| WILLIAMSBURG,
Va. (May 10, 2005) ?Michelob ULTRA hosted a special reception to
recognize the 36 LPGA Tour Asian golfers participating in this week𠏋
LPGA Michelob ULTRA Open at Kingsmill. Participating LPGA Asian
golfers attended the reception including defending champion Se Ri
Pak and 2003 champion Grace Park. Welcoming remarks were given by
Tony Ponturo, executive chairman, Michelob ULTRA Open, and vice
president, global media and sports marketing, Anheuser-Busch, Inc.
Key guests included Ty M. Votaw, Commissioner of the LPGA, officers
and board members of the Korean American Grocers Association (KAGRO)
from Washington, DC, Baltimore, Md., Upper Marlboro, Md. and Richmond,
VA. Forty-Nine of the Top 50 LPGA Tour Players vied for a share
of the $2.2 million purse. The winner Cristie Kerr received $330,000.
"We𠆫e very pleased to have play from so many of the world's
best Asian women golfers," said Votaw, Commissioner of the
LPGA. "This year, they represent approximately one quarter
of the LPGA golfers participating in the Michelob ULTRA Open at
Kingsmill making this tournament a truly international event."
Defending champion Se Ri Pak, 2003 champion Grace Park, Mi Hyun
Kim and Hee-Won Han, were among the top Asian LPGA golfers in
the third annual Michelob ULTRA Open at Kingsmill.
"This is the third year in a row that we have held a special
reception to recognize the Asian LPGA golfers and we were pleased
to welcome the two Michelob ULTRA Open champions, Se Ri Pak, the
defending champion and Grace Park, one of our Michelob ULTRA Ambassadors
and inaugural champion, said David L. Kim, director of sales development
and community relations, Anheuser-Busch, Inc. "It seems only
fitting since May is Asian Pacific American Heritage month, that
this reception provides us with a unique opportunity to introduce
our retailer guests and community friends to the best Asian women
golfers in the world. For many of them, this represents an experience
of a lifetime. We𠆫e pleased that Michelob Ultra will be thought
of as part of this unforgettable experience."
The tournament took place at the Kingsmill Resort and Spa, owned
and operated by Busch Properties, Inc., the real estate subsidiary
of Anheuser-Busch Companies. The Michelob Family is one of golf's
strongest corporate sponsors with an association that dates back
more than 32 years. In addition to the Michelob ULTRA Open at
Kingsmill, Anheuser-Busch has sponsored the LPGA since 1994. Michelob
ULTRA now serves as the "official beer," and O'Doul's
serves as the "official non-alcohol brew" of the LPGA,
PGA TOUR and the Champions Tour.
Based in St. Louis, Anheuser-Busch Cos., Inc. is the leading
American brewer holding 50 percent of the U.S. beer market. The
company is American-owned and brews the world𠏋 largest-selling
beers, Budweiser and Bud Light. Anheuser-Busch also holds a 50
percent share in Grupo Modelo, Mexico𠏋 leading brewer, and a 27
percent share in Tsingtao, the No. 1 brewer in China. Anheuser-Busch
ranked first in the U.S. beverage industry in FORTUNE magazine𠏋
2005 "America𠏋 Most Admired Companies" and in the top
30 on FORTUNE𠏋 2005 "Global Most Admired Companies"
list. The company is one of the largest theme park operators in
the United States, is a major manufacturer of aluminum cans and
is the world𠏋 largest recycler of aluminum beverage containers.
For more information, visit www.asianbud.com.
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