MARCHING.COM: LPGA player Kyeong Bae selects Drum Corps International as charity of choice

Golf tournament will donate $500,000 to charities chosen by top 10 players

Kyeong Bae donated ad space on her golf bag to DCI, and now has chosen DCI to receive her winnings in a charity golf tournament.

Kyeong Bae donated ad space on her golf bag to DCI, and now has chosen DCI to receive her winnings in a charity golf tournament.

INDIANAPOLIS (March 16, 2011) — LPGA professional golfer Kyeong Bae will play for Drum Corps International (DCI) at the inaugural RR Donnelley LPGA Founders Cup March 18-20 in Phoenix, AZ. Drum Corps International will receive her winnings if she is among the top 10 finishers. This year's $1 million purse is being donated entirely to charity.

"Drum Corps International provides outstanding leadership development opportunities and performing arts educational experiences to student musicians and performers," said Bae. "With music education programs being eliminated in schools at an alarming pace, I feel it's important to raise awareness of the work that Drum Corps International does to provide learning and performance opportunities to thousands of young people each year."

Drum Corps International is the world leading event producer for the world's most elite marching music ensembles for young musicians and performers. Some 5,000 young people ages 14 to 22 will participate with ensembles this summer as part of a nationwide tour that will feature more than 100 live competitive music events.

Drum Corps International logo

Bae will show support for Drum Corps International throughout the tournament week by displaying the DCI logo and website address on a unique flat screen monitor that has been custom-installed into her golf bag. She first introduced the bag at the LPGA Tour Championship last December when she displayed an advertising message promoting DCI Orlando, one of the events scheduled as part of the 2011 Drum Corps International Tour.

The top-10 finishers at the RR Donnelley LPGA Founders Cup, which will be played at Wildfire Golf Club at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge and Spa, will share a charitable pool of $500,000. The winner will be able to designate $200,000 to the charity of her choice, while the second-place finisher will donate $100,000. The complete breakdown is as follows:

1st place: $200,000 to charity of player's choice
2nd place: $100,000 to charity of player's choice
3rd place: $55,000 to charity of player's choice
4th place: $40,000 to charity of player's choice
5th place: $30,000 to charity of player's choice
6th place: $25,000 to charity of player's choice
7th place: $20,000 to charity of player's choice
8th place: $15,000 to charity of player's choice
9th place: $10,000 to charity of player's choice
10th place: $5,000 to charity of player's choice

In all, the RR Donnelley LPGA Founders Cup will donate $1 million to charity, with $500,000 going to The LPGA Foundation and its LPGA-USGA Girls Golf program and $500,000 going to the top-10 finishers' designated charities.

About Kyeong Bae: Kyeong Bae from Seoul, South Korea is an accomplished pianist and music enthusiast entering her sixth season on the LPGA and has three worldwide wins to her credit. In 2010, her best finish was a tie for 11th at the CN Canadian Women's Open. In 2009, she recorded two top-ten finishes in Majors including T-4 at the McDonald's LPGA Championship and T-9 at the US Women's Open. She secured a T-17 finish at the Ricoh Women's British Open and shot a career-low round of 64 at the Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic. Her career best LPGA Tour finish is a tie for 2nd at the 2006 Sybase Classic.

About Drum Corps International (DCI): Drum Corps International (DCI) is the world leader in producing events for the world's most elite and exclusive marching ensembles for student musicians and performers. Founded in 1972, Drum Corps International has developed into a powerful, nonprofit, global youth organization with far-reaching artistic, educational and organizational influence. Drum Corps International is Marching Music's Major League. Learn more about the exciting world of Drum Corps International and its member corps on the Web at www.dci.org.

Images courtesy of DCI.

Copyright 2011 Marching.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published or redistributed without permission.

News Briefs

LPGA player Kyeong Bae selects Drum Corps International as charity of choice