HARTFORD, Conn., June 11 /PRNewswire/ -- The grace and power of women's professional golf hits New England with a bang this July as the LPGA's Duramed FUTURES Tour announced today a new title sponsor for its Connecticut tournament. ING, one of the world's leading financial services companies with a major presence in the greater Hartford area, has entered into a sponsorship agreement that involves naming rights, as well as a variety of marketing, community outreach and charitable components.

The tournament, now named the ING New England Golf Classic, will be held July 17-19, at Wintonbury Hills Golf Course in Bloomfield, Conn., a new venue for the 11th annual event. The LPGA's Duramed FUTURES Tour is the developmental tour for the LPGA.

'When ING gets behind an event, we know they're serious about creating an exceptional experience for participants, spectators and the community,' said Zayra F. Calderon, CEO of the Duramed FUTURES Tour. 'We're thrilled to have ING as the Tour's newest title sponsor, helping to make this regional event even better by drawing the best women golfers from around the world and offering tremendous value to the state of Connecticut.'

Chip In For A Cure returns as the official charity of the ING New England Golf Classic with a mission to raise money to support Greater Hartford initiatives addressing breast health issues. In past years, more than $300,000 has been raised by Chip In For A Cure, with proceeds divided equally between Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center and Hartford Hospital.

'The Hartford area is home to one of ING's largest and most successful businesses in the world, so we're thrilled to be involved in an event that brings these outstanding athletes together with our employees and the community in a positive way,' said Tom McInerney, chairman and chief executive officer of ING Americas. 'The women playing this tournament work hard to get to the top of their game. The commitment and long-term focus they have for their sport reflect many of the same values we, at ING, believe are important in our retirement services business headquartered in Connecticut.'

The 54-hole tournament will offer a purse of $100,000 and will be the Tour's 11th event on its 17-tournament schedule this year. The ING New England Golf Classic will attract professional women golfers from throughout the nation and around the world.