The Chick-fil-A Charity Championship hosted by Nancy Lopez, a fixture on the LPGA Tour since 1992, will become a 72-hole tournament beginning next year. The 2004 event will be held the week of April 26 through May 2, with tournament rounds scheduled for April 29 through May 2.

Long regarded as one of the Tour’s most successful events and most popular among the players, tournament organizers sat they hope the extension to 72 holes will give the Chick-fil-A even more stature in the world of women’s professional golf.

“We have been very pleased over the years at how our tournament has been received by the players and the fans,” said Tournament Director Torrey Gane. “This is yet another step we are taking to further enhance the Chick-fil-A as one of the greatest golf tournaments in the world.”

The tournament, which has been played at Eagle’s Landing Country Club in Stockbridge since its inception, annually attracts one of the LPGA Tour’s strongest fields. This year, 48 out of the top 50 money winners from 2002 and 93 from the 100 are in the field. Two of those that are not here are pregnant and unable to compete.

Over the years, the tournament has been won by many of the greatest names in golf including Dottie Pepper, Trish Johnson, Val Skinner, Laura Davies, Barb Mucha, Nancy Lopez (her last tournament win), Liselotte Neumann, Rachel Teske, Sophie Gustafson, Annika Sorenstam and defending champion Juli Inkster, who also is the U.S. Open Champion.

“Chick-fil-A’s title sponsorship of this wonderful event has been a very special experience for our company with the support we have received,” said Steve Robinson, Senior VP, Marketing at Chick-fil-A. “As the tournament has grown in stature and popularity, so has the contributions to WinShape Homes® and other charities that have reached $1 million the last two years. We look at this increase to 72 holes as yet another significant jump in the stature of our event. We can’t thank our sponsors enough,” added Robinson.