CoBank Signs on as New Title Sponsor of Colorado Open

Announcement comes during awards ceremony at Green Valley Ranch

Jon Rizzi

DENVER (July 26, 2015) – During the awards ceremony following today's HealthONE Colorado Open (won by Scotland's Jimmy Gunn) at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club, the Colorado Open Golf Foundation announced today that CoBank will become the new title sponsor of The Colorado Open Championships as of next year.

CoBank, the largest financial institution headquartered in the state, succeeds HealthONE as the open's primary sponsor under a five-year agreement beginning in 2016.

After sponsoring pro-ams for this year's Colorado Open and Colorado Women’s Open, CoBank will precede the name of all three Colorado Open Championships.

“Colorado is a great state in so many ways, including a broad and robust interest in golf, and it deserves a great open,” said Bob Engel, CoBank’s chief executive officer. “We’re delighted to be succeeding HealthONE as title sponsor and look forward to enabling these fantastic tournaments to continue.”

With more than $100 billion in assets, Greenwood Village-based CoBank is  an integral part of the Farm Credit System. CoBank provides credit and other value-added financial services to agriculture and rural infrastructure businesses benefitting rural America. Although the bank has a strong track record of corporate giving and community involvement, this sponsorship—its first in golf—will significantly increase its local profile, as will the new, 11-story headquarters building on the west side of I-25 between Orchard and Arapahoe roads that will be occupied by more than 500 employees when it opens later this year.

Engel said one of the main reasons CoBank was interested in sponsoring the Colorado Open was that a portion of proceeds supports The First Tee program, which uses golf to promote integrity, respect and perseverance among underprivileged youth and other young players. “We’re committed to giving back to the community here in Denver,” Engel said, “and this sponsorship offers us another powerful way to do that.”
 
Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock praised CoBank for stepping forward to take over the title sponsorship. “We enjoy a rich history in the sport of golf and offer some of the best venues in the country,” Mayor Hancock said. “But tournaments can be more than great courses and competitions when committed, community-minded corporate sponsors get involved. We're fortunate to have companies like CoBank in town to support this kind of event, keep it moving forward and ensure that it also benefits our local kids.”