LPGA Tour will make its return to Las Vegas in ‘03

Friday, Nov. 8, 2002 | 10:51 a.m.

One may be going out, one definitely is coming back.

As Las Vegas' PGA tournament continues pursuit of a sponsor that would ensure its viability beyond next year, the LPGA Tour and Las Vegas Country Club have announced the women's best pro golfers will be returning to Las Vegas next spring.

Officials at the Country Club said today there would be a news conference next Friday to announce a new LPGA Las Vegas tour stop. The tournament title, purse, sponsor, dates and venue will be disclosed at the news conference.

"All we were asked to do is hold the news conference," said LVCC general manager Dale Telford. "But I would say yes, it looks like it is (a done deal)."

Telford said he was not at liberty to say if LVCC would be the tournament site.

"I cannot say at this time," he said. "Come next Friday, the details will be released."

Likewise, LPGA officials would not disclose details regarding the tournament, other than to say it was definitely on for 2003.

"My only comment is that I can confirm the LPGA will be returning to Las Vegas," LPGA spokesman Chris Higgs said today.

The new tournament will mark the first LPGA event held in Las Vegas since the 1999 PageNet Championship. Se Ri Park won the last tournament in that series played at the former Desert Inn Golf Club.

Las Vegas at one time hosted all three major golf tours -- the PGA, PGA Senior and LPGA. But of the three, only the PGA Tour remains and its status is uncertain following the loss of title sponsor Invensys.