A SHORE TRADITION RETURNS FOR THE 28TH YEAR
The LPGA Tour is back in the Garden State this week on the Bay Course at Stockton Seaview Hotel and Golf Club for the 28th annual ShopRite LPGA Classic Presented by Acer. The event began in Atlantic City in 1986 and took a three-year hiatus from 2007-2009 before returning to the schedule in 2010. It stands as the fourth longest-running, non-major event on the Tour's current schedule behind the Marathon Classic, the Cambia Portland Classic, and the TOTO Japan Classic.
Last year's champion Anna Nordqvist returns to defend her title after winning in dramatic, come-from-behind fashion in 2015. Nordqvist became the first Swede to win the event since three-time ShopRite LPGA Classic champion Annika Sorenstam. Her fifth career LPGA Tour win came on Mother's Day in Sweden and with her mother, Maria, in attendance.
“I couldn't have given her a better present than to spend this day with her,” Nordqvist said after last year's victory.
“I’m just speechless right now. I fought hard today and can’t believe I'm sitting here with the trophy.”
Nordqvist is joined in this week's field by six other previous champions. World Golf and LPGA Halls of Fame member Juli Inkster won in Atlantic City in the tournament's debut in 1986 and would go on to win again in 1988. Rolex Women's World Golf Rankings No. 6 Stacy Lewis (2012, 2014) accompanies Inkster and two other Hall of Famers as one of only four multiple winners of the event (Betsy King, Annika Sorenstam). Lewis finished one shot shy of Sorenstam's tournament record at 16-under-par in 2014 in a win that not only vaulted her back to No. 1 in the world but also helped her secure the 2014 Rolex Player of the Year award.
Other former champions in the field include Karrie Webb (2013), Ai Miyazato (2010), Angela Stanford (2003) and Michelle McGann (1997).
HENDERSON, C. KIM LOOKING TO CHALLENGE AFTER STRONG FINISHES
Tour veteran Christina Kim and 18-year-old Brooke Henderson both arrive in New Jersey fresh off of finishing in the top-5 at the inaugural LPGA Volvik Championship last week.
Kim held the first round lead in Ann Arbor after shooting an 8-under 64 in the first round, just one back of the course record at Travis Pointe Country Club. She continued her strong play through the weekend and captured solo second behind winner Ariya Jutanugarn, her first top-10 finish of the season. As a result, Kim rose 44 spots in the Rolex Rankings from No. 121 to No. 77.
Henderson used a T3 finish at the LPGA Volvik Championship to vault herself to No. 4 in the Rolex Rankings, the highest ranking of her career. The Canadian had a streak of eight consecutive top-10 finishes early in the season but had been outside of the top-10 in her three starts before last week.
“There’s definitely things I have to work on going into next week," Henderson said after finishing on Sunday. "Some silly mistakes early in the week and even today a couple, but overall I’m very happy with how things are going and hopefully just be able to finish it off in the near future.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH: UL INTERNATIONAL CROWN RACE
For golfers from eight different countries, the finish line is quickly approaching in the race to make their countries’ roster for the 2016 UL International Crown. The qualifying deadline is after the KPMG Women's PGA Championship when the top-four players in the Rolex Rankings from each country will make the team. Listed below are some names to watch (and their Rolex Ranking) at the ShopRite LPGC Classic Presented by Acer who are either currently qualified or on the brink of qualification:
United States - IN: Stacy Lewis (6), Gerina Piller (15)
Japan - IN: Haru Nomura (24), Mika Miyazato (40)
Chinese Taipei - IN: Ssu-Chia Cheng (119) ALTERNATE: Wei-Ling Hsu (135)
Australia - IN: Karrie Webb (48) ALTERNATE: Sarah Jane Smith (195), Katherine Kirk (244)
Thailand - IN: Nontaya Srisawang (157) ALTERNATE: P.K. Kongkraphan (229)
England - IN: Charley Hull (27), Holly Clyburn (91), Jodi Ewart Shadoff (149)
China - IN: Shanshan Feng (11), Xi Yu Lin (54), Jing Yan (138) ALTERNATE: Simin Feng (230)
THE ROAD TO RIO GOES THROUGH NEW JERSEY
This week’s field at the ShopRite LPGA Classic Presented by Acer features 26 players from 18 different countries that would compete in the 2016 Olympic Games as qualifying currently stands.
American Gerina Piller's stellar play of late has vaulted her to No. 15 in the Rolex Rankings, thus earning her a spot alongside Lexi Thompson and Stacy Lewis on Team USA in the current standings. Piller, who has finished in the top-10 in 7 of 11 starts in 2016, placed in the top-5 each of the past three years at Stockton Seaview Hotel and Golf Club.
Below is a breakdown of players in the fi eld this week currently slated to represent their countries in Rio:
Australia - Karrie Webb
Canada - Brooke Henderson, Alena Sharp
China - Shanshan Feng, Xi Yu Lin
Colombia - Mariajo Uribe
France - Karine Icher
Germany - Sandra Gal
Great Britain - Charley Hull, Catriona Matthew
Ireland - Stephanie Meadow
Israel - Laetitia Beck
Italy - Giulia Sergas, Giulia Molinaro
Japan - Haru Nomura, Mika Miyazato
Malaysia - Kelly Tan
Mexico - Alejandra Llaneza, Gaby Lopez
Netherlands - Christel Boeljon
Paraguay - Julieta Grenada
South Africa - Paula Reto
Sweden - Pernilla Lindberg, Anna Nordqvist
USA - Stacy Lewis, Gerina Piller
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