CoBank takes over Colorado Open Championships as title sponsor

On the heels of the completion of The Colorado Open Championships at Green Valley Ranch Golf Course, the Foundation has announced that CoBank will become the new title sponsor of The Open Championships. 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.

“Over the past 50 years, the Colorado Open has built a reputation as one of the premier state opens in the nation,” said Eric Kenealy, board chairman of The Colorado Open Golf Foundation, which organizes the championships. “We deeply appreciate the strong support we’ve received from HealthONE, our title sponsor since 2004. And we’re delighted to be beginning a new chapter now in partnership with CoBank.”

Founded in 1964, The Colorado Open Championships consist of three annual golf tournaments: The Colorado Open, The Colorado Women’s Open and The Colorado Senior Open. All three tournaments are now played at the Green Valley Ranch Golf Club in Denver. Over the years the open has hosted some of the greatest names in the history of golf, including Sam Snead, Billy Casper, Hale Irwin and Phil Mickelson.

”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.”

CoBank has more than $100 billion in assets and provides credit and financial services to agribusinesses, rural utilities and other rural enterprises in all 50 states. The bank employs approximately 650 people at its headquarters in Greenwood Village and another 250 at regional offices around the country. The bank has been a sponsor of pro-am events at The Colorado Open and Colorado Women’s Open for the past two years. With the title sponsorship, the three tournaments will be renamed as the “CoBank Colorado Open Championships.”

Engel said one of the main reasons CoBank was interested in sponsoringTthe Colorado Open was that a portion of proceeds supports the Green Valley Ranch First Tee program, which uses golf to promote integrity, respect and perseverance among youth.

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,” 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.”