My Favorite Things: Karine Icher
June 17, 2011
Filed under News
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What are Karine Icher's favorite things? Did you know that she loves wearing Lacoste hats and playing on her iPad? Karine also loves eating at Chez George's in Paris and reading People magazine. See all of Karine's favorite things below.
Ten Question Tuesday with Christina Kim
June 17, 2011
Filed under News
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While at the LPGA State Farm Classic, Christina Kim participated in a Q&A with a local radio station. Watch her answer questions in Ten Question Tuesday by Zach Kerker.
Lewis and Gal join Golf Channel in booth
June 16, 2011
Filed under News
[unable to retrieve full-text content]
Stacy Lewis and Sandra Gal both joined Golf Channel in their booth during different telecasts. Watch the highlights below.
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Stacy Lewis at ShopRite LPGA Classic
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Sandra Gal at LPGA State Farm Classic
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Jodi Ewart Rookie Blog Two
June 16, 2011
Filed under News
First of all I'd like to apologize for taking so long to write my second blog! The past couple of months have been so crazy - I've barely had time to sit down! I have some good news to share with all those who don't already know: I got engaged in March to my long-term boyfriend, Adam! It only seems like yesterday! He popped the question on the most perfect evening at sunset on Turtle Beach in Sarasota. I was very surprised and I cried for pretty much the rest of the night! We haven't really had a chance to do any planning yet, as golf has just been go, go, go for me lately. Although, I have to admit I have been looking around online at dresses that would be perfect for the big day! A girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do!!
In other news, it was only last week that I got a last-minute call to play in my first-ever LPGA event in Springfield, Illinois. I was in Cincinnati at the time, preparing for the LPGA Futures Tour event, when I found out on the Wednesday evening that I was in the field for the LPGA State Farm Classic! Not only was I a five-hour drive away, but I also had an 8 a.m. tee time! After weighing the pros and cons of leaving for Springfield, I quickly packed my bags, threw everything in the car, and made a speedy exit. Needless to say, my first round was definitely not my best, after having only three hours of sleep and playing a course I had never seen. But I came out fighting in my second round and really enjoyed my time out there. It was such an experience for me, and is one that I am now craving again. My scoring has been lacking in the past months, but now that I've had a taste of the big time, it will only push me in the right direction in these next few months. Watch this space!!
Cheers.
Learn more about Jodi Ewart >>
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.
Volvik Shot of the Day
June 15, 2011
Filed under News
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Each week Volvik brings you the Shot of the Day.
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2011 Kraft Nabisco Championship raises more than $173,000 for local charities
June 15, 2011
Filed under News
RANCHO MIRAGE, CALIF. (June 8, 2011) - The Kraft Nabisco Championship raised $ 173,843 this year through the tournament's second annual Integrated Wealth Management TICKETS Fore CHARITY program. The LPGA golf tournament made the announcement recently at an Appreciation Luncheon at LuLu's California Bistro in Palm Springs, Calif., with more than 100 charity representatives, tournament officials and sponsors in attendance.
Also at the luncheon, Integrated Wealth Management distributed checks generated from a $ 25,000 bonus pool from the program. The pool was divided among the charities based on the percentage of overall tickets redeemed by each organization.
According to Gabe Codding, tournament director for the Kraft Nabisco Championship, the top-ten charities in the bonus pool payout this year were:
| 1) Chinese American Golf Foundation | 6) American Red Cross of Riverside County |
| 2) American Cancer Society (Calif. Division) | 7) Boys & Girls Club of Coachella Valley |
| 3) Alzheimer's Association |  LPGA Foundation/LPGA-USGA Girls Golf |
| 4) American Heart Association | 9) Humane Society of the Desert |
| 5) Women's and Children's Crisis Shelter | 10) Animal Samaritans SPCA |
The Integrated Wealth Management TICKETS Fore CHARITY program is Kraft Nabisco's multi-year fundraiser in which non-profit organizations from throughout Southern California have the opportunity to sell advance tickets to the tournament and retain 100 percent of the money from the sales. Last year, its first year of the program, the Kraft Nabisco raised $ 150,000 for 90-some charities. This year, more than 150 charities participated.
"Strategic planning has already started for 2012," Codding said. "We saw tremendous growth in participation among the charities and business community in 2011, but the beauty of this program is its unlimited potential. Every non-profit can participate, and every business and individual in Southern California can purchase tickets and support their favorite cause. We have every reason to believe that TICKETS Fore CHARITY will grow into a million-dollar-a-year program."
