If women’s professional golf returns to Springfield for the 37th consecutive year in 2012, the tournament formerly known as the State Farm Classic will have a new slot on the calendar.
The Rochester (N.Y.) Democrat and Chronicle reported on Wednesday that the 2012 LPGA Championship will be held at Locust Hill Country Club near Rochester in the first week of June. The State Farm Classic held that spot in the LPGA schedule in 2010 and 2011.
“Essentially, we moved the dates to create more space between our major championships,” LPGA public relations manager Mike Scanlan told the Democrat and Chronicle. “This year it was a little bit tight with three majors within six weeks. Ideally, we want the ability to build up to each major as their own tournament, as opposed to a string of them.”
Central Illinois Charity Golf Classic executive director Kate Peters wasn’t shocked by the news.
“It doesn’t really have any impact on our future,” she said. “We knew we wouldn’t be in the first week in June. We were pretty certain of that.
“As soon as we find a sponsor, we’ll have a date, and we’re certain (the LPGA) will set it up right again.”
LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan was at Panther Creek Country Club last month for the tournament, and he said that the LPGA would reserve an early June date for Springfield until he was told that monetary backing couldn’t be arranged for 2012.
“We’re holding the June dates for Springfield next year until Kate (Peters) would tell us, ‘It’s not going to happen in 2012,’” Whan told the SJ-R last month. “I think they’ve earned the right to say, ‘Hey, we think we can still pull this off.’ I think Panther Creek has earned that right as well.
“In my short tenure, I’ve learned the LPGA is most effective where people have seen the product,” Whan said.
Whan was not available for comment on Thursday.
Peters said the Classic isn’t ready to raise any white flags yet.
“We’re still looking, we’re still talking to a lot of people, anybody that will listen,” Peters said. “I’d love to tell you a concrete date, but I don’t have that yet.
“We’re still finalizing (financial) numbers from 2011, and we probably won’t have a good feel for where we are after 2011 until the end of August,” she said. “We’re still collecting bills, we’re still paying bills. That’s going to determine if we’re financially stable enough to look for sponsors, but I’m hopeful.”
The Rochester (N.Y.) Democrat and Chronicle reported on Wednesday that the 2012 LPGA Championship will be held at Locust Hill Country Club near Rochester in the first week of June. The State Farm Classic held that spot in the LPGA schedule in 2010 and 2011.
“Essentially, we moved the dates to create more space between our major championships,” LPGA public relations manager Mike Scanlan told the Democrat and Chronicle. “This year it was a little bit tight with three majors within six weeks. Ideally, we want the ability to build up to each major as their own tournament, as opposed to a string of them.”
Central Illinois Charity Golf Classic executive director Kate Peters wasn’t shocked by the news.
“It doesn’t really have any impact on our future,” she said. “We knew we wouldn’t be in the first week in June. We were pretty certain of that.
“As soon as we find a sponsor, we’ll have a date, and we’re certain (the LPGA) will set it up right again.”
LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan was at Panther Creek Country Club last month for the tournament, and he said that the LPGA would reserve an early June date for Springfield until he was told that monetary backing couldn’t be arranged for 2012.
“We’re holding the June dates for Springfield next year until Kate (Peters) would tell us, ‘It’s not going to happen in 2012,’” Whan told the SJ-R last month. “I think they’ve earned the right to say, ‘Hey, we think we can still pull this off.’ I think Panther Creek has earned that right as well.
Whan was not available for comment on Thursday.
Peters said the Classic isn’t ready to raise any white flags yet.
“We’re still looking, we’re still talking to a lot of people, anybody that will listen,” Peters said. “I’d love to tell you a concrete date, but I don’t have that yet.
“We’re still finalizing (financial) numbers from 2011, and we probably won’t have a good feel for where we are after 2011 until the end of August,” she said. “We’re still collecting bills, we’re still paying bills. That’s going to determine if we’re financially stable enough to look for sponsors, but I’m hopeful.”
