Tournament's move to Ponte Vedra Beach now official

Special/The MPS Group Championships -- ATP player Brian Gottfried, (from left) The MPS Group Championships tournament director John Arrix, ATP player Todd Martin, Senior Vice President Corporate Development MPS Group Tyra Tutor, Jacksonville Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio and COO & General Manager Sawgrass Country Club George Fetherston at today's press conference announcing the Jacksonville-based MPS Group will sponsor and the Sawgrass Country Club will be the site of the women's professional tennis tournament formally based at the Amelia island Plantation.

JACKSONVILLE — It’s official.

Officials formally announced today that the women’s professional tennis tournament, which had been at the Amelia island Plantation for 28 years, will move to the Sawgrass Country Club in Ponte Vedra Beach.

Formerly sponsored by Bausch & Lomb for more than 20 years, the Jacksonville-based MPS Group, Inc. will become the new title sponsor of The MPS Group Championships for a three-year term beginning in April.

Following Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Board approval, the Sawgrass Country Club will be designated the new tournament site when play gets under way April 6.

“We are very excited to begin a new chapter with the tournament,” Tournament Director John Arrix said in a press release. “With the support of MPS Group, we will continue to deliver to Northeast Florida great women’s professional tennis. MPS Group brings tremendous enthusiasm for Jacksonville and the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour. The MPS Group’s support and a new site of Sawgrass Country Club will make for a very exciting future.” — Amelia A. Hart