?Newport Beach golf enthusiasts will need to wait a little longer to watch their favorite players in action at the Champions Tour’s Toshiba Classic.
The 21st annual Toshiba Classic, which is traditionally held in March, won’t tee off until Oct. 19, 2015, at the Newport Beach Country Club, Hoag Charity Sports announced Thursday.
Toshiba Classic’s move positions the event as the last before the Tour Championship, which is a popular week for tournament play. The Classic will be the last play-in event for the Charles Schwab Cup Championship, which marks the conclusion of the Champions Tour, according to a news release.
The Champions Tour is a membership organization of professional golfers age 50 and older.
“While we have always enjoyed great fields, this position will ensure that we continue to attract elite fields full of the greatest names in golf, which benefits everyone from the tournament to the spectators that support us each year,” Jeff Purser, executive director of the Toshiba Classic, said in a prepared statement.
Hoag Charity Sports, a supporting organization of Hoag Hospital Foundation, produces the Toshiba Classic and has generated more than $17 million for charity through the event. The tournament also generates about $28 million in annual economic impact to businesses in Newport Beach and the rest of Orange County.
Steve Rosansky, Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce president, doesn’t expect that to change, even with the delayed start time next year.
‘We’re always looking to fill hotel rooms any time of the year,” he said. “The tournament brings people to town for weeks. It generates a lot of money for local businesses.”
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