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Sybase Match Play Championship - Second-Round Match-Ups

Thu, 05/19/2011 - 2:49pm

Sybase Match Play Championship Hamilton Farm Golf Club Gladstone, N.J. May 19, 2010 Second-round match-ups

 

Patty Berg Bracket

Na Yeon Choi Karen Stupples

Na Yeon Choi v. Karen Stupples

Choi, the 2010 LPGA Official Money List and 2010 Vare Trophy winner, outlasted Catriona Matthew with a 3&2 victory. In the battle of veterans, Stupples bounced back from three down after the first three holes to come out with a 2&1 victory over Se Ri Pak. Both Choi and Stupples are playing solid and gaining positive momentum as the season progresses.

 

Sun Young Yoo Alena Sharp

Sun Young Yoo v. Alena Sharp

Defending champion Sun Young Yoo won a hard fought, 21-hole battle with Grace Park to inch her way closer to a repeat in the winner's circle. Sharp was in command over Mika Miyazato throughout the first-round match. In search of her first LPGA victory, Sharp will be forced to lean heavily on her consistent play and steady putting if she wants to send Yoo packing.

 

Sophie Gustafson Paige Mackenzie

Sophie Gustafson v. Paige Mackenzie

Neither Gustafson, nor Mackenzie needed 18-holes to close out their first-round matches. While Gustafson's résumé includes 18 international titles, don't count out Mackenzie who is prime for a breakout season on Tour. Mackenzie ranks in the top-10 in rounds under-par while Gustafson is consistently one of the LPGA's longest hitters.

 

Michelle Wie Anna Nordqvist

Michelle Wie v. Anna Nordqvist

Wie and Nordqvist both closed out their Thursday matches with 4&3 victories. With both players ranking in the top-30 in birdies and rounds under-par, tomorrow's match could go down to the wire with both players exchanging birdies. Wie's length off the tee could give her a slight advantage over Nordqvist. Both have a year of Solheim Cup experience under their belts.

 

Kathy Whitworth Bracket

Readers Choice Award

Thu, 05/19/2011 - 11:12am

Sybase Match Play Championship - First-Round Match-Ups

Wed, 05/18/2011 - 2:20pm

Sybase Match Play Championship
Hamilton Farm Golf Club
Gladstone, N.J.
May 17, 2010
First-round match-ups

The Sybase Match Play Championship returns to Hamilton Farm Golf Club for the second year with a field of 64 players. First-round play begins Thursday with the LPGA’s top players competing for a purse of $1.5 million. Here are previews for the first-round matches:

Patty Berg Bracket

Na Yeon Choi of South Korea vs. Catriona Matthew of Scotland

Na Yeon Choi Catriona Matthew

A four-time LPGA winner, Choi won the 2010 LPGA Official Money List and 2010 Vare Trophy winner with a scoring average of 69.8. This season, she already has three top-10 finishes in five events, coming off a recent tie for third at the Avnet LPGA Classic. Choi is riding momentum and seems to pick up steam as the season goes on. Matthew owns three career wins, including the 2009 RICOH Women’s British Open, and already has two top-10 finishes in four 2011 events. She tied for fifth at the 2010 Sybase Match Play Championship. This five-time European Solheim Cup team member hopes to improve on that finish and knows how to handle adverse weather elements. Like any experienced Scottish player, she is steady when the weather is at its worst.

Se Ri Pak of South Korea vs. Karen Stupples of England

Se Ri Pak Karen Stupples

In a battle of long hitters and popular veterans, Pak and Stupples have the determination it takes to send this match-up to extra holes. Pak and Stupples both rank in the top-10 in driving average on the LPGA Tour, making this match-up a putting contest to determine the winner. Pak could be considered the pre-match favorite based on her impressive resume which includes 25 LPGA victories and Hall of Fame status.

Sun Young Yoo of South Korea vs. Grace Park of South Korea

Sun Young Yoo Grace Park

Defending champion Sun Young Yoo knows she has her work cut out for her to retain her title against such a

Ribbons of Hope

Wed, 05/18/2011 - 11:59am

Defending champion Sun Young Yoo joined LPGA Tour members Song-Hee Kim and Belen Mozo to kick off the 2011 Sybase Match Play Championship in Gladstone, NJ on Tuesday with a visit to the Steeplechase Cancer Center at Somerset Medical Center. The golfers toured the hospital, which is the beneficiary of the tournament, in addition to making ribbons of hope for cancer patients and participating in a yoga class.

