Annika Sorenstam Leads Field List for 2006 Longs Drugs Challenge

Field Boasts Top-Sixteen on LPGA Money List 


DANVILLE, Calif., Sept. 12  /PRNewswire/ -- The Longs Drugs Challenge today announced the final field list for the 2006 tournament. This year's field boasts the top sixteen players on the Official LPGA Money List, highlighted by Annika Sorenstam, the #1-ranked women's golfer in the world, and this year's leading money winner, Lorena Ochoa. The field also features several players with local ties, including Paula Creamer, Natalie Gulbis, Christina Kim, Pat Hurst, and Hall of Famer Juli Inkster.

"This is a testament to the great relationship between the tournament, our title sponsor Longs Drugs, Blackhawk Country Club and the East Bay Area," said Tournament Director Brian Flajole. "In the tournament's ten-year history, we have never had the entire Top Ten from the Money List in the field, let alone the Top 16. Everyone has worked extremely hard to promote this level of golf excellence for the players, volunteers and fans."

One of the favorite stops of the players on the LPGA Tour, the Longs Drugs Challenge will take place at Blackhawk Country Club in Danville, California the week of September 18-24, 2006. The picturesque course will be the backdrop as 132 players take aim at a purse of $1.1 million over the four-round event. Longs Drug Stores made the decision to move the tournament to the Blackhawk Country Club last year after a ten-year run in the Sacramento, California- area.

"We are extremely excited to have such a strong field list as we celebrate our first year of the Longs Drugs Challenge at Blackhawk Country Club," said Warren Bryant, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Longs Drugs. "Our founders, Tom and Joe Long, opened their first store in the Bay Area, and Walnut Creek is home to our corporate headquarters. We are proud to have the opportunity to share this exciting event with our customers, employees, business partners and the entire community. In addition, a portion of the proceeds from the event will benefit community organizations with a focus on health, education and children."

Organizations that will benefit from the Longs Drugs Challenge are:  The Make-A-Wish Foundation, Blackhawk Women's Scholarship Fund, Hospice of Contra Costa County, local chapters of the LPGA-USGA Girls Golf and nine recipients of pharmacy school scholarships.

The Longs Drugs Challenge boasts a prestigious list of winners including defending champion Nicole Perrot, San Jose's Christina Kim, winner in 2004, two-time champion and LPGA Hall of Famer Juli Inkster, winner in 1999 and 2000, top U.S. player Cristie Kerr, winner in 2002, and the world's best female golfer Annika Sorenstam, winner in 1997.

Single-day passes for any tournament round are $20. A $5 discount coupon is available at all Bay Area-Longs Drugs stores. Weekly All-Tournament Clubhouse badges are available for $100 and All-Tournament Grounds passes are available for $50. For all ticket information, including where to purchase and times, please visit the official Longs Drugs Challenge website at http://www.longsdrugschallenge.com/. 

DATASOURCE: Longs Drugs



CONTACT:  Frank Kay, [phone], or fax, [phone], or





Web site:  http://www.longs.com/ 

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