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ANDY NORTH SET TO DEFEND ING PAR-3 SHOOTOUT TITLE AGAINST PHIL MICKELSON, FRED COUPLES AND CRAIG STADLER AT FAMED THREETOPS COURSE AT TREETOPS RESORT

ESPN Will Televise Two-Day, 18-Hole Event from Treetops Resort;

Tickets Will Go on Sale April 1

TREETOPS VILLAGE, Mich. (February 20, 2006) – Andy North was so excited about winning the ING Par-3 Shootout last year that he promised to return the next day to defend his title. Instead, North will wait until June 26 to return to the renowned par-3 Threetops Course at Treetops Resort, where he’ll take on Phil Mickelson, Fred Couples and ING Par-3 Shootout newcomer Craig Stadler.

Always one of the most viewer-friendly golf telecasts of the year, the ING Par-3 Shootout will air same-day tape-delayed on ESPN Monday, June 26 and Tuesday, June 27.

“To have these four guys compete in any format is fabulous. It’s great entertainment,” said Rick Smith, owner and managing partner of Treetops Resort. “But put them in an arena where they are not only battling for $540,000, but firing 72 times for $1,000,000, now that’s exciting.”

The purse for the 18-hole tournament is $540,000 and an additional $1 million bonus is available for every hole-in-one. That bonus has been collected once -- by Lee Trevino in 2001 when he aced the 138-yard 7th hole. Each hole is worth $20,000, with a $10,000 bonus for the player hitting his shot closest to the pin. If the hole is not won, the money carries over to the next hole. If the hole is won, the player doesn’t get the money unless he validates it on the next hole by either winning or tying the low score. No validation is necessary on playoff holes.

Tickets, priced at $50 for the two days, or $30 for each day, will go on sale April 1 and may be purchased online at www.treetops.com or by calling (989) 732-6711, ext. 2499.

North won last year’s event by pocketing $350,000, an amount that exceeds the combined earnings of his two U.S. Open victories in 1978 at Cherry Hills and 1985 at Oakland Hills. He is one of 19 players who own multiple U.S. Open titles. As an accomplished analyst for ESPN and an on-course stalwart for ABC Sports’ golf telecasts, North still manages to squeeze in a playing career on the Champions Tour.

When asked last year if he’d come back to defend, North couldn’t answer fast enough, “Are you kidding? If Rick (Smith) wants me here tomorrow, I’ll be here.”

Sporting a special bag that features no club larger than a 7-iron and a plethora of half-clubs, Couples brings two ING Par 3 Shootout titles with him (2002, 2004), the only player to win multiple titles in the event’s history. He’s third on the event’s all-time money list, behind Trevino and Mickelson, with $820,000 in four appearances.

A 17-time winner on the PGA TOUR, including the 1992 Masters, Couples still possesses the syrupy-sweet swing and uncanny ability to sink putts at crucial times that earned him Player of the Year honors in 1991 and 1992. He finished 38th on the 2005 PGA TOUR money list, leveraged by four top-10 finishes including a runner-up finish at the Memorial.

Phil Mickelson is the only player to participate in all seven previous Shootouts. With five runner-up finishes, Mickelson is second in the event’s all-time money list with $960,000.

One of golf’s most popular and consistent figures, Mickelson followed his landmark 2004 season -- when he won the Masters -- by winning four events in 2005, including the PGA Championship. He finished the season third on the PGA TOUR’s money list, and is currently ranked fourth in the world.

Nicknamed “the Walrus,” ING Shootout rookie Stadler, is one of the sports most colorful and popular personalities. He has a combined 21 regular TOUR and Champion’s Tour victories, including the 1981 Masters, and 2003 Ford Seniors Players Championship. Stadler was the Champion’s Tour leading money winner and Player of the Year in 2004, punctuating that remarkable year by becoming the first member of the Champion’s Tour to win on the PGA TOUR when he captured the B.C. Open.

The Rick Smith-designed “Threetops” Course was named by Travel & Leisure Magazine as the number one par-3 course in the nation in their list of America’s Top 5 Par-3 Courses in December 2002. This award, coupled with GolfWeek’s previous ranking of Threetops as America’s best Par-3 Course, offers bragging rights to last a lifetime for any player. This unique course features holes that range from 135 to 216 yards with a 145-foot vertical drop on No. 3.

Treetops Resort boasts 81 holes of championship golf by designers Robert Trent Jones, Sr., Tom Fazio and Rick Smith. Treetops is a six-time recipient of Golf Magazine’s “Silver Medal Resort” award and is rated No. 32 in America’s Top 75 Golf Resorts by Golf Digest.

As a full-service four-season resort, Treetops offers 23 downhill ski runs, expanded tubing and terrain park, and snowboard half-pipe. Lodging at Treetops consists of 240 guest rooms including standard and deluxe rooms, suites and hospitality rooms and 2 and 3 bedroom condominiums. A 10,000 square foot convention center is available for conferences along with a variety of other meeting facilities. Rounding out the amenities are three restaurants, the Treetops Spa, a child development center, retail shops offering a variety of clothing and equipment, indoor and outdoor pools and much more.

Media contacts:

Resort & Golf Marketing

Kevin Frisch, (989) 614-0241, kevin@resortandgolf.com

Dave Richards, (248) 642-6420, dave@resortandgolf.com

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