Yoo, Mozo and Kim each made a ribbon bearing a message of hope for the patients. Each color of ribbon represents a different type of cancer and all three of the golfers got to choose a color as well as include their own special message. Mozo, a native of Spain and a sponsor’s exemption at this week’s event, chose a teal ribbon, which represented ovarian cancer. On her ribbon she wrote, “All my support and blessings for those who keep fighting for a healthy and a better life. All my love.” The ribbons will hang in the lobby of the Steeplechase center on display for all of the cancer patients.

The trio of players also got the opportunity to take part in a yoga class with some of the patients at the hospital. It was the first time that both Mozo and Kim had tried yoga but they walked away with perhaps a new workout routine. “I was a little afraid at first,” said Kim. “But I really enjoyed [the] yoga [session] and got to follow all of the people... I think yoga could help [me] with stress.”

The Sybase Match Play Championship tees off on Thursday at Hamilton Farm Golf Club. A field of 64 of the best players on the LPGA will compete for a purse of $1.5 million and a first place check of $375,000 in the unique match-play format.

Don’t forget to sign up for Golfweek’s Match Play Challenge, where you can compete against the world in picking this year’s champion at the 2011 Sybase Match Play Championship. For more information and to sign up for the challenge, visit LPGA.com.

 

Sybase Match Play Championship - Pre-tournament Interviews

Wed, 05/18/2011 - 11:00am

Sybase Match Play Championship Hamilton Farm Golf Club Gladstone, N.J. Pre-tournament interviews May 18, 2011

Paula Creamer, Rolex Rankings No. 12 Yani Tseng, Rolex Rankings No. 1

PAULA CREAMER, Rolex Rankings No. 12

MODERATOR:  We'd like to welcome Paula Creamer, who's the number 10 seed in the 2011 Sybase Match Play Championship.  You'll take on Aree Song tomorrow. Paula, if you would, just talk about being here in match play.  You weren't able to be here last year because of your injury.  What's it like to be back? PAULA CREAMER:  It's nice to be back.  They switched the nines, that was really the biggest difference that I noticed.  The golf course is playing really long.  It's a good thing kind of that you're playing your opponent; you don't really have to worry much about playing the actual golf course, you just have to beat the person that you're playing. But the greens are really good.  For as much rain as we've had here, they're pretty quick.  You know, they're soft, but like I said, you're just playing your opponent, you're not playing the course as much.

MODERATOR:  If you would just talk a little bit about your first round match-up, what you're looking forward to. PAULA CREAMER:  Yeah, it's going to be a good match against Aree.  I know she got her card in the fall so this is -- she had such a good junior amateur career and everybody remembers that putt that she made at Kraft that one year on 18 for eagle, but she's a really strong player.  I know that I'm not going -- I'm going to have to go out there and play some good golf and not take anything for granted, see what happens.  That's the greatest thing about match play, you never know, just me versus her.

Q.  Two things.  What about this being the place of your first LPGA win and how much that means, but also coming back here and  playing in less than perfect conditions.  I know you're playing one-on-one, but how does rain change the way you have to play and the heavy course and just the conditions in general? PAULA CREAMER:  Well, I won the Sybase but it was actually at Wykagyl, before it moved here.  So obviously there's special ties with Sybase and now being part with SAP, which is one of my sponsors.  I feel good to be here and know that I'm excited to play.  I love match play, and the fact that the golf course is playing much different than what we played before, used to be -- when I played it last, it was I think more in the summer, so it was playing hard and firm and there was holes where we were hitting wedge into and now we're hitting 5-irons and 7-woods, so it's a completely different golf course.  It's playing -- with the heavy air and the rain, it's just playing long and, you know, hopefully we don't get too much today.  I think we've been lucky so far because it differently needs to dry out.

Q.  How does it change the way you play the game, though, as far as having to deal with the soggy conditions, just heavier air, that kind of stuff? PAULA CREAMER:  It just -- you've got to add more club.  Unfortunately, you have to pull some more head covers off than what the golf course is made to.  Hopefully they move up some of the tees because of the setup.  There's some holes where it just is not meant to be played that way, but it is match play so it's a different concept of the way you think and

Jennie Lee - Rookie Blog Two

Wed, 05/18/2011 - 7:22am

Hi Everyone!

