PageNet new LPGA tournament sponsor

PageNet, the world's largest wireless messaging and information provider, is replacing IT&T as the title sponsor of the LPGA Tour's season-ending Tour Championship in Las Vegas.

The PageNet Tour Championship, open only to the top 30 money winners from the LPGA Tour, will be held Nov. 19-22 at the Desert Inn Golf Club.

Along with the announcement of the new sponsorship, the LPGA Tour revealed that this year's tournament will feature a $1 million purse -- an increase of $250,000.

"The PageNet Tour Championship brings together the very best (women's) players in the world at one place and at one time," LPGA commissioner Jim Ritts said. "The LPGA is very pleased to have PageNet take a lead position within our sponsor family in showcasing the finest in women's professional golf to fans across the country and around the globe."

IT&T sponsored the first two LPGA Tour Championships at the Desert Inn. Karrie Webb won the inaugural event in 1996 and Annika Sorenstam captured the title -- as well as Player of the Year honors -- at last year's season finale.

"I'm looking forward to returning to the Desert Inn Resort and defending my title," Sorenstam said. "It was a very special victory last year, which earned me player of the year and leading money honors."

The 1997 Tour Championship offered a purse of $750,000 -- a $50,000 increase from the inaugural tournament. Some players complained because the Tour Championship, supposedly one of the premier events on tour, was not among the top 10 purses offered.

By increasing the total prize money to $1 million in 1998, the PageNet Tour Championship will offer the fourth-highest purse for a regular-season LPGA Tour event, excluding the $1.5 million U.S. Open. Only the Gillette Tour Challenge Championship ($1.8 million), the McDonald's LPGA Championship ($1.5 million) and the du Maurier Classic ($1.2 million) offer bigger purses this season.

Sorenstam, who already has won four tournaments this year, is expected to be one of the favorites to win this year's PageNet Tour Championship.

Sorenstam has put herself in position to win a triple crown with a victory at the Desert Inn. In addition to being the LPGA Tour's money leader, she also leads the Rolex Player of the Year points race and the Vare Trophy standings.

Sorenstam won last year's tournament on the third holes of a sudden-death playoff with Lorie Kane and Pat Hurst. Although she didn't win a tournament this year until June, Sorenstam never was worried because she always was in contention.

"I felt like I was playing well early in the year, but there was always someone else playing a little better," she said. "I stayed patient and kept working on my short game and it has paid off."

During her winless streak, Sorenstam finished out of the top 10 only once in 10 tournaments. Her first victory came in the Michelob Light Classic and she followed that win with another in her next tournament. She added a third title in July when she captured the JAL Big Apple Classic and won her fourth, the SafeCo Classic, late last month.

Sorenstam said she is looking forward to this year's PageNet Tour Championship.

"It's an exciting time of the year because so much is on the line," she said. "I love this kind of tournament."

Ticket and hospitality package information for the PageNet Tour Championship is available by calling the tournament office at 733-GOLF or toll free at 888-254-GOLF.

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