The 2012 TICKETS Fore CHARITY campaign is expected to launch this fall. The Kraft Nabisco Championship - the first major of the year for either the men's or women's professional tours - will return to the Dinah Shore Tournament Course at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, Calif., March 26 - April 1. For more information on next year's tournament, go to www.KNCGolf.com or www.Facebook/KNCGolf.com.
Quick 18 with Amelia Lewis
June 14, 2011
Filed under News
1. Tell me something most people don't know about you?
I was a competitive swimmer for five years.
2. What would you like to do for a living if you are not a pro golfer?
Be a chef.
3. If you could trade places with anyone for a day, who would it be?
Santa Claus.
4. Is there anything you're addicted to? Or can't live without?
Um obviously golf. And music.
5. Is there anything you won't eat?
Raw fish.
6. What is one thing you have done and would never want to do again?
Q-School in freezing hurricane weather.
7. Who would be in your dream foursome?
Jesus Christ, Payne Stewart, Tim Tebow, and me.
8. What is your favorite activity you do when you want to relax?
Sleep. go to the spa, or look up funny youtube videos.
9. What is your favorite time of year?
Christmas time or any day when it is perfect 70º light sweater vest weather.
10. Favorite quote or saying?
"Sometimes being fearless is having fears but jumping anyway" - Taylor Swift.
11. What beauty product can you not live without?
Toothbrush.
12. What is your favorite store to shop in and why?
Either Sephora because they do your makeup and I feel like I am in girl heaven or Publix because I get free food samples.
13. Do you have a favorite TV commercial?
The Geico commercial with Elmer Fudd having trouble saying the letter R.
14. What is one item of clothing you couldn't live without?
My sunglasses.
15. Name one thing you always keep stocked in your refrigerator?
Milk.
16. What invention do you wish you had thought of?
Post-it Notes.
17. What chore are you great at or enjoy doing the most?
Washing the car in the summertime - a sibling water fight usually breaks out.
18. If you could posses any super human power what would it be?
The ability to turn back time (this would be really beneficial in a golf round) or teleportation.
Learn more about Amelia Lewis >>
Creamer featured in EPSN The Magazine
June 14, 2011
Filed under News
[unable to retrieve full-text content]
Paula Creamer was featured recently in EPSN The Magazine. The feature was called Same Face, Different Time. Take a look at Paula recereating a trophy photo from when she was 12. Click on article below to enlarge.
Race for U.S. Solheim Cup points heats up
June 13, 2011
Filed under News
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Twelve different players earned points toward a spot on the U.S. Solheim Cup Team at the LPGA State Farm Classic including five-time team member Cristie Kerr, who continues to dominate the race with 612 points. Kerr has three consecutive runner-up finishes which equates to 90 U.S. Solheim Cup Team points scored over the last three events. With three major championships upcoming and double points available at each, the race to make the 2011 team is still unfolding. ShopRite LPGA Classic winner Brittany Lincicome has helped her own cause in recent weeks with a victory and tie for third, equaling 88.5 points scored in two weeks. She is currently sixth in the points race behind Kerr, Morgan Pressel (363.5), Michelle Wie (358), Angela Stanford (356), and Kraft Nabisco Championship winner Stacy Lewis (335.5). Paula Creamer (317.5), Brittany Lang (210.5), Juli Inkster (188.5) and Christina Kim (150.5) round out the current top-10. Thirty-five other players have scored points in the 2011 U.S. Solheim Cup race, but of them, only eight are within 100 points of Kim. Six total tournaments remain for players to earn points before the team is announced following the Safeway Classic Presented by Coca-Cola. U.S. Captain Rosie Jones will add two captain's picks to the 10 points qualifiers to round of the 12 player team that will take on Alison Nicholas and the Europeans, Sept. 23-25, 2011 at Killeen Castle in Ireland. |
Third straight runner-up finish for Cristie Kerr
June 13, 2011
Filed under News
It was a third straight runner-up finish for Cristie Kerr on Sunday at the LPGA State Farm Classic. Her attempt at a 15th LPGA Tour victory fell just shy, as she wound up three strokes behind Tseng despite shooting a 5-under 67 in the final round. Three weeks ago, Kerr lost to Suzann Pettersen in the finals of the Sybase Match Play Championship and she fell one shot shy of victory at last week's ShopRite LPGA Classic. Kerr now has six top-10 finishes in nine tournaments this season, five of which were top-5 finishes. In two weeks, Kerr will try to defend her title at the Wegmans LPGA Championship.
