Ginn Tribute Charleston Nixed

[ANTHONYPIOPPI]

LPGA's Ginn Tribute in Charleston won't be back
ASSOCIATED PRESS

CHARLESTON, S.C. - The LPGA's Ginn Tribute hosted by Annika Sorenstam won't return to Charleston next year.

Tournament organizers announced Friday they couldn't obtain the sponsorships needed to continue the tournament, which was contracted for two more years at RiverTowne Country Club.

Ginn Companies chairman Bobby Ginn says a faltering economy dried up corporate spending that could have kept the tournament afloat.

Hosted by retiring Hall of Famer Sorenstam, the event had one of the LPGA's richest purses.

Nicole Castrale won the inaugural event in 2007. Seon Hwa Lee won this year.

LPGA Commissioner Carolyn F. Bivens says the tournament had solid fan support and she hopes the tour can return to South Carolina in the future.

[John Kavanaugh]

They need to trim the fat out of their schedule.  This is not a slam to any neice or realitive of Wo Fat...but come on, we have had some ugly Betty's podiumen up lately.

[JeffTodd]

The Ginn event was given the spot on the schedule that belonged to the Shop Rite Classic at Seaview CC (and other venues in previous years). The Shop Rite was a well established event with a track record of sponsors, philanthropy, and great list of champions; names like Sorenstam, King, Lopez, Pak, Pepper, and Inkster, to name a few.  In another genius move by the LPGA under Carolyn Bivens, the Shop Rite date was given to the Ginn event, and the Shop Rite Classic was left to die on the vine with an untenable substitute date.

A successful event for over two decades was canned for an event that lasted two years. I think it's a shame.

[Brent Hutto]

It would not be the first time Bobby Ginn has thrown money at something only to see it flame out in no time flat after a brief, splashy interval of apparent success.