LPGA brings good economic news for Tulsa area businesses

Thousands of golf fans are flocking to Tulsa and Broken Arrow. It's the LPGA tour, with this week's John Q Hammons Hotel Classic. <br/><br/>Organizers call it the premier golfing event. Not

Friday, September 10th 2004, 6:21 am

By: News On 6

Thousands of golf fans are flocking to Tulsa and Broken Arrow. It's the LPGA tour, with this week's John Q Hammons Hotel Classic.

Organizers call it the premier golfing event. Not only does it give local amateurs a chance to sink a putt with the pros, officials say the tournament itself sinks $6-million to $10-million into Tulsa's and Broken Arrowâ€™s economies.

Highway signs direct motorists to the parking lot where they're whisked away by shuttle to the course at Cedar Ridge Country Club.

The new spot is closer to the Renaissance Hotel, owned by the tourney's namesake. Itâ€™s also the place where organizers say nearly all of the players, handlers and many fans are staying. Tournament communications director Jerry Wilkins: "This is truly a community event, we do have people that come in from all over, but basically if you look around you'll see your friends, your neighbors it's a community event, big, big local support."

You can still get tickets at the gate for the three day event, which raises money to fight cystic fibrosis. Children 15 and under and people with military ID's are admitted free.