Volkswagen of America, Inc. to Sponsor 2005 People vs. the Pros

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 25, 2005 -- Volkswagen of America, Inc. will be an Official Sponsor and exclusive automotive supplier to the 2005 People vs. the Pros at Barton Creek Resort & Spa Presented by BASF, according to Andy Batkin, CEO of Manhattan, CA-based Innovative Media Solutions, LLC, organizers of the People vs. the Pros golf event.

People vs. the Pros, where amateurs compete head-to-head for $300,000 against professionals from the PGA Tour and Champions Tour in a unique reality television golf event on ESPN, returns for its third year and will be hosted by Barton Creek Resort & Spa in Austin, Texas on Sept. 8-12, 2005. Amateurs from two divisions -- 18-49 and 50+ -- will compete against Justin Leonard and Ben Crenshaw for a grand prize of $100,000; runners-up receive $50,000. The event will be televised on ESPN on Monday, Sept. 19 at 9 p.m. ET.

As part of their sponsorship, Volkswagen of America, Inc. will give away a 2006 newly designed all new Passat to the first tournament competitor to make a hole-in-one on the 9th hole of Barton Creek's Fazio Foothills course during the Grand Prize Matches on Monday, Sept. 12. Volkswagen of America, Inc. will also supply one dozen new vehicles as tournament transportation and for complimentary use by competitors and guests during the event at Barton Creek Resort & Spa.

In addition, Volkswagen of America, Inc. will sponsor the Full Throttle Long Drive Competition on Sept. 8 following the first round of practice for the tournament. The top amateurs in each age division will participate in a one-hole longest drive competition; the amateur making the longest drive in each division will receive $500.

BASF is presenting sponsor of the 2005 People vs. the Pros at Barton Creek Resort & Spa Presented by BASF. BASF will also host the second annual BASF Superintendent's Cup, where the two golf course superintendents with the lowest net scores from the three-day Finals event will compete in head-to-head match play for a grand prize of $10,000 in cash and free BASF products for their home course. The second place finisher in the BASF Superintendent's Cup will receive a cash prize of $5,000.