LPGA Officially Drops Ginn Tribute From Schedule Through 2010

LPGA Confirms Ginn Tribute Will Not Be On '09 Schedule After No Title Sponsor Found

CASHED OUT: Ginn Resorts Chair & CEO Bobby Ginn said, "We did everything in our power to generate the sponsorship necessary to continue with the Ginn Tribute, but given the current market and corresponding cuts in corporate spending, it was an uphill battle." Julison added, "It's a matter of how much money Ginn could continue to contribute to these endeavors in this market. ... We were very happy with the (Ginn Tribute) and happy with the way the Charleston community embraced it. But it was a dollars and cents issue" (Charleston POST & COURIER, 8/9).

BAD NEWS FOR THE LPGA: CBSSPORTS.com's Steve Elling wrote the loss is a "big one for the LPGA, which cleared an advantageous spot on the schedule for the Ginn by moving the ShopRite Classic into a different calender spot." Rather than move dates, the ShopRite Classic folded (CBSSPORTS.com, 8/8). GOLFWEEK noted despite LPGA Commissioner Carolyn Bivens' "optimism, the Ginn situation is a setback and likely will renew criticism of her original decision to award the tournament to Ginn." By "opting for Ginn's richer purses, ... Bivens gave the tournament the highly coveted Memorial Day weekend date." The decision to move ShopRite's event brought to an "abrupt end a 21-year partnership between the grocery chain and the LPGA" (GOLFWEEK.com, 8/8). Former ShopRite Classic Exec Dir Ruth Harrison: "It's a travesty that the LPGA would allow this to happen. We were there for 21 years, and (the LPGA) trashes our event for one with no track record" (ATLANTIC CITY PRESS, 8/9).

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