U.S. based NGA/Hooters Professional Golf Tour Announces Partnership
With Golf Tour Worldwide and the Guatemalan Tourism Commission

Tuesday - July 26, 6:00pm
Guatemala City, Guatemala - July 26

-- The United States based National Golf Association's Hooters Professional Tour and Golf Tour Worldwide announced they will be working in association with the Guatemalan Tourism Commission to bring an international professional golfers NGA/Hooters Tour event to Guatemala in early February 2006. The event will be conducted during the dates of February 13th thru the 19th, 2006 at the world class San Isidro Country Club. The organizing committee's plan is to involve all five country clubs in Guatemala in order to insure a unified effort worldwide to showcase the world class golf facilities of Guatemala as well as the historical culture of the country.

"We are very excited and look forward to bringing our players and tour to Guatemala. The San Isidro Country Club, with it's challenging layout and breathtaking views of the city and volcanoes, will definitely set the facility apart from any other facility we have ever had the privilege of playing. We have been planning on putting our tour on the international stage for sometime now and with the involvement of local Hooters Restaurant Franchiser Oliver and Lisa Preuss, the gracious people of Guatemala along with Golf Tour Worldwide President Bob Garcia the pieces all seem to have fallen into place," stated NGA/Hooters Tour President Robin L. Waters.

"This is something we definitely want to be involved in. The opportunity for our government to partner with the private business initiative of the countries five golf clubs to help spread the news of our wonderful ancient Mayan cities, history and  culture beauty. We have a lot to be proud of in our country and this is something internationally we can all be proud of," stated Director of Guatemalan Tourism, Daniel Mooney.

"Our country is one of the most beautiful destinations in the world and this event will insure that we will have at least a hundred and twenty new ambassadors spreading the word throughout the world. Our goals are to involve as many Guatemalan charities and local organizations as possible to insure this event will be something we can all benefit from as well as be proud of," stated President of Golf Tour Worldwide, Bob Garcia.

The event will be sanctioned and organized by the NGA/Hooters Pro Golf Tour and will consist of a field size of one hundred and twenty to one hundred and forty players. One of the goals of the event committee is to make the event an exclusive annual event to be titled The Guatemala International Open. The professional competitive phase of the event will be played at the San Isidro Country Club while most other events during the week will be hosted at the other four country clubs (Mayan CC, Alta Vista CC, Guatemala CC and Hacienda Nueva CC).

Guatemala Tourism Commission also known as Inquat has the responsibility of showcasing the country's beauty and allure to the outside world. The country's slogan is "the soul of the earth" and  offers some of the most beautiful breathtaking scenery and adventures you will find anywhere in the world. It is a country of contrast, emotions and adventure combined with endless cultural Mayan spirit. The country offers the most relevant archaelogical sites of the Mayan civilization, the colonial city of La Antigua, spectacular scenic views of the country side as well as actual volcanos, year round springlike weather and one of the most beautiful lakes you will find anywhere in the world. Guatemala was recently  selected number one amongst ten travel destinations around the world in the cultural category by the United Kingdom's British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) .

The NGA/Hooters Tour is the 3rd largest men’s 72-hole professional golf tour in the U.S. behind the PGA and Nationwide Tours, and boasts alumni such as 2003 PGA Champion Shaun Micheel, 2003 British Open winner Ben Curtis, two time U.S. Open winner Lee Janzen, British Open and PGA Champion John Daly, as well as British Open winner Tom Lehman, 2003 US Open winner Jim Furyk, PGA Champion David Toms, 2003 Tour Championship Winner Chad Campbell, 2004 BellSouth Classic winner Zach Johnson, 2004 Reno Tahoe Open winner Vaughn Taylor and TPC winner Craig Perks to name just a few. All told, the NGA/Hooters Tour’s alumni have an incredible 9 PGA “Majors” to their credit.

Hooters of America, Inc. is the franchiser and operator of over 355 Hooters restaurants in 44 states and 12 foreign countries. The first Hooters opened in 1983 in Clearwater, Florida. Hooters is well known for its brand of food and fun, featuring a casual beach-theme atmosphere, a menu that features seafood, sandwiches and Hooters’ signature chicken wings, and service provided by the All-American cheerleaders, the Hooters Girls.