I can't believe it's already the middle of May! So far I've played three events: the RR Donnelly LPGA Founders Cup in Phoenix, the Kia Classic in Los Angeles, and the Avnet LPGA Classic in Mobile, Alabama. It's been exciting meeting so many people and playing competitive golf at the highest level in the world. Of course, being a Rookie, it took me over 45 minutes to find Player Registration in Phoenix, and I didn't even know where to track down the tournament office. But as I got settled throughout the week, I had the rare opportunity to meet one of our LPGA Founders, Louis Suggs, and also Hall-of-Famer Pat Bradley. It was an honor meeting women whose dedication has taken women's golf to where it is today and all around the globe. As many of you may know, this year's inaugural RR Donnelly LPGA Founder's Cup was designed to give the players a chance to give back to their charity of choice. I chose to play for Little Lights Urban Ministries in Washington, DC - an after school program dedicated to serving the inner-city community in Southeast Washington. During my junior year in college, I spent my spring break as a volunteer tutoring children at this particular ministry and developed a passion for working with young people who aspire to make a difference in the world.

It was awesome to play a tournament in Los Angeles, and the Kia Classic was a great event at City of Industry. Growing up only 30 minutes away in Huntington Beach, it was awesome to have friends and family come out to watch and cheer me on. My game struggled a bit that week and, unfortunately, I missed the cut, but I learned a lot about where my game needs work. In Mobile, Alabama, we could not have had better weather, despite the deadly tornadoes north of us. It was awesome that the champion, Maria Hjorth, donated part of her winnings to helping out with the aid. Magnolia Grove Golf Club is a great track and the hospitality was phenomenal. My next event will be in Galloway, New Jersey for the ShopRite LPGA Classic, then I'm off to the LPGA Sate Farm Classic in Springfield, IL the following week. I can't wait to get back on the road to compete, and I hope you will follow the Tour to the East Coast.

Thanks for reading!
Jennie

Learn more about Jennie Lee >>
Read more 2011 Rookie Blogs >>


The copyrighted content contained on this blog reflects the sole opinion(s) of the author. Such content does not necessarily represent the LPGA's views, opinions, intentions, and/or strategies, and is intended for informational or amusement purposes only.

Sybase Match Play Championship Tournament Preview

Wed, 05/18/2011 - 5:18am
Untitled Document Defending Champion
Sun Young Yoo
The LPGA returns to pristine Hamilton Farm Golf Club in Gladstone, N.J. for the second year of the Sybase Match Play Championship. A field of 64 of the best players on the LPGA will compete for a purse of $1.5 million and a first place check of $375,000. Competing this week in the unique match-play format are 9 of the Top 10 players in the Rolex Rankings, including Rolex Rankings No. 1 Yani Tseng, No. 2 Jiyai Shin, No. 3 Suzann Pettersen and top-ranked American Cristie Kerr at No. 5.

This is the 11th year that Sybase has been the title sponsor of an LPGA event and the second time that Sybase has titled an event with the match-play format. Sybase previously hosted the Sybase Big Apple Classic at Wykagyl Country Club from 1999 to 2006 and the Sybase Classic Presented by ShopRite at Upper Montclair Country Club in Clifton, New Jersey, from 2007-2009. The tournament will benefit the Somerset Medical Center.

The field is also comprised of the top-48 players on the LPGA Tour's Official Money List and Karrie Webb and Stacy Lewis closing in on Tseng at second and third on that list, respectively. Webb won back-to-back events on Tour earlier this year, marking her 37th and 38th career wins, while Lewis became a Rolex First-Time Winner and a major champion earlier this season at the Kraft Nabisco Championship.

Defending champion Sun Young Yoo will return for this year's Sybase Match Play Championship. Yoo became a Rolex First-Time Winner at last year's event when she defeated Angela Stanford, a four-time winner on Tour, by capturing the 15th and 16th holes to take a 3&1 victory.