Pretty in Pink at the LPGA State Farm Classic
June 13, 2011
Filed under News
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At the end of play on Saturday, there was a special ceremony where 168 eco-friendly pink balloons were released. The number of balloons represents the average number of Illinois men and women who are diagnosed with breast cancer in an average week. |
On Saturday, the On Other Tours: Brewerton wins on LET
June 13, 2011
Filed under News
Becky Brewerton Crowned Tenerife Ladies Match Play Champion
Article courtesy of Ladies European Tour
12th June 2011 - Becky Brewerton fired a four under par 68 in the strokeplay format at the Tenerife Ladies Match Play on Sunday, earning a one shot victory at Golf Las Américas in the Canary Islands.
The 28-year-old from Abergele in North Wales played superb golf to hold off the challenge of Australian Nikki Garrett and Spain's rising star Carlota Ciganda, who shared second on her professional debut.
It was Brewerton's third victory as a professional following wins at the 2007 English Open and the 2009 Spanish Open. She had previously finished second three times in Tenerife, including once on the same golf course as an amateur in 2003.
"I've finished second three times in Tenerife so it's nice to finally get a win and obviously it's been a while since I've won, so it's a brilliant feeling," said Brewerton.
"I think Tenerife is a place where I always get a little bit of luck as well. I holed a chip shot, holed a bunker shot, I had a couple of nice bounces out there as well. I made lots of birdies and threw in a couple of hairy moments as well. A few mistakes but just about managed to get it done. I've been playing well all week and it's nice to obviously finish off well."
Brewerton had secured the most comprehensive victory of the opening day on Friday, when she defeated Australian Kristie Smith 8&6 in the matchplay format.
She then ousted 79-time tournament champion Laura Davies in the second round of matchplay on Saturday with a birdie on the 19th hole. Davies told Brewerton on Twitter: "Keep swinging like that and you've got a big summer ahead."
As one of the last eight players in the event, Brewerton went into the final round full of confidence and earned the early advantage with birdies on the second, fifth and seventh holes. At the seventh, she hit a rescue club from 210 yards to set up an eagle chance, but just missed from 12 feet.
At the par-five ninth, she dropped a shot after missing the green with her second shot, but hit the turn one ahead at two under par.
She holed a bunker shot for birdie from the right side of the 10th green, then, after finding sand again on 11, she dropped a shot but quickly recovered, sinking a seven-footer on the par-three 13th.
There was a 'hairy moment' on 14 when her tee shot came to rest behind some palm trees resulting in a second shot which flew the green, but she played an excellent chip to five feet and holed the putt for par.
She dropped a shot at the 15th, but two-putted for birdie from 35 feet at the next. After signing off with a birdie on 18, there was a tense wait by the clubhouse with both Ciganda and Garrett able to tie with a birdie.
However Ciganda's second shot found water and Garrett missed a 15 foot birdie putt, allowing Brewerton to claim the €40,000 first prize.
Brewerton said: "It's funny: I had great memories when I got back to the course. I remembered all the holes straight away. I was pretty sure this is where I'd finished second as an amateur in the Tenerife Ladies Open and I've actually got a picture up on my wall, from the course here, from under one of the palm trees from my dad, when he was caddying for me."
She hopes that the win will kick-start her season, as she has recently recovered from a foot injury, which started in Portugal.
She said: "This is the main start of the season coming up with some massive tournaments. I'm absolutely desperate to make The Solheim team so I've just got to try and make as many points as possible."
Although Solheim Cup points were not awarded, her performance will certainly have caught the eye of European Captain Alison Nicholas, who will be making notes for her team selection ahead of the big matchplay event at Killeen Castle in Ireland from September 23-25.
