Sparkling ICE Sponsors LPGA, Symetra Extends Title Sponsorship of LPGA’s Tour Championship

The LPGA today announced that Sparkling ICE, drugs producers of naturally flavored sparkling mountain spring water that is part of the TalkingRain family of beverages, will become the Official Sparkling Flavored Water of the LPGA.

As the newest partner in the LPGA’s growing portfolio, Sparkling ICE will receive a fully integrated marketing program across all LPGA platforms including Sparkling ICE “Bold Round of the Day” tournament highlights on the Golf Channel, a presence on LPGA.com, and activation at tournaments via signage and sampling.

“We are excited to partner with Sparkling ICE and to provide them with a platform to grow their brand throughout multiple facets of the LPGA’s business,” said LPGA Chief Marketing Officer Jon Podany. “Sparking ICE is a brand on the rise with great momentum, much like the LPGA.”

This is the first foray into golf sponsorship for Sparkling ICE, which has existing relationships with the Orange Bowl, Susan G. Komen for the Cure and more.  Through the LPGA sponsorship, Sparkling ICE expects to reach over 700,000 fans via event sampling, consumer-engaging tournament activations, and retailer partner promotions, with additional initiatives including ticket giveaways, social media tie-ins and more at key tour stops such as The Jamie Farr Toledo Classic in Ohio, The Solheim Cup in Denver, Safeway Classic in Portland, OR and the Canadian’s Women’s Open.

“We are thrilled to join forces with the LPGA to bring our boldly-flavored, zero-calorie Sparkling ICE to the tournament’s fans and athletes,” said Kevin Klock, President of TalkingRain Beverage Co., the makers of Sparkling ICE.

This week’s CME Group Titleholders is the final event on the 2012 LPGA Tour schedule. To date this season, the LPGA has added five new Official Marketing Partners, including Tiffany & Co., International Hotel Group, National Rental Car, Sunology and Sparkling ICE.

Also Symetra, the Bellevue, Wash.-based life insurance company and sponsor of the Symetra Tour — Road to the LPGA, has signed a multi-year agreement securing the naming rights for the Tour’s season-ending event, the Symetra Tour Championship 

In addition to increasing its tournament support in 2013, Symetra will offer two players who earn their LPGA Tour cards — the Symetra Tour Player of the Year and another player of Symetra’s choosing — with $25,000 endorsements.

“We had such a successful first year with Symetra as our Tour’s umbrella partner, and we are excited to deepen our relationship,” said Nichols. “It’s wonderful to have a partner that is so fully invested in both the Tour and the players who will be making their way onto the biggest stage in women’s golf.” 

Symetra Tour Player of the Year Esther Choe also participated in today’s announcement at the LPGA’s season-ending CME Group Titleholders at TwinEagles Golf Club in Naples, Fla.

“We’re pleased to broaden our Symetra Tour support with the addition of another title tournament, and we’re delighted to be affiliated with two rising golf stars,” said Jim Pirak, Symetra senior vice president of Marketing. “Our inaugural year as sponsor of the Symetra Tour has been an exciting one. We’ve watched our brand take flight along with the careers of many talented young golfers — and the response from our employees and business partners alike has been extraordinarily positive.”

The Symetra Tour Championship will be the 2013 Tour’s season-ending event. Scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 26 through Sunday, Sept. 29 at LPGA International in Daytona Beach, Fla., it will be the Tour’s only four-day tournament and will continue to serve as the site for the LPGA Tour Card Ceremony. For the first time in Symetra Tour history, the top 10 players on the 2012 season-ending money list were awarded equal, exempt LPGA Tour status for the 2013 season.

Symetra began its partnership with the Tour in 2011 when it was the title sponsor of the Symetra Classic in San Antonio, Texas. The event moved to Charlotte, N.C. in 2012 and will be held at Raintree Country Club again next season.