Also among the notables in the field is Maria Hjorth, who returns to Hamilton Farm Golf Club after collecting her fifth-career victory at the Avnet LPGA Classic in Mobile, Ala. during the Tour's last stop. Three rookies -- Hee Kyung Seo, Jenny Suh and sponsor's invite Belen Mozo -- will be in the group of 64 players competing in the match-play event as well.

The draw for the Sybase Match Play Championship will once again follow a unique format. The 64 players in the field will be given a number from 1-64 based on their Rolex Rankings. The top-32 players will be automatically seeded into the brackets. Their opponents will be determined through a blind draw.

While this is only the second year of the Sybase Match Play Championship, Hamilton Farm Golf Club is no stranger to LPGA match play events. The club hosted the HSBC Women's Match Play Championship in 2005 and 2006. Marisa Baena captured the first of those championships, while Brittany Lincicome became a Rolex First-Time Winner at the 2006 HSBC Women's Match Play. She defeated Juli Inkster in the title match.

Diaz Catches Up After an Exciting Night Out with Friends

Tue, 05/17/2011 - 5:29am

Life at home can be just as exciting as when we're out on the road. Recently Kevin and I had a fun night out. Our friends Tiff and Josh asked us "old parents" if we liked Kenny Chesney, Uncle Cracker and Billy Currington. Our answer was "Yes! Yes we do."

A night out meant I needed a new outfit so I went shopping. After shopping for new outfit, I took Lily for a swim lesson with Deb. Cooper was having a fun day on the golf course. Before heading out for our dinner at Kevin's favorite restaurant Ruth Chris, I enjoyed making dinner for the kids.

We had a fantastic evening out with good food, good friends and good music! Oh and did I mention that I haven't been to a concert since college. That time I saw Alan Jackson which was also fantastic! Yes I like country music. No wait, I love it!

Sara Brown - Rookie Blog Two

Tue, 05/17/2011 - 4:37am

So what have I been up to since my last blog?... Well, quite a bit actually. :) I am currently in Munich, Germany, playing my last of three Ladies European Tour events before heading back to the states for the Shoprite LPGA Classic. :) Not only have I been traveling the U.S., but I have also been to Morocco, Turkey, and Portugal - and all the layover cities you can imagine. I'm just racking up those frequent flyer miles, I guess.

Life on the Tour is very different from what I am used to (in a good way though). I love the hustle and bustle of pro-ams, outings, practicing, and then competition. I have yet to make the cut in an LPGA event, BUT I am not letting that get me down. My ball striking is good and my putting is always a work in progress, but I am so close I can taste it . :) I have had a blast these last couple of months meeting so many great people and all the girls are super nice. I met Natalie Gulbis at my first event in Phoenix at the RR Donnelley LPGA Founders Cup and she is fabulous. She took me under her wing and said that if I needed anything to just ask. That is so nice to have a veteran friend out here to show me the ropes. I was also asked to play a pro-am in Memphis, where I met another bunch of great girls that also offered their help. Feels good to have friends out here. :)

I know that to be successful, I need to manage not only my golf but also my life off the course with friends, family, and of course seeing as much of the world as I can. I am here in Germany this week and looking forward to a great week and then getting back to play the Shoprite LPGA Classic and play great. Until next time, I hope you all keep it in the short stuff. :) BYE!!!

Learn more about Sara Brown >>
Read more 2011 Rookie Blogs >>


The copyrighted content contained on this blog reflects the sole opinion(s) of the author. Such content does not necessarily represent the LPGA's views, opinions, intentions, and/or strategies, and is intended for informational or amusement purposes only.

Quick 18 with Jessica Korda

Mon, 05/16/2011 - 3:45pm
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1. Tell me something most people don't know about you?
I like to read.

2. What would you like to do for a living if you are not a pro golfer?
Photographer or something else that has to do with sports.

