Click here for the complete field at the 2017 Volunteers of America Texas Shootout.
Back in Action
After a week hiatus, the Tour returns to action in Irving, Texas at Las Colinas Country Club – site of the fifth playing of the Volunteers of America Texas Shootout Presented by JTBC. Players will need to get off to a hot start in Texas where the shootout lives up to its title. Two cuts will be made to the field this week: after 36-holes the field will be reduced to the top-70 players and ties and to the top-50 and ties after 54-holes.
The world’s top-20 ranked players all return to action this week in Texas including Lydia Ko, who celebrates her 20th birthday on Monday. Ko will have a new caddie on her bag this week, reportedly hiring Pete Godfrey since parting ways with Gary Matthews two weeks ago at the LOTTE Championship. In March, Godfrey was voted 2017 Caddie of the Year by his peers and was the former looper of world No. 3 Ariya Jutanugarn, who won her first major championship with Godfrey on the bag. Ko is making her first start in Texas since 2015 when she finished T-41.
Jutanugarn is in the field this week as well as So Yeon Ryu, who replaced Jutanugarn in the No. 2 spot following her victory at the ANA Inspiration. No. 4 In Gee Chun is also teeing it up this week as well as No. 5 Lexi Thompson, who is making her first start since losing in a playoff to Ryu at the season’s first major championship. Wednesday, Thompson will meet with the media for the first time since the ANA Inspiration. Video of her press conference will be available on LPGA.com immediately following.
Texas Hardware
The three former champions who have hoisted the trophy in Texas are in the field for the tournament’s fifth anniversary. Two-time champion Inbee Park returns to the field this year. She captured the inaugural playing of this event in 2013 followed by another win two years later, but due to injuries last season was unable to defend her title last year. 2014 champion Stacy Lewis is also in the field as well as defending champion Jenny Shin.
Shin Seeking Spark in Texas
After waiting five years, Jenny Shin broke through for her first career win at the 2016 Volunteers of America Texas Shootout. Shin carded a bogey-free, final round 67 to win by two. Since that win last April, Shin has struggled to contend – posting just one top-10 in the last 12 months. Shin is nearly unbeatable on the greens, she ranks second in putting average at 28.18. It’s reaching the green that is Shin’s main issue – she ranks 130th in G.I.R at 64.48% and 82nd in driving accuracy at 75.51%. If Shin can get her ball striking in line with her putting, she will be a contender week in and week out.
Amateur Qualifiers
Each year the High school and College Shootout awards local amateurs the opportunity to earn their way into the field and the opportunity to compete alongside the pros. This year, four amateurs earned a spot in the field at the Volunteers of America Texas Shootout: 17-year-old Eun Jeong Seong (Even), 16-year-old Gina Kim (+1), 21-year-old Maddie McCrary (+2) and 15-year-old Anne Chen (+2) earned their way into the field by way of the shootout.
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