BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - August 20, 2010 – The first ever title sponsor of the Kentucky High School Athletic Association’s State Golf Championships is continuing its sponsorship for ten more years KHSAA officials announced today.Leachman Buick GMC in Bowling Green extended its contract with the organization to present the boys’ and girls’ tournament at Bowling Green Country Club through 2020. 

Representatives from KHSAA, Leachman Buick GMC and the Bowling Green Area Convention & Visitors Bureau gathered at the Country Club for the announcement. 

“We couldn’t be more thrilled to have a corporate partner understand the economic impact such an investment has on our community and region,” expressed Amy Cardwell, Sports Sales Director of the CVB. “Leachman Buick GMC’s support has enabled us to take this tournament to a new level,” Cardwell continued.

The competition, slated for October 4-9 this year, brings to town over 300 student athletes and their families, plus coaches, staff members and spectators from across the state. Economic impact surveys from a past tournament revealed approximately $130 are spent in the community per person each day.

“The Bowling Green community embraced this event at a time when it had moved around and has made this home for the golf tournament. We’re excited about watching it continue to grow as one of our premier annual events,” said KHSAA Commissioner Julian Tackett.

Since moving to Bowling Green in 2006, the tournament now includes a banquet for the athletes, online tournament statistics, increased volunteer participation, a permanent scoreboard, and up-to-the-minute stats available on an inflatable screen at the course’s entry.

“Leachman Buick GMC is proud to continue our support of our state’s young athletes by sponsoring these prestigious tournaments,” said David Jaggers, General Manager of Leachman Buick GMC. “We have truly enjoyed being able to grow the tournament over the years just as participation in the sport and the level of competition has grown.”

Participants in the Leachman Buick GMC/ KHSAA State Golf Championships consist of the top two teams plus the top four individuals not on a qualifying team from each of the girls’ eleven regions, and the top two teams plus the top three individuals not on a qualifying team from each of the boys’ twelve regions.

At the 2010 event, the girls will practice on Monday, October 4 and conduct tournament play on the 5-6, and then the boys will practice on Thursday, October 7 before competing the 8-9.

The Kentucky High School Athletic Association was organized in 1917 and is the agency designated by the Kentucky Department of Education to manage high school athletics in the Commonwealth. The Association is a voluntary nonprofit 501(c)3 organization made up of 280 member schools both public and private. The KHSAA sanctions state championships in 19 sports, licenses and trains over 3,900 officials, provides catastrophic insurance for its member school student athletes as well as overseeing coaching education and medical symposium programs.

For more information about KHSAA, contact the organization at 859-299-5472 or visit http://www.khsaa.org

For more information about Leachman Buick GMC, call 270-495-0695 or visit http://www.leachmanbg.com