3. If you could trade places with anyone for a day, who would it be?
Anyone who has been successful in their career.

4. Is there anything you're addicted to? Or can't live without?
My phone and Facebook!

5. Is there anything you won't eat?
I eat anything.

6. What do you feel is your biggest accomplishment to date?
Going all the way through Q-School.

7. Is there a song that you like to sing when no one is around like in the car or shower?
Waka Waka - Shakira.

8. Who would be in your dream foursome?
Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Arnold Palmer.

9. What is your favorite activity you do when you want to relax?
Read.

10. What is your favorite time of year?
Christmas!

11. What beauty product can you not live without?
Deodorant!

12. What is your favorite store to shop in and why?
Target! They have all you need!

13. What is one item of clothing you couldn't live without?
Sweaters.

14. Name one thing you always keep stocked in your refrigerator?
Yogurt.

15. What invention do you wish you had thought of?
Nail polish.

16. Favorite way to stay in shape?
Run.

17. What chore are you great at or enjoy doing the most?
Dishes.

18. If you could posses and super human power, what would it be?
Mind reading.

Learn more about Jessica Korda >>

Sara Brown - Rookie Blog One

Mon, 05/16/2011 - 10:37am
Well it is time once again for rookie blogs here on the LPGA Tour and you know what that means...I am officially an LPGA Rookie for 2011. WOOHOO!!! :)I have dreamed about this since I was eight years old and it has finally happened.

Jaclyn Sweeney - Rookie Blog Three

Mon, 05/16/2011 - 6:42am

Right now I am on a plane heading from Casablanca, Morocco, back to JFK, New York City. I just completed my first Ladies European Tour Event (not including the Australian and New Zealand events) in Adagir, Morocco. My trip did not start off quiet right since my bags decided to stay an extra day in New York before being "rushed delivered" to the hotel the next day.

- First lesson learned as a rookie: always pack some golf clothing in your carry on! Luckily, I packed a pair of shoes, hats, gloves, and a dozen golf balls - but no clubs!

Hi everyone :) hope everyone is having a good start to May! Last time I wrote my rookie blog I had just gotten back from Morocco, since then I have played three events and done a junior clinic with the First Tee of Phoenix. Right now I am flying from Lisbon, Portugal to Munich, Germany. So I guess I will start with this past week and work my way backward to catch you all up to speed! This past week was the ISPS Portugal Open. First off, the views on this course were absolutely breathtaking! (See the picture from the 5th tee) However, in order to get to these breathtaking views you had to be billy goat. My poor dad caddied for me with my tour bag :( Let's just say he didn't need to go to the gym throughout the entire week. This past week was a huge learning experience for me. I had two full work days with my European sponsor Henderson Global Investors. We did everything from golf interviews, photo shoots, on course lessons, a clinic, filming for European news networks and promoting a new Henderson Global game. In addition, I played in my first pro-am with my sponsors. However, I learned what it is like to balance my time between my sponsor commitments and working on my game. I played a solid two rounds and a terrible third but was proud of myself for staying positive and committed during the round, things just did not work out. The week before Portugal I was in Antayala, Turkey for the Turkish Airlines Open. I was leading the event through 14 holes the first round and looked at the leader board and saw my name on top. Trust me this is something I will never forget! I was slightly shocked and excited. Sadly I was five over on my last four, but learned a lot about my game and how to handle having the lead in the future (hopefully many more times)! I ended up finishing tied for 14th, my highest finish as a rookie so far. I also got a great surprise in Turkey, I received the LPGA sponsor invite into the ShopRite Classic, I played there last year as an amateur in the Monday qualifier and missed by a shot, I am so excited to head back to the Atlantic City area! Even though now it seems like I have not been in the United States for awhile, my third event was the LPGA Avnet Classic. I Monday qualified for the event with a three under 69. I was very excited to get my very first start on the LPGA! I did not play as well as I would have liked but as everyone says everything in life happens for a reason, even though we all secretly wish it didn't sometimes! Although  I felt like I was more than ready for my first LPGA start I played to cautiously and tentatively in the first round, but everything is learning experience which will help me in my next start.  I am now heading into my fourth week on the road and I have to say I would like to wear some different outfits that I have sitting in my closet back home in Florida and I would love to see the playoffs for the NHL, GO BRUINS :) ! But this is what it is like to live the life you love, traveling and playing golf every day. I do miss home but luckily I have my dad with me to keep me company and my mom just joined

Quick 18 with Jenny Shin

Mon, 05/16/2011 - 6:16am
body p strong font { color: #F00; }

1. Tell me something most people don't know about you?
There is a reason why they don't know. Because I don't want them to know :)

2. What would you like to do for a living if you are not a pro golfer?
I do not know, but I would want to go to college and find my major.

