The Lightpath Long Island Classic, the only Senior PGA Tour golf tournament in New York and one of Long Island's most prominent midsummer sporting events, has increased its total purse for this year's tournament to $1,500,000, placing it within the ranks of the top 10 Senior PGA Tour's nationwide golf events. Holding court once again at the 6,842-yard par-72 Meadow Brook Club in Jericho, the Lightpath Long Island Classic, now in its 14th year, will take place July 24-30.

With a top prize increase from $180,000 to $225,000, this year's defending champion Bruce Fleisher will have an even tougher playing field to contend with as more and more golf luminaries are added to the already star-studded competition. Past champions have included Dana Quigley, Lee Trevino and Gary Player. Fleisher will attempt to repeat his wire-to-wire win from last year, where he was named Player, Money Winner and Rookie of the Year.

"The Lightpath Long Island Classic has always been a special event on Long Island and the ESPN television coverage has helped to develop a national audience as well," said Michael Hollander, president of the Long Island Convention and Visitors Bureau and Sports Commission (LIVVB&SC), "but this purse increase has firmly placed the tournament on the map of the sporting world and it strengthens the reputation of Long Island as a haven for professional golf."

Besides being a major summertime sporting event the Lightpath Long Island Classic is also a significant charitable venture having raised a record $325,000 last year for Schneider Children's Hospital, bringing its 11-year total to $1,757,000. "The economic impact of the tournament is substantial, not just on the Long Island region but on the designated charitable beneficiary," noted Regina Zara, director of Sporting Events for the LICVB&SC. "It makes everyone feel better knowing the players' efforts will be rewarding a worthy cause." For tickets and general information about the Lightpath Long Island Classic, please call 753-4357.