The Ladies Professional Golf Association has signed safety consulting and certification company Underwriters Laboratories as the title sponsor of the next two editions of the International Crown national team tournament, adding the event will leave the US for the first time in 2018.
Having debuted earlier this year, the second edition of the International Crown will take place at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, Illinois from July 18-24, 2016. UL will expand its involvement having served as an ambassador sponsor for the inaugural eight-team matchplay competition at Caves Valley Golf Club in Owings Mills, Maryland earlier this year.
Luxury watch brand Rolex and investment management firm Calamos Investments have also been announced as ambassador partners for the forthcoming International Crowns. The LPGA has said the 2018 tournament will be staged in Korea, with a location and dates yet to be determined.
On the move to Korea, LPGA commissioner Mike Whan said: “The Republic of Korea has clearly demonstrated their support for the LPGA by hosting 18 different tournaments over the years with tremendous fan support. It made perfect sense that the first time we take the International Crown outside of the United States was to a country with so many dedicated fans and supporters of women’s golf.”
He added: “When we came up with the idea for the International Crown our goal was to launch a truly global event for women’s golf which we did earlier this year at Caves Valley Golf Club. We were looking for a partner to help grow it globally and I can think of no better partner than UL, whose business aligns perfectly with the LPGA.”
Spain is the defending International Crown champion having swept its singles matches to win against Sweden by four points in July.