Tucson, Ariz. (February 1, 2023) – The PGA TOUR Champions, the Tucson Conquistadores, the First Tee Tucson, and Exact Sciences, the maker of Cologuard®, announced today that the Madison, Wisconsin-based company will now be the presenting sponsor of the Cologuard Classic. The announcement also extends Cologuard’s title sponsorship through the 2027 season. The 2023 Cologuard Classic by Exact Sciences will take place at the Omni Tucson National Resort from February 27th through March 5th and will have a $2.2 million purse, with $330,000 to the winner.
With Extension, Exact Sciences is Now Presenting Sponsor of Cologuard Classic
“We are thrilled to add Exact Sciences as our presenting sponsor and to extend Cologuard’s partnership with PGA TOUR Champions,” said PGA TOUR Champions President Miller Brady. “We have seen firsthand how important this event is to the Tucson community, and with Exact Sciences joining as a presenting sponsor, this extension ensures its continued positive impact. The Cologuard Classic stands out as a player-favorite on our Tour thanks to the effective colorectal cancer awareness efforts of Exact Sciences, the tremendous work of the Tucson Conquistadores in hosting the event, and the dedicated fans that support the tournament.”
Exact Sciences is committed to providing earlier answers and life-changing treatment guidance to support patients before, during, and after a cancer diagnosis. The company’s flagship test, Cologuard, is an FDA-approved, noninvasive stool-based DNA screening test for adults 45 and older who are at average risk for colorectal cancer (CRC).1 Since its launch in 2014, more than 10 million people have used Cologuard to screen for CRC at home.2
CRC affects all races, genders, and ethnicities, and it’s on the rise in people younger than 50.3,4 Many people with early-stage CRC have no symptoms or family history – that’s why screening is critical because it can detect the disease in early stages, when it’s more treatable.5,6,7 Played each March, the Cologuard Classic kicks off national Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, raising awareness of CRC, highlighting different screening options, and honoring those affected by the disease.
“The Cologuard Classic brings together golf enthusiasts, cancer advocates, survivors, and caretakers to help raise colorectal cancer awareness and drive home the importance of early detection,” said Kevin Conroy, chairman and CEO of Exact Sciences. “Extending our title sponsorship allows us to touch more lives through stories of cancer screening and survivorship. Our deepest thanks to the PGA TOUR Champions, Tucson Conquistadores, and First Tee Tucson for their continued partnership.”
Over the past six years, charity and community impact have been at the core of the event. Southern Arizona youth athletic programs, First Tee Tucson, and CRC screening and awareness programs have benefitted from tournament proceeds and the fundraising efforts of the Conquistadores. Since 1962, the group has contributed over $37.2 million to youth athletic programs, including nearly $3.1 million since the 2018 tournament, the first with Cologuard as title sponsor.
“The Tucson Conquistadores are honored to partner with Exact Sciences and Cologuard for another five years. The Cologuard Classic has impacted thousands of lives throughout Southern Arizona and beyond. Together, we look forward to advancing both our missions in raising awareness for colorectal cancer and supporting youth athletics throughout our community,” said Tucson Conquistadores President Dr. Andrew Rosen.
For more information on the Cologuard Classic, visit www.CologuardClassic.com.
About The Tucson Conquistadores
The Tucson Conquistadores, Inc. is a nonprofit organized for the purpose of supporting local youth and special needs amateur athletics primarily in Southern Arizona, with an emphasis on offering life enhancing opportunities to give back to the local community. The Conquistadores are comprised of up to 52 active business and professional members and a total membership of 223 who represent a cross-section of the Tucson community. The Conquistadores have raised more than $37.2 million for local charities since their inception in 1962, including more than $3,091,000 since the 2018 tournament, Cologuard’s first as title sponsor. Key beneficiaries of the Conquistadores’ fundraising efforts include Southern Arizona youth athletic programs, First Tee-Tucson and colon cancer advocacy organizations. In addition to their involvement with professional golf, the group has also established the Tucson Conquistadores Foundation. Follow the Tucson Conquistadores online at www.tucsonconquistadores.com.
