2012 CVS Caremark Charity Classic to kick off next month with new format

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Caremark, along with CVS Charity Classic co-hosts Brad Faxon and Billy Andrade, unveiled on Monday the field for the Charity Classic's 14th anniversary edition.

This year, the annual golf tournament is scheduled for June 17 to 19 at the Rhode Island Country Club and will benefit numerous regional charities. It once again will draw a roster of elite PGA, LPGA and Champions Tour professionals. Making her inaugural appearance this year is Yani Tseng, who has held the top spot in the LPGA for more than one year.

Tournament week begins with the Pepsi Pro-Am on June 17 followed by the two-day tournament on June 18 and 19 at the Rhode Island Country Club. The tournament format this year, however, will be slightly altered for 2012 — Tuesday's play being changed to a scramble format. The Pepsi Max Shootout, where the first-place team from both the Pepsi Pro-Am morning and afternoon rounds compete in a playoff during Monday's professional tournament, is back for 2012. In addition, the pros will be competing for designated charities in the annual charity closest to the pin contest, CVS Caremark said.

During the last 14 years, the CVS Caremark Charity Classic has raised $15 million for charities around the region, providing vital funding for a variety of critical programs serving children, families and people in transition throughout southeastern New England, the company said.

"The CVS Caremark Charity Classic brings an unmatched level of professional golf and excitement to Rhode Island, all to support the vital work of our non profit partners across the region," CVS Caremark Charity Classic tournament chairwoman Eileen Howard Boone said. "We're proud to have given back more than $15 million to hundreds of worthwhile charities and we salute the thousands of volunteers from our charity partners who make this tournament a success for fans and their organizations alike."