After a scary downward spin, Hawai'i and the PGA Tour added the first new title sponsor since the economic meltdown yesterday. The season-opening event at Kapalua signed a 10-year agreement with South Korea-based SBS International.

Seoul Broadcasting System was title sponsor of the LPGA's season-opening SBS Open at Turtle Bay from 2005 until this February. The contract was not extended in part because the LPGA signed a new five-year partnership with JoongAng Broadcasting Corporation, naming "J Golf" as the association's "official Korean media rights partner" starting next year.

Part of yesterday's announcement extended SBS's exclusive agreement to show PGA Tour events in South Korea to 2019.

October's Kapalua LPGA Classic is now the only LPGA event in Hawai'i, with SBS and Fields Open leaving the past year. But the event that starts Hawai'i's "Aloha Season," and brings together the winners of the previous year's tournaments, now looks like it will stay on Maui at least through 2019.

The new deal begins next year, with SBS taking over the final year for Mercedes-Benz. It has been the title sponsor at Kapalua since the 56-year-old tournament moved to the resort's Plantation Course in 1999. The first SBS Championship will be Jan. 7 to 10.

PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem said he intends to keep the event at Kapalua Plantation for the duration of the SBS contract.

"I'm excited that, for what looks like an extended period, Kapalua will still be able to host the SBS and the PGA Tour and the world of golf to start out each year," said Gary Planos, Kapalua's Vice President of Golf Operations. "What has been such a great time for all of us at Kapalua Resort is going to continue."

The new agreement was also good news for the Sony Open in Hawai'i, at Waialae Country Club. The tour's first full-field event is a week after Kapalua and usually keeps about 75 percent of its players here. That deal also expires next year.

"It's positive for the state of Hawai'i and positive for the Sony Open in that we can continue to count on that strength of field coming from the Kapalua event to Sony," said Ray Stosik, executive director of the Sony Open. "We already shared the information with Sony this (yesterday) morning and they are continuing internal negotiations for an extension."

ELSEWHERE

Fujikawa in Waikoloa qualifier: Tadd Fujikawa will play in the U.S. Open local qualifier at Waikoloa Kings' course on the Big Island, May 25. The Moanalua High School senior, who turned pro two years ago at age 16, became the youngest ever to qualify for the U.S. Open in 2006.

The four local Hawai'i qualifiers must go to one of 16 sectionals. From there, some 90 advance to the U.S. Open, to be held June 18 to 21 at Bethpage State Park (Black) in Farmington, N.Y.

The first Hawai'i local qualifier is tomorrow at Turtle Bay Resort's Fazio Course. The top two players advance. The top two also advance out of next Saturday's Maui qualifier at Royal Ka'anapali. An earlier Advertiser story had one advancing from each of those; that was based on incorrect information from organizers. Only one will advance from the Big Island and Kaua'i, which will be May 23 at Wailua, Kaua'i.

Crane's 65 tops TPC: Ben Crane rolled in a 30-foot birdie putt on the first hole of the day and kept right on pouring them in until he had a 7-under 65 and a one-shot lead in The Players Championship at Ponte Vedra, Fla. Tiger Woods shot a 71 along with defending champion Sergio Garcia at TPC Sawgrass.

Ochoa leads Michelob Ultra Open: Lorena Ochoa shot a 7-under 64 and took a one-shot lead over Lindsey Wright after the first round of the Michelob Ultra Open at Kingsmill in Williamsburg, Va. Hawai'i's Michell Wie, a Stanford sophomore and Punahou alum, opened with a 70 at the wind-swept 6,315-yard River Course.