Final Results: LPGA State Farm Classic
June 13, 2011
Filed under News
2011 LPGA STATE FARM CLASSIC
Final Tournament Summary
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Purse: $ 1,700,000.00
PANTHER CREEK COUNTRY CLUB
Par: 36 36 - 72 Yardage: 6746
| POS | NAME | SCORES | TOTAL | TO PAR | OFFICIAL MONEY |
| 1 | Yani Tseng | 67-66-66-68 | 267 | -21 | $ 255,000 |
| 2 | Cristie Kerr | 70-67-66-67 | 270 | -18 | $ 155,512 |
| T3 | Paula Creamer | 68-68-69-67 | 272 | -16 | $ 100,041 |
| T3 | Brittany Lincicome | 67-69-66-70 | 272 | -16 | $ 100,041 |
| T5 | Se Ri Pak | 69-68-68-68 | 273 | -15 | $ 63,857 |
| T5 | Mindy Kim | 64-67-69-73 | 273 | -15 | $ 63,857 |
| 7 | Wendy Ward | 68-69-67-70 | 274 | -14 | $ 48,105 |
| T8 | Jiyai Shin | 66-68-73-68 | 275 | -13 | $ 36,611 |
| T8 | Angela Stanford | 73-67-66-69 | 275 | -13 | $ 36,611 |
| T8 | Juli Inkster | 67-70-67-71 | 275 | -13 | $ 36,611 |
| T8 | Shanshan Feng | 68-65-69-73 | 275 | -13 | $ 36,611 |
| T12 | Kyeong Bae | 69-69-71-67 | 276 | -12 | $ 27,983 |
| T12 | Michelle Wie | 72-67-68-69 | 276 | -12 | $ 27,983 |
| T12 | Suzann Pettersen | 70-67-69-70 | 276 | -12 | $ 27,983 |
| T15 | Natalie Gulbis | 72-69-68-68 | 277 | -11 | $ 22,818 |
| T15 | I.K. Kim | 70-70-69-68 | 277 | -11 | $ 22,818 |
| T15 | Brittany Lang | 68-70-70-69 | 277 | -11 | $ 22,818 |
| T15 | Morgan Pressel | 68-69-71-69 | 277 | -11 | $ 22,818 |
| T19 | Vicky Hurst | 70-72-70-66 | 278 | -10 | $ 19,242 |
| T19 | Catriona Matthew | 68-69-71-70 | 278 | -10 | $ 19,242 |
| T19 | Gerina Piller | 69-69-70-70 | 278 | -10 | $ 19,242 |
| T19 | Pornanong Phatlum | 72-69-66-71 | 278 | -10 | $ 19,242 |
| T23 | Amy Yang | 72-68-69-70 | 279 | -9 | $ 16,279 |
| T23 | Na Yeon Choi | 70-72-66-71 | 279 | -9 | $ 16,279 |
| T23 | Mika Miyazato | 71-68-68-72 | 279 | -9 | $ 16,279 |
| T23 | Stacy Lewis | 70-72-64-73 | 279 | -9 | $ 16,279 |
| T23 | Sophie Gustafson | 69-70-66-74 | 279 | -9 | $ 16,279 |
| T28 | Nicole Hage | 71-68-72-69 | 280 | -8 | $ 12,868 |
| T28 | Jennifer Johnson | 69-67-74-70 | 280 | -8 | $ 12,868 |
| T28 | Karen Stupples | 69-68-73-70 | 280 | -8 | $ 12,868 |
| T28 | Sun Young Yoo | 72-70-68-70 | 280 | -8 | $ 12,868 |
| T28 | Mina Harigae | 70-71-68-71 | 280 | -8 | $ 12,868 |
| T28 | Eun-Hee Ji | 69-73-67-71 | 280 | -8 | $ 12,868 |
| T28 | Meena Lee | 69-71-67-73 | 280 | -8 | $ 12,868 |
| T35 | Jane Park | 73-68-73-67 | 281 | -7 | $ 10,047 |
| T35 | Kristy McPherson | 71-72-69-69 | 281 | -7 | $ 10,047 |
| T35 | Christina Kim | 71-72-67-71 | 281 | -7 | $ 10,047 |
| T35 | Jimin Kang | 70-71-68-72 | 281 | -7 | $ 10,047 |
| T35 | Amanda Blumenherst | 68-67-72-74 | 281 | -7 | $ 10,047 |
| T40 | Beatriz Recari | 73-69-72-68 | 282 | -6 | $ 8,174 |
| T40 | Azahara Munoz | 72-70-71-69 | 282 | -6 | $ 8,174 |
| T40 | Lindsey Wright | 71-71-68-72 | 282 | -6 | $ 8,174 |
| T40 | Moira Dunn | 68-71-70-73 | 282 | -6 | $ 8,174 |
| T40 | Sarah Jane Smith | 69-70-70-73 | 282 | -6 | $ 8,174 |
| T45 | Minea Blomqvist | 70-70-73-70 | 283 | -5 | $ 6,726 |
| T45 | Hee Young Park | 69-73-69-72 | 283 | -5 | $ 6,726 |
