Thursday, May 21, 1998

Kapalua party returns

Lincoln-Mercury to again have
a golf tourney at the Maui resort
in November

By Bill Kwon
Star-Bulletin

There's still a Lincoln-Mercury in Kapalua's future.

The auto company, which sponsored the Lincoln-Mercury Kapalua International the last six years, will sponsor a $500,000 tournament at the Maui resort Nov. 5-7, according to Mark Rolfing.

"It will be called the Lincoln-Mercury Challenge and will involve 20 PGA Tour pros and 80 amateurs," said Rolfing, the Kapalua tournament chairman. "It's the resurrection of the old Kapalua Golf Party."

The Kapalua International ended a 15-year run in November after the PGA Tour announced the Mercedes Championships will be held next January at the resort's Plantation Course.

"Not only many of the pros, but a lot of amateurs who played in the previous tournaments wanted to keep something going at Kapalua," Rolfing said.

Lincoln-Mercury will provide the $500,000 purse.

"Lincoln-Mercury has been gracious enough to sponsor the event and use it as a dealer incentive," Rolfing said.

The 54-hole champion will win $75,000, and the winning professional in the two-man pro-am the final day will earn $50,000. Since there's no cut, a pro is guaranteed a minimum of $10,000.

The format calls for each of the 20 pros to play with four amateur partners in the first two rounds, with the amateurs changing pros on the second day, which will be played at the Bay Course. The low 20 amateurs -- based on team scores -- will team with a professional in the final round played at the Plantation Course.

"Since it's a non-PGA event, we can invite anybody we want," said Rolfing, who received a commitment from John Cook -- before he won the Byron Nelson Classic on Sunday. "All of the pros who we invite will be a friend of Kapalua."

One "friend" likely would be Peter Jacobsen, who played in every Kapalua International. And golf television commentators Gary McCord and Roger Maltbie.

Rolfing said he wouldn't be surprised if Davis Love III, the last Kapalua International champion, accepted an invitation.

"I'm hoping Freddie Couples will also want to come," Rolfing said.

Because the Plantation Course is the site of the Mercedes Championships, Rolfing said he wouldn't be surprised if other pros come to check out the layout.

Rolfing also is confident Toronto pitcher Roger Clemens, who has played in more than 10 Kapalua pro-ams, will play.