Sea Pines Heritage Event Gets Big Purse

HILTON HEAD, S.C. — The purse for the Sea Pines Heritage golf tournament will increase $200,000 under a four-year sponsorship agreement between the tournament and MCI Communications Corp., officials have announced.

The purse for the Professional Golfers’ Assn. event will be $650,000 this year, officials with MCI and the tournament said during a noon news conference held to announce the agreement.

The agreement also calls for the tournament to change its name to the MCI Heritage Classic and gives MCI a four-year title option, said Bert C. Roberts, president of the communications company.

Roberts was joined at the news conference by officials with the PGA and CBS, which televises the event. Also on hand was U.S. District Judge Sol Blatt Jr., who is presiding over Hilton Head Holdings’ reorganization under Chapter 11 of the Federal Bankruptcy Act.

The agreement between MCI and the tournament must be approved by Blatt. Hilton Head Holdings filed for reorganization after reporting debts of about $300 million in November.