Commerce Bank Championship working to get two more top 20 golfers to

Eighteen of the top 20 players on the PGA Champion's tour have committed to play the Commerce Bank Championship, which takes place July 4 weekend. The holdouts: Hale Irwin and Tom Kite.

We're twisting their arm and Irwin has a hotel room, so we're hopeful, said Brian Kemp, in his first year as the tournament's director. Our goal is to make this the best field this tournament has ever had.

Kemp is also optimistic that Cablevision's decision to show a free preview of the Golf Channel the week of the tournament will bring more attention to it. The Golf Channel, which will have live coverage of the East Meadow event, is carried on Channel 410 by Cablevision.

The stated goal for ticket sales, Kemp said, is 40,000 to 45,000. Last year, Commerce's first as a sponsor, 30,000 tickets were sold. The low sales were blamed at least partly on the July 4th weekend. Of course, the same challenge faces the organizers this year.

It's something we continue to talk to golf officials about, Kemp said. We would prefer any other weekend in the summer.

Ticket sales did hit 70,000 once for this event in the mid- 1990s, though that could also be chalked up to the appearance of Jack Nicholas, Kemp said.

He's a special draw, he said.

Tickets are available at any of Commerce's 19 Long Island bank branches. For those that don't want to buy tickets - spend $250 at PC Richard & Son and two tickets are thrown in for free. Of course, for a $50 advance purchase, fans are admitted for the entire week.

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