Ambassador White promotes business and education ties through the Suzann Pro Challenge charity tournament

September 7-9, 2012

Ambassador White and Suzann Pettersen at golf event (Photo: U.S. Embassy)

Ambassador White invited three of Norway’s top amateur golfers to participate on his team in the Pro Am tournament. (Photo: U.S. Embassy)

On September 7-9, the Norwegian LPGA golfer Suzann Pettersen (resident in the United States) organized the Suzann Pro Challenge charity golf tournament in Oslo, which included a Pro Am Tournament, a charity dinner in partnership with the Right to Play organization, and a Pro Challenge tournament with four of the world’s best female golfers.  

Ambassador Barry B. White and Embassy staff worked closely with Suzann Pettersen and her management, the US-based Wasserman Media Group, to add value to the event and promote important US-Norway business relations and educational exchange interests. 

On September 7, Ambassador White hosted a networking reception for guests, players, partners, and sponsors, which included leading U.S. businesses like the American Bureau of Shipping, Nike Golf, Radisson Blu Hotels/Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, and the NBC Golf Channel. The Norwegian TV channel TV2 covered the event and interviewed the Ambassador and Suzann Pettersen about the US-Norway focus. 

As part of the Embassy’s educational exchange and “study in the US” initiatives, Ambassador White invited three of Norway’s top amateur golfers to participate on his team in the Pro Am tournament on September 8. These players have all recently graduated from US universities under sports scholarships programs, and as a result of their participation, US study opportunities ended up being highlighted by media and sporting associations. 

In the evening of September 8, Suzann Pettersen Pro Challenge charity dinner in cooperation Right to Play/Right to Play USA ended up raising nearly USD 100,000 to the charity’s activities in developing countries.

The Suzann Pro Challenge tournament featured four of the world’s top ten female golfers on September 9, and the tournament and associated activities were covered by the NBC’s Golf Channel.