GREENWOOD, S.C., Oct. 23, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Organizers of the Self Regional Healthcare Foundation Women's Health Charity Classic, announced its inaugural purse will be the largest to date on the Symetra Tour – Road to the LPGA, exceeding $150,000.

The majority of the top-level sponsorships received commitments in the first week of the tournament announcement in mid-September. "The response to this tournament has been overwhelming," said James Medford, Tournament Chair. "The excitement this is generating is energizing the community and bringing everyone together."

Sponsors to date include:

• Self Regional Healthcare Foundation
• Aaron Industries
• Ascend Performance Materials
• Countybank
• Capsugel
• Duke Energy
• Eaton Corporation
• Fujifilm
• City of Greenwood
• Greenwood County
• Greenwood Regional Tourism Board 

The tournament has also surpassed other Symetra events in the amount of funds raised for charity, with a minimum of $200,000. "Thanks to the tremendous corporate support for this event, the real winners will be the women of this area who will benefit with increased access to health and education services for themselves and their families," said Chip Stockman, Chairman of the Self Regional Healthcare Foundation, the primary beneficiary of the tournament. The Greenwood Community Foundation will oversee the use of funds to support women's health initiatives with other organizations throughout the Lakelands.

The tournament, which will be held May 5-11, 2014, at The Links at Stoney Point in Greenwood, S.C., is expected to have significant economic impact on the area. "Initial interest on the part of the community and sponsors has created a lot of attention for Greenwood," said Chief Business Officer of the Symetra Tour, Mike Nichols. "That makes it appealing to everyone."

The Links at Stoney Point has signed an exclusive sponsorship with Symetra tour golfer Stefanie Kenoyer, who will promote the tournament and women's health awareness locally. Kenoyer, Symetra golfer Jaye Marie Green, tour representatives and organizers are meeting today with local hotel and restaurant operators and tourism industry officials to discuss the tournament's positive impact on the local economy.

The Self Regional Healthcare Foundation http://selfregionalfoundation.org/ primarily funds health-related programs and projects at Self Regional Healthcare, http://www.selfregional.org/ a not-for-profit, regional referral hospital that serves residents of Greenwood, Abbeville, Laurens, Saluda, McCormick, Edgefield, and Newberry counties with prevention, wellness, acute care and tertiary care services including cancer care, neurosurgery, heart and vascular surgery, NICU, and orthopedics. Self Medical Group is its employed physician affiliate network of 20 practices and more than 60 physicians.

The Symetra Tour – Road to the LPGA,  http://www.symetratour.com/ is the official developmental tour of the LPGA and is in its 33rd competitive season in 2013. With the support of its umbrella partner, Symetra, the Tour's mission is to prepare the world's best young women professional golfers for a successful career on the LPGA Tour. 2013 marks the second season that the top-10 money winners will receive full, equal status for the following season on the LPGA Tour. With more than 500 alumnae moving on to the LPGA, former Symetra Tour players have won a total of 371 LPGA titles, including 40 major championships. Symetra Tour events have contributed more than $5 million to charitable organizations throughout the nation since 1989. Follow the Symetra Tour on the web at www.SymetraTour.com, Facebook.com/RoadtotheLPGA, Twitter.com/Road2LPGA, and YouTube.com/Road2LPGA.

SOURCE Self Regional Healthcare Foundation

RELATED LINKShttp://selfregionalfoundation.org