2012 News Releases

• More than 66,000 spectators
• 1,400 volunteers
• 144 of the world’s top female golfers

Waterloo - Impressively, more than 66,000 spectators came out to Grey Silo Golf Course to watch as Brittany Lang was crowned champion of the inaugural Manulife Financial LPGA Classic.  In total, 144 of the best female golfers from around the world came to Waterloo Region to compete for a $1.3M purse.
 
Lang, a McKinney, Texas, native won the tournament at Grey Silo GolfCourse for her first LPGA Tour title, defeating Chella Choi, Inbee Park and Hee Kyung Seo in a three-hole, sudden death playoff.  She birdied the par-5 18th hole three straight times to become a Rolex First-Time Winner and earn the $195,000 first-placecheque. Lang shot 4-under-par 67 during the final round to finish the week at 16-under-par 268.
 
Throughout the five-day tournament week, kids 15 and under were admitted free with a ticketed adult, encouraging families from all over the region and beyond to come out and support the LPGA professionals.
 
“The overwhelming support displayed by the fans in the Waterloo Region confirms our excitement about the Manulife Financial LPGA Classic,” stated Mike Whan, Commissioner of the LPGA. “Our LPGA family is so proud to have been invited to Manulife’s home in Waterloo and we can't wait to come back. A very special thanks goes to Manulife Financial for their support and hospitality.”
 
“By all measures, the inaugural Manulife Financial LPGA Classic has been a huge success,” noted Brian Gooding, Senior Vice President of Distribution at Manulife Financial. “From the more than 66,000 fans to the 1,400 volunteers, this community has come together to help create a world-class sporting event, shining a global spotlight on Waterloo Region. The feedback we have received from spectators, volunteers, players and LPGA officials has been extremely positive.”
 
Volunteerism was an important component to the tournament with more than 1,400 volunteers performing a variety of essential duties including: transportation, shuttle services, marshals, walking scorers, operations, and player and caddie hospitality at the tournament.

“We could not be more pleased with the incredible support the community showed by coming out to the tournament this week at Grey Silo,” stated Richard Kuypers, Tournament Director for the Manulife Financial LPGA Classic.  “We had more than 1,400 members of the community volunteer their time to make sure the tournament went off seamlessly and we are so grateful to the fans, volunteers, players and, of course, Manulife Financial for making this such an incredible event in Waterloo Region.”
 
As the official charity partner, the St. Mary’s General Hospital Foundation receives a portion of the tournament proceeds to enhance the hospital’s volunteer program and support its Regional Cardiac Care Centre, while providing the opportunity to raise awareness about the importance of women’s heart health. An announcement regarding the total charitable contributions will be made at a later date. The hospital also ran a 50/50 draw during the tournament that raised a total of $21,140.
 
Tickets for the 2013 Manulife Financial LPGA Classic are expected to go on sale this fall. For more information, visit www.manulifeclassic.ca.
 
About the Manulife Financial LPGA Classic
The Manulife Financial LPGA Classic is a new addition to the LPGA Tour and featured a standard eligibility field of 144 players, 72 holes of stroke play and a purse of $1.3 million. The 2012 inaugural tournament took place June 20-24, at Grey Silo Golf Course in Waterloo, Ontario, home of Manulife Financial’s Canadian Division. www.manulifeclassic.ca
 
About Manulife Financial
Manulife Financial is a leading Canada-based financial services group with principaloperations in Asia, Canada and the United States. In 2012, we celebrate 125years of providing clients strong, reliable, trustworthy and forward-thinking solutions for their most significant financial decisions. Our internationalnetwork of employees, agents and distribution partners offers financial protection and wealth management products and services to millions of clients. We also provide asset management services to institutional customers. Funds under management by Manulife Financial and its subsidiaries were C$512 billion (US$512 billion) as at March 31, 2012. The Company operates as Manulife Financial in Canada and Asia and primarily as John Hancock in the United States.
 
Manulife Financial Corporation trades as ‘MFC’ on the TSX, NYSE and PSE, and under ‘945’ on the SEHK. Manulife Financial can be found on the Internet at manulife.com.
 
About Sports Properties International
Sports Properties International was created to provide an environment where communities and spectacular sporting events can come together, connected by a common interest. Sports Properties International can be found on the Internet at www.sportspropertiesinternational.com.
 
About Bruno Event Team
Bruno Event Team (BET) is a Birmingham, Alabama-based sports marketing and event management company formed in 1996 by Ronald Bruno and Gene Hallman. Bruno Event Team is experienced in all facets of event management, employing a year-round staff of 70+ employees in nine offices around the United States and one office in Canada.  Bruno Event Team services each client withexpertise in strategic planning, marketing, advertising, public and media relations, ticket and merchandise sales, sponsor relations, hospitality consulting, event operations, event financial planning/accounting and volunteer coordination. Visit www.brunoeventteam.com for additional information.
 

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