The LPGA hasn't released its 2012 schedule, but don't expect any pleasant surprises as it pertains to Sacramento or Northern California.

It's not for lack of trying, said Brian Flajole, a vice president with Bruno Event Team, a sports marketing company that manages LPGA events.

"I talk to (LPGA representatives) about Northern California, whether that's Sacramento or the Bay Area, probably once a week," Flajole said. "Sacramento is still a prime market, probably more than the Bay Area, of where the LPGA would like to be.

"It's purely a title-sponsor situation. The LPGA didn't leave because it wasn't a success with the community."

A tentative LPGA schedule making the rounds features a blank slot over Labor Day weekend. Speculation is that a California venue is being lined up since the LPGA is on the West Coast (Oregon and Vancouver, British Columbia) the preceding two weeks. The event would be in Southern California, Flajole said.

The LPGA left the Sacramento area after the 2005 Longs Drugs Challenge. The tournament moved to Danville, where it was contested for five years before losing its title sponsor last year.

The tentative 2012 LPGA schedule features 27 events – 15 in the United States. American players have beseeched LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan to create more domestic tournaments. To that end, Flajole said, the LPGA has built relationships with several national companies that have shown an interest in sponsoring an event in Sacramento.

"In baseball terms, we've been on second base heading toward third," Flajole said. "But when we came to dollars and details, we couldn't close the deal."

A lesson somewhere

Mark Burk's stay in Northern California lasted less than a month. His stint at Home on the Range was shorter.

Burk, the homeless man with the pro-golf aspirations documented last year on the Golf Channel reality series "Pipe Dream," has been booted from the Newcastle driving range by owner/operator Phil Green.

The departure came less than two weeks after Green provided Burk with a recreational vehicle in which to live and the chance to earn money giving lessons while pursuing another reality TV series – the Golf Channel didn't renew the series.

"He's the most ungracious homeless guy you could ever meet," Green said. "He feels entitled to having people take care of him. I tried to help him, but he didn't want to work. I told him, 'I have a 12-year-old daughter; I don't need a 54-year-old son.' "

Burk was planning to return to the Palm Springs area, where "Pipe Dream" was filmed, Green said. The Newcastle pro said he wishes Burk well, but the notion that Burk could be a touring golfer is unrealistic.

"He couldn't beat me in five rounds," Green said.

The Golf Channel will debut a new reality series later this year called "Chasing the Dream." It will feature Robbie Biershenk, 34, who Golf Channel watchers got to know during "Big Break: Indian Wells," and Chris Anderson, a 40-year-old journeyman and California native.

On the leaderboard

• Folsom's Briana Mao shared the title at the Joanne Winter Arizona Silver Belle Championship last week after eight playoff holes didn't produce an outright winner. Mao, a Virginia freshman by way of St. Francis High School, was declared co-champion with Angel Yin when darkness fell after seven playoff pars and a birdie by both players.

• Austin Smotherman of Loomis tied for fifth in the Boys Junior Orange Bowl Championship last week in Florida. The SMU-bound Del Oro High School senior tied for low American in the prestigious international (35 countries represented) field.

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