The Miami office of Prudential Individual Financial Services has agreed to be the title sponsor for the second annual Pinecrest/South Dade YMCA Golf Classic.

Prudential, which sponsored last year's inaugural edition of the tournament, wrote a check for $10,000 to claim naming rights to the tournament, slated for Sunday, Oct 1, on the Palmetto Golf Course, located at S. Dixie Highway and 152nd Street.

"Sponsoring the tournament is in line with what I see as being the focus for me and the company here in our community," said Ed Morales, managing director of Prudential's Coral Gables office. "It's obviously working toward making it an exciting event for all of the participants, but the ultimate goal is serving the Y and obviously the benefactors of this are the kids. I'm excited about it; every year we're looking to improve it."

Meantime, Dr. Tom Den Boer, district executive director of the YMCA, expressed elation that Prudential opted to continue its association with the South Dade YMCA and its golf tournament.

"We're delighted that Prudential has elected to once again to serve as our title sponsor for the tournament," said Den Boer. "Prudential is a year-round supporter of the YMCA. They not only sponsor the golf tournament, but they also sponsor four youth sports teams -- fall, winter, spring and summer -- sponsoring 18 kids on a soccer team, as well flag football, basketball and baseball. Prudential also participates in our annual dinner, buying a corporate table and their entire corporate program with us last year was about $25,000."

Den Boer said registration would begin early and a box lunch prepared by Tony Roma Restaurant would be served 11 a.m. There will be a putting contest before the tournament participants begin teeing off at Noon. A social hour is planned for 4 p.m. following play and the annual sponsor recognition and awards presentation tournament dinner is scheduled for 5 p.m.

The individual tournament entry fee is $150 per person, though the cost for a four-man team is $125 per person. Already, 20 foursomes have signed up to play and there are openings for only 16 more.

"We have a number of sponsorship opportunities still available," said Den Boer, "ranging from presenting sponsor and corporate sponsor to individual hole and tee sponsors."

Sponsors already onboard include Lucent Technologies, Knight-Ridder, MD International, Sofisa Bank, Tony Roma Restaurants, Manny Miranda's State Farm Insurance Agency, Dr. Frank Manteiga, the WNBA, Publix Supermarkets, Rooms-To-Go, Parrot Jungle, Heavenly Hams, Coca-Cola and Miami Photo.

Den Boer says he hopes to make the tournament even bigger next year.

"We're looking to move the tournament to a bigger, more prestigious location next year and maybe bring in a few celebrities to help promote the event." said Den Boer. "We would like to hold it at Doral or Key Biscayne and have two groups of 36 foursomes; one all youth, the other all adult."

For more information on the South Dade YMCA Golf Classic, call 305-254-0310.