Atlanta tournament defunct

[hounddog]

I guess my attendance at this year's event was the kiss of death.

Local LPGA event cancelled; sponsors lacking

By Stan Awtrey
ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION

Published on: 08/28/06

For the first time since 1991 the LPGA won't be making a stop in Atlanta. The annual spring Charity Championship hosted by Nancy Lopez and held at Eagle's Landing Country Club in Stockbridge has been cancelled.

J.T. Williams, the president of Metro South Golf Charities that conducts the event, said Monday he has notified the LPGA Tour that the tournament won't need a date on the 2007 schedule.

The problem is lack of a title sponsor to defray the costs.

"We were hoping to have some way to get another title sponsor," Williams said. "A lot of companies were interested but they all had different things going on and all had some reason why they couldn't do it this year."

Last year's tournament didn't have a title sponsor until two weeks before the event, when Florida's Natural signed on. Even though last year's event was a success, the giant juice company couldn't squeeze enough marketing money free to enable its return.

"Florida's Natural said they loved being involved with the tournament, but they had two hurricanes come through their last year and wiped out about 25 percent of their crop," Williams said.

The tournament was crippled when Chick-fil-A, which sponsored the event from 1995-2005, pulled its money out of the golf tournament and threw it into the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.

Williams, who previously conducted professional tournaments in Florida, worked feverishly to find a replacement last spring. But the last-minute salvation came at a cost; there was no television coverage.

Williams didn't want to go through the same situation again this year and, when his self-imposed deadline arrived, he decided to cancel the event.

"When you've been through that sort of thing once, you don't want to do it again," he said. "We wanted to be fair to the volunteers, a lot of whom plan their vacations around the event, as well as the LPGA players."

Williams said he was under no pressure by LGPA Tour hierarchy. "They were very helpful," he said. "They wanted us to do this because they acknowledge we run a first-rate tournament."

The tournament was known for its grassroots involvement. Many of the players stayed in homes of volunteers; Williams has hosted Morgan Pressell the last two years.

The tournament's absence will also hurt local charities, which received more than $7.5 million over the last 15 years. Henry Medical Center, AIM for the Handicapped and the East Lake Community Fund were the primary recipients.

The tournament hasn't lacked for a quality field since it began in 1992, which was won by Dottie Pepper. Other winners have included Lopez, Laura Davies, Se Ri Pak, Julie Inkster and Annika Sorenstam, who won twice. Sung Ah Yim won the 2006 event, beating Sorenstam, Cristie Kerr and Karrie Webb by a shot.

The event was renamed in 2000 to honor Nancy Lopez, a Georgia resident who served as host for the event. The Nancy Lopez Award began that same year, when the tournament honored the top female amateur in the country; Pressell was the 2006 recipient.


I feel sick.
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http://www.hounddoglpga.com/

[JLindebergFan]

I wonder how much it costs to sponsor an event? When I hit the Powerball Lottery, I want to sponsor (with HF's permission) the SeoulSisters.com Invitational. Everyone, except that TIU guy, will be invited to play in the pro-am.


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"Just hold me back or let me run." ---Stephen Malkmus

[JLindebergFan]

Oh, and I'll pair HF up with Se Ri one day and Michelle Wie the other...
_________________
"Just hold me back or let me run." ---Stephen Malkmus

[Jimbo]

[hounddog]

Dibs on Grace in the pro-am. That would make me feel a whole lot better.
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http://www.hounddoglpga.com/

[JLindebergFan]

[Chigger]

[hounddog]

[Chigger]

[Sarlat]

FYI: At the Canadian Open, Se Ri was chosen first in the pro-am and Natalie went second. I didn't realize it was done that way.

[HappyFan]

I thought it was "random", with the top players tending to go to VIPs, but otherwise a roll of the dice who you get.

I'd love to play with Se Ri, but I'd be mortified playing my usual terrible game in front of her. Maybe I need someone who, if they make fun of me, I can't understand them... Jee Young?

As for Atlanta, the writing was on the wall there. I personally think Nashville may not last much longer, either.
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Celebrating the Korean players on the LPGA
http://www.seoulsisters.com

[Chigger]

[Sarlat]

[Wedgeplayer]

Since this event is an "invitational", why don't we just invite all the Korean players (no sponsor exemptions needed)?

Can I be paired with Meena in the pro-am?

I'm curious whether Sybase will continue to sponsor its tournament. I plan my vacation around it so I can volunteer.

[HappyFan]

Here's some good news:

Jamie Farr Classic renews with LPGA until 2009.

http://www.cybergolf.com/news/golfnews4341.asp

Se Ri has a few more chances to get that fifth win!!
_________________
Celebrating the Korean players on the LPGA
http://www.seoulsisters.com