Marathon Classic presented by Owens Corning & O-I.

Over the past 28 years, the tournament has contributed $7.75 million to more than 100 children’s charities in northwest Ohio and southeastern Michigan.

South Korea’s So Yeon Ryu won last season’s tournament with a final-round 9-under-par 62 that helped her earn Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year honors in November.