By SCOTT HAMILTON
Senior Writer
The LPGA’s second-year event in Rogers, Ark., will be getting a makeover from Procter & Gamble.
The Cincinnati-based consumer products manufacturer has signed a two-year agreement with options for additional years to serve as title sponsor for the 54-hole tournament. Financial terms were unavailable.
The P&G Beauty NW Arkansas Championship presented by John Q. Hammons will be played July 4-6 at Pinnacle Country Club, shifting from the early September date it had during its inaugural year on the LPGA schedule.
Tim Erensen, senior vice president of Octagon, the sports marketing and management firm that runs the event, said the change in date provides the tournament an opportunity to secure a network television broadcast. He said there is an available window on CBS for that weekend, and he expects a deal to be finalized within the next 30 days. Broadcast arrangements for the tournament’s opening rounds have yet to be determined.
The tournament will have a purse of $1.7 million, an increase of $450,000 from last year. Presenting sponsor John Q. Hammons Hotels also is locked in through 2009, as are the tournament’s agreements with the LPGA and Pinnacle Country Club.
Last year’s event was hampered by wet weather that produced two days of delays and shortened the tournament to 18 holes. That resulted in earnings and statistics from the event not counting officially because of an LPGA rule mandating all events go at least 36 holes.
University of Arkansas standout Stacy Lewis, an amateur who had received a sponsor exemption, led with a 7-under 65 after the first round but was not considered an official winner by the tour.
• • •
Scott Hamilton is a
Golfweek senior writer. To reach him e-mail
shamilton@golfweek.com.
Posted: 1/31/2008
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