Nationwide Tour’s Pacific Rubiales Colombia Championship to Continue After New Deal

The PGA TOUR, Pacific Rubiales Energy and SportLink announced a three-year extension that will allow the Pacific Rubiales Colombia Championship, to continue through the 2015 Nationwide Tour season.

First played in 2010, the Pacific Rubiales Colombia Championship was the first PGA TOUR-sanctioned event played for official money in South America.

The field will again feature 144 players and will continue to include a number of players from South America. The purse will be $650,000 next year.

“When we announced the Pacific Rubiales Colombia Championship in December 2009 it was a ground-breaking moment for the PGA TOUR,” said Nationwide Tour president Bill Calfee. “In the three years that have passed all of our expectations have been met and exceeded, and we have developed meaningful personal and professional relationships with Pacific Rubiales and many, many other people in the wonderful country of Colombia. The Championship has evolved into an exciting international sporting endeavor and opened the eyes of many to all that is great about the new Colombia.”

Jose Francisco Arata, president and executive director of Pacific Rubiales Energy, said: “Colombia and Pacific Rubiales have certainly enjoyed and benefited from the first three years of our partnership with the PGA TOUR and very much look forward to continuing and enhancing it over the next three. The Pacific Rubiales Colombia Championship has demonstrated both internally and outside our borders the progressive nature of Colombia, as well as the value in investing in this country.”

“Colombia has been honored to host the PGA TOUR,” said German Calle, president of SportLink and tournament director of the Pacific Rubiales Colombia Championship. “Among the many things the Pacific Rubiales Colombia Championship has done is provide a platform on which to promote democratic prosperity which is so central to President Santos’ vision for Colombia. Many people have been introduced to the beauty and opportunity that exists here. Extending our relationship with the TOUR for three more years will only provide more potential to showcase Colombia to the world.”

Pacific Rubiales is a Canadian-listed producer of oil and natural gas. It is the largest independent oil and gas exploration and production company in Colombia.