3. If you could trade places with anyone for a day, who would it be?
Jiyai Shin.

4. Is there anything you're addicted to? Or can't live without?
My iPod, iPad and Blackberry.

5. Is there anything you won't eat?
Anything that smells bad. Pho noodles.

6. What do you feel is your biggest accomplishment to date?
Making it to the LPGA Tour in one year.

7. Is there a song that you like to sing when no one is around like in the car or shower?
Whatever is in my head or I just follow along with the song on my iPod.

8. What is your favorite activity you do when you want to relax?
Reading, games on iPad, Facebook.

9. What is your favorite time of year?
Golf season.

10. What beauty product can you not live without?
Perfume, lotion.

11. Do you have a favorite TV commercial?
No.

12. What is one item of clothing you couldn't live without?
A sweater.

13. Name one thing you always keep stocked in your refrigerator?
Kimchi.

14. What invention do you wish you had thought of?
Time machine.

15. Favorite way to stay in shape?
Work out.

16. What chore are you great at or enjoy doing the most?
Cleaning my room.

17. If calories didn't exist, what dessert would you eat every day?
Cheesecake.

18. If you could posses and super human power, what would it be?
Read people's thoughts.

Learn more about Jenny Shin >>

Stacy Lewis on Kraft Nabisco Championship win

Mon, 05/16/2011 - 5:55am

Stacy Lewis sits down and discusses her first win at the Kraft Nabisco Championship. Lewis goes through that final round and what it was like to take down Rolex Rankings No. 1 Yani Tseng.

 

 

Refresh your Game with Michelob ULTRA: Uphill, Downhill Lies

Fri, 05/13/2011 - 10:35am

Need some help sticking with your New Year's Resolution? Whether it is to improve your game or exercise more, Michelob ULTRA is here to help with golf and exercise tips.
Living the ULTRA life is about enjoying life to its fullest.

 

UPHILL LIE 1. Play ball back in stance. 2. Pull left foot back to level hips. 3. Open left foot up. 4. Level shoulders with the hill. 5. Aim right.

DOWNHILL LIE 1. Ball back in stance. 2. Pull right foot back to level hips. 3. Level shoulders with the hill. 4. Aim left.

FOR ALL UNEVEN LIES 1. Weight goes into hill. 2. Swing 3/4 for balance and take an extra club. 3. Take a practice swing to make sure club bottoms out at ball.

 

Cindy Miller competed on the LPGA Tour in 1979, 1980 and 1981 and is the current National LPGA Teacher of the Year. Cindy is ranked in the Top 30 of the Legends Tour Career Money List . www.cindymillergolf.com

Inkster Captures Inaugural Azalea Charities LPGA Pro-Am Invitational In Haymarket, Va.

Fri, 05/13/2011 - 6:50am
Untitled Document

Event's honorary chairperson tops field of 12 pros; donates $4,000 to Azalea Charities

May 4, 2011 - Haymarket, Virginia --
On her day off, Juli Inkster came to play.

The World Golf Hall-of-Famer captured the First Annual Azalea Charities LPGA Pro-Am Invitational Tuesday, topping a field of 12 pro golfers who journeyed to Prince William County, Virginia, to support event organizer Azalea Charities.

Inkster, who also served as the tournament's honorary chairperson, shot a 1-under par 71 during a windy but otherwise picturesque day in at Piedmont Club, edging Stephanie Louden and Pat Hurst by one shot. Paola Moreno finished fourth, two shots back.

The LPGA Pro-Am was the crown jewel of the 12th Annual Azalea Classic, a multi-day charity golf event and the premier annual fundraising effort for Prince William County-based Azalea Charities.

Tying an LPGA event to the Azalea Classic has been a goal of Azalea Charities for several years. Azalea Charities Chairman Frank Lasch, Sr. and other members of the nonprofit organization's leadership worked closely with LPGA pro and Warrenton, Virginia resident Kris Tschetter to involve LPGA players in this year's event.

"For three years we've been talking about bringing an LPGA event here," said Lasch. "While we didn't a bring major event here, we did bring a base. We had 12 wonderful ladies and consummate professionals who took time out of their busy schedules to come here and support our tournament and our causes."

Tschetter welcomed the opportunity to support Azalea Charities and participate in an event so close to home.

