The Elbow Beach Hotel has stepped in to replace insurance company ACE Ltd. as the title sponsor for the Samuel L. Jackson Celebrity Golf Classic.

The announcement that the hotel reached an agreement with the Montreal-based marketing company managing the event, Canadian Connection Sports and Entertainment Inc. (CCSE), was made yesterday.

CCSE president Tom Godber said: "This is an exciting event and one that has great potential to define Bermuda as the place to be.

"We are very pleased to have a title sponsor so ideally suited to this event.'' Elbow Beach general manager Bill Shoaf noted: "This charity event offers a unique opportunity to showcase Bermuda and the new renovations to our resort.

"This event will give Elbow Beach and its employees the opportunity to give something back to our community.

"We are excited to support this Samuel L. Jackson Celebrity Golf Classic and look forward to welcoming the many celebrities and guests that will visit us here in Bermuda.'' When ACE, originally the main sponsors of the event, pulled out it, it sparked concerns that the charity tournament would not make it into its second year.

The insurance company was set to put up about 33 percent of the sponsorship money.

ACE chairman Brian Duperreault, declined to comment on what made the company pull out of the tournament just two weeks after it had agreed to be the main sponsor.

Last year the inaugural tournament, fronted by Pulp Fiction star Samuel L.

Jackson, raised nearly $250,000 for several charities. The charity tournament, scheduled to take place in June, has been promised to be even bigger than last year, with more celebrities staying on the Island for a longer period.

A Press conference will be held in early April where the organisers will announce the event's activities and schedule, present the key sponsor and beneficiary partners in Bermuda and the US and release the names of celebrities who have accepted the invitation to attend.

Samuel L. Jackson Graphic file name: KACKSAM GOLF GLF