Even without two stars, local event eyes success

Adam Candee

Wednesday, April 7, 2004 | 9:47 a.m.

Jim Webb hopes that staying power is more important than star power for next week's LPGA Takefuji Classic.

Webb, tournament director for the LPGA tour stop at Las Vegas Country Club, understands that attracting crowds will be a challenge without either of the sport's huge stars -- Annika Sorenstam and 14-year-old sensation Michelle Wie.

Yet Webb has been involved with the LPGA for more than two decades and he has seen that the perfect storm of beautiful weather and an intriguing leaderboard can at least counter some of the effect of an event without as much star power.

"I don't know that I'm disappointed," Webb said of Sorenstam. "I'd have been happier if she was here."

This latest local incarnation of an LPGA tournament is in its second year and Webb hopes that a continuing presence will help bring out fans. The event is still "budding", according to Webb, meaning that a major advertising effort will be needed to attract attention.

Webb said that radio and TV advertising is being intensified from this week on into next week, with the hope of grabbing some attention with the tournament near. It is nearly impossible, Webb said, to compete for attention much farther in advance in Las Vegas with the wealth of entertainment options pulling at potential fans. Advance ticket sales for the three rounds total about 1,000, Webb said.

"With so much going on, you kind of have to hit it hard the last couple of weeks," Webb said. "You have to have a very, very large budget to maintain anything for a month or six weeks."

Still, the tournament faces a tough task with a field missing most of the sport's major names. Sorenstam will only play 15 events this year and with open weeks on both sides of the Takefuji, she chose to take a three-week vacation.

"I don't ever really expect it," Webb said. "All 32 tournaments, you obviously want Annika to play, just like everybody wants Tiger to play."

Likewise, the young Wie will only play a handful of tournaments. Se Ri Pak pulled out of the tournament in the past week for reasons Webb does not know. Karrie Webb also will not play -- in fact, just six of last year's top 12 money winners are in the tournament field, which was finalized Tuesday afternoon.

Defending champion Candie Kung is in the field, as are locals Stephanie Louden, Natalie Gulbis and Kim Saiki. Two spots will be determined through Monday qualifying, which will include two golfers from the UNLV women's team. Last year, Rebels' standout Sunny Oh lost in a playoff in qualifying.

The 54-hole tournament begins Thursday, ending on Saturday to accommodate the Japanese TV audience of Takefuji, the title sponsor. Daily admission is $10 for practice rounds and pro-am, and $15 for each round. Weekly passes are available for $30 (grounds) and $50 (clubhouse).

Children 15 and under receive a free admission with each paid adult ticket -- part of a nationwide LPGA effort to attract younger fans.