Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: PageNet chosen as new sponsor of Local Tourney

Tuesday, Aug. 4, 1998 | 11:23 a.m.

BRIAN HILDERBRAND is a Las Vegas Sun sportswriter. His golf column appears Tuesdays. He can be reached on the Internet at bh@lasvegassun.com

PageNet, the world's largest wireless messaging and information provider, is replacing IT&T as the title sponsor of the LPGA Tour's season-ending Tour Championship in Las Vegas.

The PageNet Tour Championship, open only to the top 30 money winners from the LPGA Tour, will be held Nov. 19-22 at the Desert Inn Golf Club.

Along with the announcement of the new sponsorship, the LPGA Tour revealed that this year's tournament will feature a $1 million purse -- an increase of $250,000.

"The PageNet Tour Championship brings together the very best (women's) players in the world at one place and at one time," LPGA commissioner Jim Ritts said. "The LPGA is very pleased to have PageNet take a lead position within our sponsor family in showcasing the finest in women's professional golf to fans across the country and around the globe."

IT&T sponsored the first two LPGA Tour Championships at the Desert Inn. Karrie Webb won the inaugural event in 1996 and Annika Sorenstam captured the title -- as well as Player of the Year honors -- at last year's season finale.

"I'm looking forward to returning to the Desert Inn Resort and defending my title," Sorenstam said in a release announcing the new sponsorship. "It was a very special victory last year, which earned me player of the year and leading money honors."

The 1997 Tour Championship offered a purse of $750,000 -- a $50,000 increase from the inaugural tournament. Some players complained because the Tour Championship, supposedly one of the premier events on tour, was not among the top 10 purses offered.

By increasing the total prize money to $1 million in 1998, the PageNet Tour Championship will offer the fourth-highest purse for a regular-season LPGA Tour event, excluding the $1.5 million U.S. Open. Only the Gillette Tour Challenge Championship ($1.8 million), the McDonald's LPGA Championship ($1.5 million) and the du Maurier Classic ($1.2 million) offer bigger purses this season.

* GOLF WITH HORTON: UNLV head football coach Jeff Horton will host the Rebel Football Foundation's fourth Kickoff Golf Tournament on Aug. 26 at The Legacy Golf Club in Green Valley. Entry fees for the scramble format are $150 per player or $550 per foursome and include greens fee and cart, golf shirt, continental breakfast, lunch and a photo with Horton. Call Terry Cottle at 895-3454 for additional information.

* GOLF MARATHON: Desert Willow Golf Club head professional Jon Spatz will play 100 holes of golf on Aug. 25 to raise funds for local junior golf as a part of the PGA of America's National Golf Day. Spatz is collecting pledges for each hole he plays and the money raised will provide more playing opportunities and golf course access for junior golfers. The golf course that raises the most money in the 100-hole marathon will receive a golf clinic from PGA Tour star Davis Love III. To make a pledge, contact Spatz at 263-4653.

* JUNIOR RESULTS: A team representing Southern Nevada finished sixth of 18 teams in last week's 21st Girls Junior America's Cup in Fresno, Calif. The team of Mary Fernandez, Kimberly Kindig, Christine Fernandez and Laura DeLucia shot a 727 at the par-73 Sunnyside Country Club and finished 30 shots behind team champion Southern California. Mary Fernandez was the highest-placing Southern Nevada team member, finishing eighth in the individual standings with a three-day total of 236.

* CHARITY TOURNAMENTS: The ninth annual Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Celebrity Dinner and Golf Tournament will be held Aug. 23 and 24 in Victorville, Calif. The golf tournament portion of the fund-raiser, which benefits the Happy Trails Children's Foundation, will be held Aug. 24 at Spring Valley Lake Country Club. Entry fee is $175 per person. Call (760) 245-7921 to register. ... The Greater Las Vegas Association of Realtors will hold its 11th annual golf tournament Sept. 3 at the Las Vegas Paiute Resort. Proceeds from the tournament will benefit Habitat for Humanity. Call 732-8177 for more information.

* UPCOMING EVENTS: The PGA Tour is in Grand Blanc, Mich., this week for the Buick Open at Warwick Hills Golf and Country Club. Vijay Singh is the defending champion; CBS will televise Saturday and Sunday. ... The Senior PGA Tour is in Coon Rapids, Minn., for the Burnet Senior Classic at Bunker Hills Golf Club. Hale Irwin won last year's tournament; ESPN will televise Friday through Sunday. .... The LPGA Tour will stage the Star Bank Classic at the Country Club of the North in Beavercreek, Ohio. Colleen Walker won last year's tournament; The Golf Channel will televise.