Valspar and BB&T Sponsor Tampa Bay PGA Tour Event

September 6, 2013

The Valspar Corporation, asthma a global leader in the paint and coatings industry, has become the title sponsor of the Tampa Bay area’s professional golf tournament on the PGA TOUR in a four-year deal.

Named the Valspar Championship, the tournament will be contested March 13-16, 2014 on the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook, a Salamander Golf & Spa Resort in Palm Harbor, Fla. The Valspar Championship will be the third of four straight tournament weeks in Florida.

In addition to the sponsorship, Valspar will join the PGA TOUR’s Official Marketing Partner program and receive the exclusive designation as “Official Paint Supplier of the PGA TOUR and Champions Tour.”

The PGA TOUR and the tournament’s host organization, Copperhead Charities, also announced that BB&T Corporation, a leading financial services holding company headquartered in Winston-Salem, N.C., has signed a four-year agreement to become the tournament’s local presenting sponsor.

“We are very pleased to announce these multi-year agreements and look forward to working closely with The Copperheads to help Valspar become fully integrated with the tournament as the title sponsor and BB&T as local presenting sponsor,” said Andy Pazder, Chief of Operations for the PGA TOUR.

“Valspar is pleased to become title sponsor of a classic tournament that will provide a unique platform to connect our brand with the PGA TOUR, which consistently produces some of the most exciting and memorable golf tournaments in the world,” said Gary Hendrickson, Valspar’s Chairman and CEO. “Partnering with the PGA TOUR and Copperhead Charities, we are proud to be doing our part to generate significant support for charitable causes important to Valspar. The timing of the event couldn’t be better as we look forward to kicking off the unofficial start of painting season.”

BB&T, with financial centers in 12 states and Washington, D.C., is looking to strengthen its visibility and position in the Tampa Bay and Gulf Coast regions through the tournament.

BB&T is also the local presenting sponsor of the Wyndham Championship PGA TOUR event in Greensboro, N.C.

“This is a premier tournament at a world-class facility and BB&T is delighted to enter into this partnership which helps local organizations that benefit from Copperhead Charities,” said Ken Coppedge, BB&T West Florida Region President. “BB&T is committed to help keep this event in the Tampa Bay area.”