The LPGA on Friday announced the cancellation of this year’s Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational, which had been set to be the “first LPGA event of the year” after changes caused by the pandemic. The event, scheduled for July 15-18, is next set to return in ’21. Since Dow and the LPGA “originally agreed on a five-year contract to hold the tournament" at Michigan's Midland Country Club, that contract will still be upheld by having the event extended" through '24 (MIDLAND DAILY NEWS, 5/15). The plan for the tour now is to “restart with the Marathon LPGA Classic” in Toledo the following week (GOLFDIGEST.com, 5/15).
Meanwhile, directors from Ohio tournaments -- the Memorial, Marathon Classic, Senior Players Championship, and Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship -- are sending a proposal to Gov. Mike DeWine on Friday “asking him to lift the restriction on outdoor gatherings so fans can attend.” They expect to hear an answer “by early June.” The events “would have no grandstands, fans would be required to wear masks, thermal scanning to ensure no one has a fever would be used, social distancing guidelines would be in effect, and hand sanitizer stations would be present” (TOLEDO BLADE, 5/15).
