The Danielle Downey Classic brings ladies professional golf back to Rochester

ROCHESTER, N.Y., September 23, 2014 – The Epson Tour, the Road to the LPGA, and Brook-Lea Country Club are excited to announce the formation of the Danielle Downey Classic from July 13-19, 2015 at Brook-Lea Country Club. The Danielle Downey Classic will be the first Epson Tour event in Rochester in the 35-year history of the Tour.

“Brook-Lea Country Club is one of the best kept secrets in Rochester, and we know that this event is going to help change that. We are excited to welcome the Rochester golf community and the Epson Tour to our club and to showcase our beautiful facilities and wonderful Donald Ross designed golf course,” said Ann Kerwick, President of Brook-Lea Country Club. “More importantly, we are proud of the opportunity to honor Danielle Downey, a wonderful young lady who grew up at Brook-Lea and worked her way onto the LPGA Tour.”

Mike Nichols, Chief Business Officer at Epson Tour added “We are thrilled to be bringing the Epson Tour to Rochester, which as history has shown, is a great supporter of women’s golf. Clearly, I understand the disappointment that the long-standing LPGA tournament will not be returning in the immediate future. The Epson Tour, however, is a Tour that is growing and provides the Rochester community a chance to embrace future stars of the LPGA at the earliest stages of their professional careers.”

“Rochester champions - and multiple major winners - Inbee Park and Lorena Ochoa both played their way onto the LPGA through the Epson Tour. And one of golf’s greatest cities can now play a key role in helping these young ladies fulfill their lifelong dreams of playing on the LPGA, just as it did with hometown favorite Danielle Downey, whose memory will be honored by this event.”

The Danielle Downey Scholarship fund was created in 2014 after Danielle’s passing and was presented to local high school golfer Meredith Glenning in June. Beginning in 2015, an annual scholarship will be granted to a local high school girl golfer and a matching gift will be given in her name to a charity of her choice. Danielle’s sister, Erica Downey-Setzer emphasized “Our family is honored and humbled by the continued support from the Rochester community, the LPGA and the members of Brook-Lea CC who are partnering to honor Danielle in ways that would make her so proud.”

In addition to helping fund The Danielle Downey Scholarship, the tournament is partnering with The Hillside Work Scholarship Program.

“These future stars of the LPGA are outstanding role models for young people with their hard work and commitment to achieving specific goals,” said Augie Melendez of the Hillside Work Scholarship Program. “We are excited about the opportunity to partner with the Epson Tour’s Danielle Downey Classic to benefit at risk youth.”

Information on The Danielle Downey Classic including sponsorship opportunities, volunteering and pro-am events will be posted soon on www.danielledowneyclassic.com, or by emailing Mike Vadala at vadala@danielledowneyclassic.com.

LPGA Epson Tour Coming to Rochester for the First Time

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