Puerto Rico - The Hyatt Dorado Beach Resort & Country Club, featuring golf courses designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr., has been selected as the site of the men's and women's 2004 World Amateur Team Championships, the International Golf Federation has announced. These Championships will be hosted by the Puerto Rico Golf Association.

The Hyatt Dorado Beach's East and West courses, located on the Atlantic Ocean, will provide competitors a challenge with their windy conditions, while also offering stunning views. The courses have hosted the Senior PGA Tour Tournament of Champions and the Tour Championship, the World Cup of Golf, and the Mazda Championship.

"We're extremely excited about such a world-class event being held here," said Tom Netting, Vice President/Managing Director of Hyatt Resorts, Puerto Rico. "We have great pride in our golf facilities, and Dorado has a tremendous history of outstanding events."

The 21^st women's competition for the Espirito Santo Trophy will be held from October 20-23, 2004. The 24^th men's competition for the Eisenhower Trophy will be held from October 28-31.

Puerto Rico was designated as the eighth American Zone nation to host the biennial championships, which gather some of the best amateurs in the world. The 2004 championships will coincide with the 50^th anniversary of the Puerto Rico Golf Association.

"We are certain we will fulfill the request of the IGF ," said Sidney Wolf, president of the Puerto Rico Golf Association. "Puerto Rico will show the world that, besides the excellent golf venue, its rich culture and unique traditions will make this event truly remarkable."

Both championships are over 72 holes of stroke play, and each country will have three players per team representing their nation, with the two lowest scores comprising the team score.

At the 2000 championship in Germany, 40 women's teams and 59 men's teams competed. France captured the women's event while the United States of America won the men's crown.

The 2002 World Amateur Team Championships, hosted by the Malaysian Golf Association, will be conducted at Saujana Golf & Country Club, near Kuala Lumpur. The women's competition will be held from October 16-19, 2002, and the men's event will be held from October 24-27, 2002.

The IGF was founded in 1958 to encourage the international development of golf and to employ the game as a vehicle to foster friendship and sportsmanship among the peoples of the world. Serving as the International Olympic Committee's recognized International Federation for golf, the IGF is comprised of the national governing bodies of golf in nearly 100 countries.

For more information, please contact Stephanie Parel or Beth Murrison of the IGF at 908-234-2300 (USA).