| T45 | Michele Redman | 69-72-70-72 | 283 | -5 | $ 6,726 |
| T45 | Maria Hjorth | 72-66-72-73 | 283 | -5 | $ 6,726 |
| T45 | Belen Mozo | 70-69-71-73 | 283 | -5 | $ 6,726 |
| T50 | Danah Bordner | 68-72-73-71 | 284 | -4 | $ 5,875 |
| T50 | Yoo Kyeong Kim | 69-70-73-72 | 284 | -4 | $ 5,875 |
| T52 | Anna Grzebien | 70-73-74-68 | 285 | -3 | $ 5,194 |
| T52 | Hee Kyung Seo | 70-71-74-70 | 285 | -3 | $ 5,194 |
| T52 | Karrie Webb | 74-69-72-70 | 285 | -3 | $ 5,194 |
| T52 | Mi Hyun Kim | 70-68-76-71 | 285 | -3 | $ 5,194 |
| T52 | Ryann O'Toole | 72-69-71-73 | 285 | -3 | $ 5,194 |
| T52 | Seon Hwa Lee | 73-69-68-75 | 285 | -3 | $ 5,194 |
| T58 | Amy Hung | 72-71-69-74 | 286 | -2 | $ 4,513 |
| T58 | Marcy Hart | 71-68-71-76 | 286 | -2 | $ 4,513 |
| T60 | Sarah Kemp | 66-74-77-70 | 287 | -1 | $ 4,087 |
| T60 | Katie Futcher | 73-69-73-72 | 287 | -1 | $ 4,087 |
| T60 | Stephanie Louden | 70-72-73-72 | 287 | -1 | $ 4,087 |
| T60 | M.J. Hur | 70-71-73-73 | 287 | -1 | $ 4,087 |
| T60 | Chella Choi | 72-69-69-77 | 287 | -1 | $ 4,087 |
| T65 | Diana D'Alessio | 71-72-74-71 | 288 | E | $ 3,746 |
| T65 | Grace Park | 75-68-72-73 | 288 | E | $ 3,746 |
| T65 | Haeji Kang | 69-71-73-75 | 288 | E | $ 3,746 |
| T68 | Katherine Hull | 70-72-78-70 | 290 | +2 | $ 3,459 |
| T68 | Taylor Leon | 72-70-75-73 | 290 | +2 | $ 3,459 |
| T68 | Jin Young Pak | 71-71-73-75 | 290 | +2 | $ 3,459 |
| T68 | Jenna Pearson | 68-73-74-75 | 290 | +2 | $ 3,459 |
| T72 | Silvia Cavalleri | 73-69-74-75 | 291 | +3 | $ 3,299 |
| T72 | Janice Moodie | 74-68-74-75 | 291 | +3 | $ 3,299 |
| 74 | Jessica Korda | 72-71-73-76 | 292 | +4 | $ 3,235 |
| 75 | Jennifer Rosales | 72-71-76-74 | 293 | +5 | $ 3,196 |
| 76 | Kris Tamulis | 71-70-77-77 | 295 | +7 | $ 3,156 |
| 77 | Christine Song | 68-73-77-79 | 297 | +9 | $ 3,116 |
| Jean Bartholomew | 70-74 | 144 | CUT | ||
| Ashli Bunch | 72-72 | 144 | CUT | ||
| Allison Fouch | 70-74 | 144 | CUT | ||
| Louise Friberg | 72-72 | 144 | CUT | ||
| Tiffany Joh | 72-72 | 144 | CUT | ||
| *Moriya Jutanugarn | 70-74 | 144 | CUT | ||
| Leta Lindley | 72-72 | 144 | CUT | ||
| Lisa Meldrum | 71-73 | 144 | CUT | ||
| Ji Young Oh | 71-73 | 144 | CUT | ||
| Reilley Rankin | 69-75 | 144 | CUT | ||
| Samantha Richdale | 71-73 | 144 | CUT | ||
| Aree Song | 72-72 | 144 | CUT | ||
| Momoko Ueda | 74-70 | 144 | CUT | ||
| Heather Bowie Young | 71-73 | 144 | CUT | ||
| Laura Diaz | 73-72 | 145 | CUT | ||
| Mollie Fankhauser | 74-71 | 145 | CUT | ||
| Sandra Gal | 73-72 | 145 | CUT | ||
| Hee-Won Han | 72-73 | 145 | CUT | ||
| Pat Hurst | 76-69 | 145 | CUT | ||
| Candie Kung | 74-71 | 145 | CUT | ||
| Mhairi McKay | 74-71 | 145 | CUT | ||
| Paola Moreno | 71-74 | 145 | CUT | ||
| Dewi Claire Schreefel | 74-71 | 145 | CUT | ||
| Alena Sharp | 74-71 | 145 | CUT | ||
| Jennifer Song | 74-71 | 145 | CUT | ||
| Louise Stahle | 74-71 | 145 | CUT | ||
| Jenny Suh | 70-75 | 145 | CUT | ||
| Alison Walshe | 75-70 | 145 | CUT | ||
| Young-A Yang | 71-74 | 145 | CUT | ||
| Beth Bader | 74-72 | 146 | CUT | ||
