International Senior Ladies Golf Tour
Inaugural Charity Pro-Am
When: Dec. 4
Where: McCormick Ranch Golf Club
Format: 20 former LPGA players
and 20 four-man scramble teams
Information: www.islgt.com or www.lct.golfreg.com.
The International Senior Ladies Golf Tour – formerly the Ladies Champions Tour – plans to launch its inaugural event here in the East Valley in December.
Vicki Fergon, who is heading up the new circuit for former LPGA players over the age of 45, said the one-day pro-am will be held at McCormick Ranch Golf Club in Scottsdale on Dec. 4.
According to Fergon, there is a real need for the ISLT, which would rival the LPGA Legends Tour on several fronts.
“A lot of (former LPGA players) are like me, in that they leave the LPGA and there is no place for us to go and continue playing golf and earning a living,’’ explained the 51-year-old Fergon, a three-time winner during her LPGA career.
“You retire from competition, and there is no real (pension) like the (PGA Tour players) have, and you can’t even find a teaching job. It was shocking for me, and it’s shocking for a lot of other (former LPGA players), too.’’
Fergon said the initial event will feature 20 former LPGA players like three-time U.S. Open champion Hollis Stacy, Jane Crafter, Sherri Turner, Anne-Marie Palli and Robin Walton, to name a few. Fergon noted that 63 players have signed on “and there are probably more like 83 that are eligible.’’
“LPGA Hall of Famer Marlene Hagge will be the official host, along with players like Penny Pulz, who doesn’t play competitively any more but still teaches,’’ Fergon said. “It’s a passion of mine, to get this thing up and running, and provide some (financial relief) for players who are struggling to make it out there after leaving the LPGA.’’
Fergon emphasized that she is not blaming the LPGA for not providing a better financial future for its former players.
“I don’t want to fault the LPGA, because comparatively, they don’t have the kind of money that the PGA Tour has,’’ Fergon noted. “And it’s not like the LPGA is against a senior tour, they just don’t have the money to support it like the PGA Tour.’’
Fergon said she has spoken several times to LPGA commissioner Carolyn Bivens about the issue, and while Bivens would like to do something about creating more opportunities for its former players, it hasn’t happened yet.
“Too many of us are having a hard time with this (life after the LPGA), and that’s sad,’’ Fergon said. “Even some of our Hall of Famers are struggling, which shows you the magnitude of the problem.’’
As an example, Fergon pointed to her own situation.
“I devoted 27 years of my life to the LPGA, and for that I receive (a pension) of $773.37 a month. So I have to work,’’ she said. “And there are a lot of others who are much worse off (financially) than I am.’’
Fergon said goals for the fledging ISLT are modest. In fact, a 10-tournament schedule would be a good fit and serve the purpose, she added.
“I think a nice plan would be to have a tournament format like a two-day pro-am with a two-day competition,’’ Fergon said. “But right now, this one-day pro-am will help get the word out to the fans and sponsors we need to make this tour go.’’
The scramble format for the initial ISLT event calls for four amateurs teaming with one pro. Cost of the event is $500 per player, or $2,000 for a sponsorship that includes one playing spot in the tournament. Magique Golf of Tempe will be a presenting sponsor with any money raised from charity going to the In-and-Out Burger Foundation for abused children.
“As a group, LPGA players are fun, entertaining and sponsor- and fan-friendly,’’ Fergon said of the concept that always has been the backbone of the LPGA. “And I think amateurs -- the average player -- can relate to our swing perhaps a little better than the stars they play with on the PGA Tour.’’
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