The Asahi Ryokuken International Championship golf tournament is history, but that doesn't mean there won't be an LPGA Tour event in the area in 2005.
In the wake of the demise of the Asahi Ryokuken after a four-year run in Edgefield County, the tour said it isn't ruling out another event in Augusta - but it would have to be under the right circumstances.
The discontinuance of the tournament "doesn't mean the LPGA Tour isn't interested in having another tournament in that part of the country," said Chris Higgs, the senior vice president and chief operations officer for the tour.
If there is another event, it won't be at Mount Vintage Plantation Golf Club, site of the Asahi Ryokuken from 2001-04.
"If another club, with a sponsor, were to approach the LPGA, in a time frame, we would look at it and see what we could do," Higgs said.
That could happen as late as December or as early as January, Higgs said.
"If they said, 'We have a great course and a sponsor, do you have a spot for us?', we would look at it, definitely," Higgs said. "To date, that hasn't happened."
The 2005 LPGA schedule, released Thursday, has 31 events, but there are eight open weeks.
Among those surprised that the Asahi Ryokuken won't be back is Augusta Mayor Bob Young.
Like most of us, Young didn't know the original five-year contract between Asahi Ryokuken Inc and Mount Vintage International Corporation Inc. had been renegotiated after the 2003 tournament. It gave Asahi Ryokuken option years in 2004 and 2005. The Japanese health-drink company took the plunge in 2004, but opted out for 2005.
Asahi Ryokuken president Ryota Koga was Young's guest for a round of golf at Augusta Country Club during October's tournament at Mount Vintage, and Young said Koga never mentioned the option years.
"I'm extremely disappointed," said Young, whose influence helped bring the Asahi Ryokuken tournament to the area. "We were hoping the LPGA tournament, in time, could turn into a significant tournament in women's golf. For a couple of years of the tournament, I know there were problems. It seemed like it was snakebit."
The date changes of the event over the years probably didn't help. The inaugural Asahi Ryokuken was held in September, the next two were in May, and the 2004 event moved to an October date.
"Maybe it was a little too fluid," Young said.
The Asahi Ryokuken was one of five LPGA tournaments from 2004 that lost its title sponsor for 2005.
That's about the average for the LPGA, where the rate of attrition for tournaments is higher than the PGA Tour.
"I'm no expert on the LPGA, but it appears our tournament suffered many of the same problems as some others," Young said.
Young said he would get involved again if an area club came up with a title sponsor and approached the LPGA Tour about securing a date.
"I would hope from the city's perspective that we're going to pursue every avenue we can to keep a tournament here," Young said.
Here's my suggestion: Augusta should follow the lead of some LPGA Tour events - the Chick-fil-A Championship and the McDonald's LPGA Championship come to mind - and convince a restaurant to be the title sponsor.
But it has to be a local eating establishment, not a chain.
Let's see, how does the Wife Saver Classic or the Sconyers Invitational, sound? The French Market Grille Open has a nice ring to it, as does the T-Bonz Championship.
What's more, the title sponsor could offer its food at the concession stands and in the locker room, where fans and players from around the country could try it. Could national marketing be far behind?
Reach David Westin at (706) 724-0851 or david.westin@augustahchronicle.com.
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