| Dori Carter | 75-71 | 146 | CUT | ||
| Cindy LaCrosse | 70-76 | 146 | CUT | ||
| Pernilla Lindberg | 73-73 | 146 | CUT | ||
| Anna Nordqvist | 74-72 | 146 | CUT | ||
| Angela Oh | 74-72 | 146 | CUT | ||
| Jean Reynolds | 74-72 | 146 | CUT | ||
| Giulia Sergas | 75-71 | 146 | CUT | ||
| Shi Hyun Ahn | 74-73 | 147 | CUT | ||
| Michelle Ellis | 77-70 | 147 | CUT | ||
| Meaghan Francella | 74-73 | 147 | CUT | ||
| Lorie Kane | 74-73 | 147 | CUT | ||
| Stephanie Kim | 71-76 | 147 | CUT | ||
| Jennie Lee | 72-75 | 147 | CUT | ||
| Stacy Prammanasudh | 73-74 | 147 | CUT | ||
| Jenny Shin | 76-71 | 147 | CUT | ||
| Sherri Steinhauer | 75-72 | 147 | CUT | ||
| Allison Hanna | 74-74 | 148 | CUT | ||
| *Jaclyn Jansen | 70-78 | 148 | CUT | ||
| Song-Hee Kim | 73-75 | 148 | CUT | ||
| Ilhee Lee | 73-75 | 148 | CUT | ||
| Jee Young Lee | 76-72 | 148 | CUT | ||
| Jeehae Lee | 74-74 | 148 | CUT | ||
| Karin Sjodin | 75-73 | 148 | CUT | ||
| Nicole Castrale | 75-74 | 149 | CUT | ||
| Jimin Jeong | 76-73 | 149 | CUT | ||
| Birdie Kim | 75-74 | 149 | CUT | ||
| Becky Morgan | 74-75 | 149 | CUT | ||
| Gwladys Nocera | 76-73 | 149 | CUT | ||
| Shasta Averyhardt | 76-74 | 150 | CUT | ||
| *Brooke Beeler | 75-75 | 150 | CUT | ||
| Sara Brown | 75-75 | 150 | CUT | ||
| Alison Whitaker | 75-75 | 150 | CUT | ||
| Dina Ammaccapane | 80-71 | 151 | CUT | ||
| Jessica Shepley | 74-77 | 151 | CUT | ||
| Stephanie Sherlock | 76-75 | 151 | CUT | ||
| Nicole Jeray | 76-76 | 152 | CUT | ||
| Amelia Lewis | 76-76 | 152 | CUT | ||
| Mariajo Uribe | 79-73 | 152 | CUT | ||
| Jodi Ewart | 82-72 | 154 | CUT | ||
| Na On Min | 79-75 | 154 | CUT | ||
| Eunjung Yi | 79-79 | 158 | CUT | ||
| Dorothy Delasin | 80-81 | 161 | CUT | ||
| Haru Nomura | 72 | DQ |
Third-round notes and interviews
LPGA State Farm Classic - Second-round notes and interviews
LPGA State Farm Classic - First-round notes and interviews
LPGA State Farm Classic – Final-round notes and interviews
June 13, 2011
Filed under News
LPGA State Farm Classic
Panther Creek Country Club
Springfield, Ill.
Final-round notes and interviews
June 12, 2011
Yani Tseng -21, Rolex Rankings No. 1
Cristie Kerr -18, Rolex Rankings No. 4
Rolex Rankings No. 1 Yani Tseng shot a 4-under 68 on Sunday to capture the LPGA State Farm Classic by three strokes over Cristie Kerr. It was Tseng's second LPGA Tour victory this season and her fifth victory world-wide. The 22-year-old also won the LPGA's season-opening Honda LPGA Thailand.
The overnight leader at 17-under-par, Tseng had a one-shot lead over Mindy Kim when she teed off for the final round. Tseng got off to a hot start, making a birdie on the first hole. She would then make five consecutive pars while Kim recorded back-to-back birdies on No. 5 and 6 to pull even with Tseng at 18-under-par. But after Kim's bogey on No. 7 gave Tseng the outright lead back, she continued to pull away from the field. Birdies on eight and 13 moved Tseng to 20-under-par. She sealed her seventh-career LPGA Tour victory with a birdie on 17 to finish at 21-under-par 267.
