No Decisions Have Been Made Yet on Future Location and Sponsorship

No decision has been made about the future of the Kyocera Inamori Golf Classic, which has been held in San Diego in 1983 and 1985-87.

“It’s a top management decision that will be made by Kyocera,” said tournament director Brad Lillimars, who works for Kyocera International in San Diego.

“We’re very satisfied with crowds this week, given where we’ve been in the past,” Lillimars said. He estimated that between 7,000 and 8,000 people attended Sunday’s final round. “And it’s an obvious plus that a Japanese hero (Ayako Okamoto) won the tournament.”

Arthur Jonishi, an assistant to Kyocera Chairman Kazuo Inamori, attended the tournament and will report to Inamori when he returns to Japan this week.

Tom D’Agostino, a marketing consultant for the tournament from D’Agostino, Underwood and Associates, Inc. in San Diego, said he has opened discussions with 10 to 20 prospective sponsors in case Kyocera does not wish to continue its association with the tournament.

“We want to encourage Kyocera’s continued involvement,” D’Agostino said, “but several companies are willing to put their checks on the table with or without it.”

Lillimars added that Kyocera might take on a co-sponsor. “There are strong feelings from outside our company to supporting this tournament,” Lillimars said.

Membership of the Bernardo Heights Country Club will be polled as to whether they want the tournament to return to their club. It has been held there the past two years.