About Exact Sciences Corp.
A leading provider of cancer screening and diagnostic tests, Exact Sciences relentlessly pursues smarter solutions providing the clarity to take life-changing action, earlier. Building on the success of Cologuard® and Oncotype® tests, Exact Sciences is investing in its product pipeline to support patients before and throughout their cancer diagnosis and treatment. Exact Sciences unites visionary collaborators to help advance the fight against cancer. For more information, please visit the company’s website at www.exactsciences.com, follow Exact Sciences on Twitter @ExactSciences, or find Exact Sciences on Facebook.
About Cologuard®
The Cologuard test was approved by the FDA in August 2014, and results from Exact Sciences’ prospective 90-site, point-in-time, 10,000-patient pivotal trial were published in the New England Journal of Medicine in March 2014. The Cologuard test is included in the American Cancer Society’s (2018) colorectal cancer screening guidelines and the recommendations of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (2021) and National Comprehensive Cancer Network (2016). The Cologuard test is indicated to screen adults 45 years of age and older who are at average risk for colorectal cancer by detecting certain DNA markers and blood in the stool. Do not use the Cologuard test if you have had precancer, have inflammatory bowel disease and certain hereditary syndromes, or have a personal or family history of colorectal cancer. The Cologuard test is not a replacement for colonoscopy in high-risk patients. The Cologuard test performance in adults ages 45-49 is estimated based on a large clinical study of patients 50 and older. The Cologuard test performance in repeat testing has not been evaluated.
The Cologuard test result should be interpreted with caution. A positive test result does not confirm the presence of cancer. Patients with a positive test result should be referred for colonoscopy. A negative test result does not confirm the absence of cancer. Patients with a negative test result should discuss with their doctor when they need to be tested again. Medicare and most major insurers cover the Cologuard test. For more information about the Cologuard test, visit www.cologuard.com. Rx only.
ABOUT PGA TOUR CHAMPIONS
PGA TOUR Champions is a membership organization of professional golfers age 50 and older, including 34 members of the World Golf Hall of Fame. The Tour’s mission is to provide financial opportunities for its players, entertain and inspire its fans, deliver substantial value to its partners, create outlets for volunteers to give back and generate significant charitable and economic impact in tournament communities. Follow PGA TOUR Champions online at PGATOUR.com, on Facebook, on Twitter (@ChampionsTour), on Instagram (@pgatourchampions) and on TikTok (pgatourchampions).
All events are televised in the United States, with most receiving complete coverage on Golf Channel, the exclusive cable-television partner of PGA TOUR Champions. Tournament programming is available via 25+ TV linear partners in 145+ countries and territories, with 25 channels carrying long-form and/or highlights coverage, and 200+ hours of live coverage distributed in 135+ countries and territories. Programming is also available via the OTT platform GOLFTV powered by PGA TOUR in every market outside of the United States, excluding China and Korea, with live coverage distributed in 130+ countries and territories.
Tournament Media Contact:
Rob Myers
rob@rmprgroup.com602-317-6131
1 Cologuard Clinician Brochure. Exact Sciences Corporation. Madison, WI.
2 Internal Data on File. Exact Sciences Corporation. Madison, WI.
3 Wolf AMD, Fontham ETH, Church TR, et al. Colorectal cancer screening for average‐risk adults: 2018 guidelines update from the American
4 Henley SJ, Ward EM, Scott S, et al. Annual report to the nation on the status of cancer, part I: national cancer statistics. Cancer. 2020;126(10):2225-2249.
5 NCI. Genetics of colorectal cancer (PDQ) – health professional version. Accessed October 7, 2022. https://www.cancer.gov/types/colorectal/hp/colorectal-genetics-pdq#_235_toc
6 Colorectal (colon) cancer: what can I do to reduce my risk of colorectal cancer? Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Accessed October 7, 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/colorectal/basic_info/prevention.htm.
7 National Cancer Institute. Cancer stat facts: colorectal cancer. Accessed October 7, 2022. https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/colorect.html