For Tseng, this is the third time in her career that she's captured a victory after entering the final round as the leader or co-leader.
It was a third straight runner-up finish for Cristie Kerr on Sunday. Her attempt at a 15th LPGA Tour victory fell just shy, as she wound up three strokes behind Tseng despite shooting a 5-under 67 in the final round. Three weeks ago, Kerr lost to Suzann Pettersen in the finals of the Sybase Match Play Championship and she fell one shot shy of victory at last week's ShopRite LPGA Classic. Kerr now has six top-10 finishes in nine tournaments this season, five of which were top-5 finishes. In two weeks, Kerr will try to defend her title at the Wegmans LPGA Championship.
Brittany Lincicome came up just short in her bid for two consecutive victories. One week after capturing her fourth career LPGA Tour victory at the ShopRite LPGA Classic, Lincicome finished in a tie for third with Paula Creamer at 16-under-par. Despite a slow start with a bogey at the second hole, Lincicome played the next 11 holes in 4-under to pull within two shots of the lead but she couldn't maintain her charge. Lincicome, who shot a final-round 70 to snap a streak of five straight rounds in the 60s, now has three top-10 finishes this season.
Golden ticket winners: Se Ri Pak, Mindy Kim and Wendy Ward punched their "Ticket to CME Group Titleholders" at the LPGA State Farm Classic, each earning a spot in the season-ending CME Group Titleholders event, which will be held Nov. 17-20, 2011 at Grand Cypress Golf Club in Orlando, Fla. The inaugural CME Group Titleholders, a season finale with a field made up of three qualifiers from every LPGA Tour tournament, is a format never previously used in professional golf.
Of Note…LPGA and World Golf Hall of Fame member Se Ri Pak recorded her best finish of the 2011 season, finishing in a tie for fifth at 15-under-par. Her previous best finish was a T10 at the Kraft Nabisco Championship …Vicky Hurst shot the low round of the day on the Sunday with a 6-under-66 to move from a T47 to a T19…Next week, the LPGA Futures Tour tees it up down the road in Decatur at the Tate & Lyle Player's Championship, the Tour's only major championship of the year.
YANI TSENG, Rolex Rankings No. 1
MODERATOR: We'd like to welcome our 2011 LPGA State Farm Classic champion, Yani Tseng into the interview room. Congratulations on your win today, your second win this season. I know you've had one other opportunity where you were close early in the year. To be able to go out and shoot the number you did today and pick up a victory, how does it feel?
YANI TSENG: Yeah, I feel very exciting. I have lots of energy to going on this morning, and I know I can do it. I just kept telling myself, Focus, focus. So all my energy, all my patience like focus on every hole. So I just play one shot at a time, and I did a great job. I missed couple putts, but I still hung in there and finish the way I want.
MODERATOR: Take me through the birdie on 17. That pretty much sealed this victory for you. What were you thinking?
YANI TSENG: Yeah, that was huge. I tried not to look at the leaderboard on 16, because we going to walk back. So I was like, No, don't look. Please don't look at the leaderboard. On 17 hole, I know that is a tough hole so, in my mind it's only about you yardage, 170 yards. So I come in and I just hit it. I was perfect; tap‑in for birdie. Then I was asking my caddie because it was huge crowd. I was asking, Is that in the hole? Because I never made hole‑in‑one since I turn pro, so I was really exciting about that one.
MODERATOR: You were close to winning here a few years back. Now to get that victory, what does it mean to win here and at this golf course?
YANI TSENG: Yeah, it means a lot. After 17, I walked to 18 and I have a little nightmare in my mind saying I make bogey last hole. But standing on the tee I told myself, Okay, let's hit fairway, green, and make two putts. Just kept telling myself, I can do this. It's been three, four years, and I really learn lots of things for the mistake. And then I feel like I improve myself and I learning a lot, and finally I got this trophy.
MODERATOR: There's been a lot of questions this week about the future of this tournament without State Farm coming back as the title sponsor. How do you approach coming back hopefully next year to defend your title?
YANI TSENG: Like I say, I been here four years. I love this tournament since I was rookie, so I really looking back to coming back to defending my champion. I think the crowd every year is getting bigger and bigger, and all the fans, all the volunteers, the people here love this tournament, and I can tell. It's like big party all week and everybody was very exciting, so I wish this is not end. I wish I can coming back for another 19 years, because I know State Farm been sponsor for 19 years. (Laughter.)
