LPGA Schwebel will sponsor '04 Long Drive Contest

Giant Eagle Classic events are set July 12-18.
VIENNA -- The Giant Eagle LPGA Classic announced this week that the Schwebel Baking Company will be the title sponsor for the 2004 Giant Eagle LPGA Classic Long Drive Contest.
The event, scheduled for July 13 at 2 p.m., will feature six of the longest-hitting LPGA professionals on tour. The event takes place on the alternate No. 1 tee at Squaw Creek Country Club.
Schwebel's celebrates its 10th anniversary as sponsor of the Long Drive contest at the same time the Giant Eagle LPGA Classic is celebrating the tournament's 15th season in the Mahoning Valley.
LPGA professional Caroline Blaylock holds the long-drive record of 322 yards set in 1998.
The contest consists of two elimination rounds and one final round that concludes with the crowing of the 2004 champion.
Charities benefit
A portion of the proceeds generated from the long-drive contest supports local children's and educational charities chosen through the Mahoning Valley Sports Charities, Inc., grant program.
This season the Giant Eagle LPGA Classic moves back to its original time frame in mid-July, after a one-year stint in early June last season.
The event is slated July 12-18 at Squaw Creek.
"We are excited to be back in July as we won't conflict with the end of the school year for some of our volunteers, and we hope to avoid the sometimes unpredictable June weather which we encountered last year," said Eddie Thomas, Giant Eagle LPGA executive director.
This year's event will be preceded by the U.S. Women's Open in Hadley, Mass., on July 1-4 and the BMO Financial Group Canadian Women's Open in Niagara Falls on July 8-11.
The Giant Eagle week also will serve as a final tune-up for the world's top players as they travel to the Evian Masters in France and the Women's British Open in Berkshire, England in the weeks following the tournament here.
Defending champion Rachel Teske, who won last year's event in a three-hole sudden-death playoff, will be back to defend her title.
Tickets for the tournament are available at participating Giant Eagle outlets and by calling the tournament office at (330) 565-5742.