"To be at home and able to come out and play in a golf tournament like this is definitely fun and a great opportunity to support such a great cause," said Tschetter, who shot a 76 in just her second round of golf at Piedmont. "I definitely haven't played enough here to have any kind of home-course advantage," she joked.

Azalea Charities raises funds for community charities such as Special Olympics as well as Aid for Wounded Warriors. The LPGA pros were eager to give up a few hours of downtime to support such worthy causes.

"Usually, these are days off or travel days for us, but we're honored to be here supporting Azalea Charities," said Inkster, who came to Virginia following a top-20 finish at the Avnet LPGA Classic in Mobile, Alabama over the weekend. "It's a pleasure being here. Just listening to the stories about Wounded Warrior and the Special Olympics is so inspiring."

Inkster's victory paid $8,000, but she donated half of her winner's share back to Azalea Charities immediately after the tournament.

The shotgun-start tournament grouped the professionals with local amateurs representing the event's sponsors. Among the notable groupings was one that included Tschetter and nine-year-old Victoria Tip-Aucha, who was sponsored by ManTech International.

Tip-Aucha, a Manassas Park, Virginia resident, is an accomplished youth golf champion with a 19 handicap honed primarily at Piedmont, her home course. She shot a 96, but the real highlight of her day was playing a round with a professional.

"I just watched [Tschetter] and copied a few things," said

Catching up with Marcy Hart

Fri, 05/13/2011 - 6:13am

Marcy Hart visits FOX8 in High Point, N.C. earlier this week for a catch-up interview. Listen to what she has to say about playing high school golf with the boys, graduating from the University of North Carolina and winning the U.S. Amateur in 2000 to turning pro in 2001.

  

 

Jessica Korda - Rookie Blog One

Fri, 05/13/2011 - 6:02am

Hello LPGA fans,   My name is Jessica Korda. I am 18 years old and I am the youngest rookie in this year's rookie class. You could probably say that I'm a rookie to the entire rookie class; I get called a "young-in" a lot... ha-ha. I haven't been to college (yet); I'm just honestly trying to get done with high school! With all the travel that we do, it has not been an easy task! Ok enough whining about school - I am so blessed to be living the life I live. Being a pro has its ups and downs, but it's a great ride (so far). Ever since I can remember, I've wanted to be an LPGA Pro. I knew that one day, if I worked hard enough, I could accomplish it. I definitely did not think that it would come THIS fast! Like I said - I am SO blessed!   I wouldn't be where I am today without my parents' love and support. They have done so much for me, and I don't know how I would have gotten to where I am without their support. As most of you know, my dad was a professional tennis player, and so was my mom. Now you're probably asking, "why isn't this girl playing tennis like her parents? It's in her genes!" Yes, yes I know! Ha-ha. However, the REAL story is that I just hated to run when I was little. Can anyone honestly tell me that at five years old you want to run from side to side on a hot tennis court? For me, it was just a simple no-no situation. I was more of an indoor sports type of person at the time. I did gymnastics and figure skating, while still playing loads of golf. I did both up until I was 12. And that's when the growth spurt hit me and I shot up into the sky like a giraffe... ha-ha. I was no longer able to do either one and fell in love with GOLF :) I realized how much I loved to be outside, and at times watch the sun rise in the morning and set later in the day, all while being at the golf course.   I almost forgot to tell you guys about my siblings! I have a sister (aka my twin - five years younger) Nelly. She is 12 and plays golf, and is darn good! Keep your eyes out for her! I also have a brother, Sebastian, who is 10. He played hockey and tennis, but chose tennis. He thinks he's so cool (and he isn't) because he is the only one that chose tennis. Like I told him a thousand times "well thank god someone chose tennis, because otherwise people would think there is something seriously wrong with us!!" Also keep our eyes out for him - he's amazing. We all get along really well. You know how siblings are, one moment you love them, and the next your chasing them around with a shoe! However, I wouldn't want a life without them - they are my everything.   I think I'm stretching this blog out too much! But anyway, I am so excited to be a Rookie on the 2011 LPGA tour! I will keep you guys posted!   Much LOVE,   Jessica ♥♥♥

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Get to know Rookie Danah Bordner

Fri, 05/13/2011 - 5:51am
Untitled Document

Get to know Danah Bordner in this Rookie Spotlight. Find out her nickname, how she likes to relax, and what's on her iPod.