The Legends Tour will return to the Island Course at Innisbrook, a Salamander Golf & Spa Resort, this fall for the Tour’s second annual major championship – the Legends Tour Open Championship.

Drawing thousands of fans in 2009, the LTOC was played for the first time in the United States, the same year it was elevated to major status by Tour officials. With a field that included five Hall of Famers, LPGA Tour regular and Legends Tour rookie Sherri Steinhauer powered back from sidelining injuries to win the $50,000 first place check.

“We are thrilled to come back to the Island Course, which is as challenging as it is beautiful,” said Jane Blalock, CEO of The Legends Tour and 27-time winner on the LPGA Tour. “We look forward to competing again at Innisbrook and playing to our cheering fans. And, of course, we appreciate the partnership with the Hoffman Institute, a very worthy cause and one that rings true with our patron sponsor, Dr. Haruhisa Handa.”

The 2010 event will be held Friday-Sunday, November 19-21, 2010, and feature two days of professional competition, a pro-am and community outreach programs that may include children’s and/or women’s golf clinics. The Marcia P. Hoffman Institute for Performing Arts at Ruth Eckerd Hall located in Clearwater, FL, will serve as the tournament’s charitable partner.

“It is an honor to have some of the greatest women golfers of all time return to Innisbrook,” said Sheila. C. Johnson, resort owner and CEO of Salamander Hospitality. “The players love the course and the resort, and we look forward to making the tournament even more successful in 2010.”

Tickets are $10 in advance beginning August 15, 2010 (July 15, 2010 for Ruth Eckerd Hall members) and are available by logging on to www.RuthEckerdHall.com or $15 at the gate during the tournament. One hundred percent of ticket proceeds, both advance ticket sales and gate receipts, will be donated to the Hoffman Institute.

Sponsorship opportunities are available at every level. For information, including pro-am spots, contact Megan Gardner at 617-206-9757 or via e-mail at mgardner@jbcgolf.com. Additional tournament information can be found at www.legendstouropen.com. 

The event is sponsored by the International Sports Promotion Society (“ISPS”), an organization created by Dr. Handa, a Japanese businessman and philanthropist. It is part of The Legends Tour’s Handa Series, which features other international events sponsored by Dr. Handa.

For more information about the Legends Tour Open Championship, visit www.thelegendstour.com or www.legendstouropen.com. For more information about Innisbrook, a Salamander Golf & Spa Resort, visit www.innisbrookgolfresort.com. or call (727) 942-2000.