LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan Tuesday met with State Farm Classic Exec Dir Kate Peters, and the "main topic of discussion was finding a sponsor or sponsors to keep the 36-year-old event alive after State Farm announced this will be its 19th and last year as title sponsor," according to Dave Kane of the Springfield STATE JOURNAL-REGISTER. Whan said that he expected "to meet with at least one potential sponsor" yesterday "before returning home to Florida." The tournament tees off today, and Whan will be "back for the final two rounds Saturday and Sunday, when he expects to meet with another potential sponsor." Neither Peters nor Whan "would identify companies that they plan to meet with over the next few days," though Whan said that they were "regional in nature." He added, "I'm a glass-half-full guy; I believe we'll be back in Springfield next year. If it's not next year, it'll be the year after." Kane noted part of Whan's "optimism stems from the fact that two tournament sites -- Atlantic City and Phoenix -- have been reestablished this year after being absent from the schedule due to losses of sponsors." Whan is "not ruling out a return to Springfield next year," but he "couldn't rule out a scenario similar to" Atlantic City or Toledo, which is "taking a one-year hiatus but is scheduled to be back with a new sponsorship structure in 2012" (Springfield STATE JOURNAL-REGISTER, 6/8).
WINED AND DINED: In St. Louis, Dan O'Neill notes Springfield is "still searching for solutions" four months after State Farm's announcement that it would not renew the tournament sponsorship. Whan: "The LPGA does not have that financial ability to say, 'You know what, we'll just keep Springfield alive for three years until we find a sponsor.'" Prospective sponsors yesterday attended the tournament pro-am, and golfer Brittany Lincicome said, "I'll do anything I can possibly do to keep the State Farm, or get any sponsors in this event. What better way to wine and dine the sponsors out there than to play a round of golf, probably five hours, make new friends and just try to be as nice as you can to them?" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 6/9). Golfer Cristie Kerr added, "I know that they're actively looking for another sponsor and the players are keeping their eyes and ears open. So hopefully it comes back" (Springfield STATE JOURNAL-REGISTER, 6/9).
