GOOD SIGN FOR 2003 GHO ; ROWLAND MAKES IT HIS BUSINESS 7 SPORTS FINAL Edition

• Published in: The Hartford courant
• Main Authors: BRUCE BERLET And CARRIE BUDOFF, Courant Staff Writers
• Format: Newspaper Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hartford, Conn Tribune Publishing Company, LLC 17.10.2002
• ISSN: 1047-4153

That optimism can only be boosted by Gov. John G. Rowland's statements Wednesday. Reiterating that the state would step in if necessary, Rowland said Connecticut would not "lose the GHO over a few hundred thousand dollars" and that he is "98 percent sure we will have a GHO next year." "I am personally very much engaged in getting a sponsor for the GHO," Rowland said. "I have been calling companies. The state has participated in the past. This is the largest tourist attraction in the state. We make millions and millions of dollars in hotels, restaurants. It is a huge economic turbo boost for the state. It adds prestige. We have also put $23 million into charities [the GHO is the sole fund-raiser for theJaycees, and profits are contributed to multiple organizations]. GHO tournament director Dan Baker said the advisory group has discussed what other tour events in a similar position have done. Tournaments in Phoenix, Las Vegas, Hilton Head, S.C., and Reno, Nev., have put together smaller sponsorship packages locally while still searching for a title sponsor. Baker said a plus the past week is that the GHO has received responses from companies not necessarily Hartford related.