Wednesday, May 27, 1998

Plans for Sony Open
announced

By Bill Kwon
Star-Bulletin

Sony officials outlined plans for the Sony Open in Hawaii golf tournament Jan. 14-17 at the Waialae Country Club with a number of former Hawaiian Open officials filling key roles.

Chester Kahapea, who coordinated the United Airlines Hawaiian Open for the past 20 years, will be the tournament manager for the Sony Open, which will replace the Hawaiian Open on the PGA calendar starting next year. Bill Bachran again will handle media relations.

Ray Stosik will be the tournament's executive director, said Sony Hawaii president Ryozo Sakai, who made the event's first official announcement yesterday at the Kahala Mandarin Hotel.

"It did not happen overnight," Sakai said about Sony's efforts to assume title sponsorship in order to keep a PGA Tour event in Hawaii. "As a corporate citizen of Hawaii for 28 years, it is Sony's investment in Hawaii's future and economy."

Sony's commitment is for four years with a $2.6 million purse for next year, increasing to $3.4 million in 2002. Next year's Sony Open champion will get $468,000. Sony also has committed $200,000 to benefit the Friends of Hawaii Charities.

"Hawaii will be in the spotlight for golf fans around the world thanks to Sony's title sponsorship," said Gov. Ben Cayetano, whose input helped to keep the PGA Tour event on Oahu.

ESPN will televise the Sony Open in 1999, 2000 and 2001 with CBS/USA handling the telecast in 2001.

"Waialae Country Club is proud to continue our relationship with the PGA Tour as a tournament site," said Tony Guerrero, the club's president.

Stosik said that special effort will be made to convince the 30 or so 1998 tournament winners who will be competing in the Mercedes Championship at the Kapalua Resort the week before to stay over and play in the Sony Open.

Ticket prices were also announced: $15 general admission, $75 for a week-long clubhouse badge and $125 for a book of 10, good for any day.

The headquarters for the Sony Open will be at the First Hawaiian Tower at 1132 Bishop Street, Suite 1595. The telephone number is 523-7888 and E-Mail address is sonyopen@gte.net.