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North American, European Teams named for Inaugural Humana Fightmaster Cup

LOUISVILLE, KY, -- June 30, 2008 - Officials from The Cup Experience today announced the 24 players and two captains who will participate in the inaugural Humana Fightmaster Cup, a match play golf event that pits the best one-armed players from Europe against their counterparts from North America. The matches will be played September 12-14, 2008, at the Cardinal Club in Simpsonville, Kentucky.

The Cup Experience - presented by regional supercenter Meijer www.meijer.com - is a not-for-profit organization set up by the Mayor's Host Committee to oversee a community-wide celebration of events and activities prior to and during the 2008 Ryder Cup that will take place at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville September 16-21.

"The Humana Fightmaster Cup will be an international, inspirational, competitive golf match where everyone wins," said event co-chair Craig Grant, regional president for PNC Bank. "We are proud to host the inaugural event in Kentucky, and hope this competition takes place both in Europe and the US for many years to come."

The Humana Fightmaster Cup, sponsored by the Louisville-based health and supplemental benefits company, is named after amputee golfing legend Don Fightmaster. Referred to as "the Arnold Palmer of amputee golf" by Time Magazine, Fightmaster lost his arm at age 22 in 1954 while serving the US Air Force, taught himself to play golf, then went on to win the National One-Armed Golf Championship seven times and twice won the International One-Armed Championship. An avid bowler, softball player, billiards player and swimmer after losing his arm, the Louisville native is most proud of his work supporting physically and mentally impaired children. His foundation raised more than $1 million to benefit children's charities and his annual golf outing now pairs area junior golfers with impaired kids for a day of golfing fun.

The European team, sponsored by the UK-based Society of One Armed Golfers, is comprised of six players from England, three from Scotland and two from Ireland, including six-time International One-Armed Champion Nick Champness of West Sussex, England.

The North American team, sponsored by the North American One Armed Golf Association, has four Canadians and players from five US states, including New Jersey native and two-time International Champion Mike Benning, as well as four players from the local area - Bill Frey, Alan Gentry, David Estcorn and Steve Day - whom Fightmaster personally motivated to play golf one-armed golf.

"The Humana Fightmaster Cup embodies what Don Fightmaster himself has represented for the past 50 years - an inspiration to those who suffered setbacks in life, an event that disregards limits, and a highly competitive golf match," said Gentry, one of the NAOAGA founders. "On behalf of the players and members of both participating organizations - and the individuals worldwide who will be motivated by this event - we want to thank Humana for its generous support."

The Humana Fightmaster Cup players are veteran match play golfers, with handicaps ranging from low single digits to 17. The teams are scheduled to arrive September 7 and will be in Kentucky for eight days, playing golf and taking part in local events. Highlights include a clinic managed by Frazier Rehab and Louisville Metro Parks designed to improve the service local golf pros provide to special needs golfers and a Fightmaster Pro-Am that will take place at Persimmon Ridge Golf Club.