Q. Yani, throughout day you said last night that you wanted to be aggressive. All day long, did your approach change at all throughout the day?
YANI TSENG: No, I still be very aggressive, especially on 17. That's a pretty tough pin, and I still go for it. (Indiscernible) shot I missed, but I still be very aggressive and keep in the same strategy. I think today the winning point is I really keep focused. I could really play like one shot at a time. I didn't look leaderboard much.
Q. Talking about No. 17 again, like you said, you stood on the 18th tee and just said, Fairway, green, two‑putt. Again, what happened a few years ago, how big ‑‑ did you know you were three strokes ahead at that point going into No. 18?
YANI TSENG: On 17 I was look at the leaderboard, and I asked my caddie, Is Cristie Kerr 16 or 18? It was too far away; I couldn't tell. I have a feeling I had a three‑shot lead until I get into...
Q. But, yeah, to have a three‑shot lead going into a very difficult hole had to be a relief.
YANI TSENG: I don't know, you know. Like after 17 hole some people were say, Congratulations. I was like, Oh, don't say that too early. Still one more hole. You know, last hole you never know. It's tough hole, and I have a little nightmare there. (Laughing.) So I just keep telling, Okay, focus. I can do this. I can do this. I hit a perfect shot second one. And because I was learning from the first year here, like second shot hit it to far, like all the way back to the pin, and I think that's like when you get exciting you hit further. So like on second shot, 190 to the pin, but I didn't take out my rescue. I hit 4‑iron and hit it perfect.
Q. You talked about being aggressive. I didn't see your whole round, but it didn't seem like you used a lot of drivers. How many times did you hit driver today, and would that total have been different had you been trailing than leading?
YANI TSENG: No, I think because the wind was different, so I didn't have to use too much driver. I use three like four or five hole hitting 3‑wood, but just depends on the wind. I just kept the same strategy.
Q. Let's go to the start of your round. You talked about being aggressive and on No. 1. Did you go in the bunker?
YANI TSENG: Yeah, I did.
Q. Okay. Your sand shot, how close did you hit it?
YANI TSENG: Like two‑footer, so it was easy birdie. But I was shaking the hand. I was really nervous.
Q. On the putt?
YANI TSENG: Yeah, on the putt.
Q. Okay. But, I mean, where you were on the fairway, no doubt you were going to...
YANI TSENG: Yeah, I was hit it on the fairway and just go for it. I mean, I had a rescue, so I just didn't think about anything. I just hit a second shot.
Q. No. 15, which is a tough par‑4, it rolled through the fairway and you were right behind that tree, the tree trunk there. How close ‑‑ I know you punched it out ‑‑ how close ‑‑ did it many come pretty close to hitting the tree or...
YANI TSENG: I don't know. After I hit it I didn't see my ball. I was just tell my caddie, Okay, line me up. I going through ‑‑ probably only two‑footer, three‑footer, and I just want to go through there. My caddie was thinking I'm little crazy, because she say, You don't know what you're talking about. I want you to go left, not like that little gap. I'm like, Yeah, okay, just line me up; I going to go there. So after, I don't know, but it was perfect shot. I punch out. I know we can save par or bogey is good there, too.
Q. You chipped in?
YANI TSENG: I chip in, so that's very big one. I also try to think about, Oh, how can I chip in? How do I do? I don't know why. I just see line and that's where I hit it, and I just chip in. Very happy. I know that's big one, because Cristie was really close to me.
Q. I think Mindy caught you on 6 when you three‑putted there. Other than that, are you saying that throughout the day you didn't look at a leaderboard and you didn't know how you stood until you cleared 17, or did you look throughout the round?
YANI TSENG: Yeah, I look I think like on No. 9. For sure I look leaderboard on 18 hole. I think on No. 13, the par‑5, I look again. Then I know I was like two‑shot lead, three‑shot lead back and forth, so I told myself I need make couple more birdies to get more gap.
Q. What does this do for your confidence heading into the majors? I know that's the most important thing to you.
YANI TSENG: Yeah, I feel very good right now. Lots of energy. I feel this tournament give me lots of confidence, especially I made par on 18 hole so it's like nightmare is gone. And I really do feel like I improve a lot, I learning from lots of things, and I can holding the pressure better and better. So I'm really very exciting for the majors coming up, all the big tournaments. You know, I just keep working hard, keep working with my coach, and I think it's going to be fine.
Q. One more. How are you a different player going into the LPGA Championship this year than you were last year?
YANI TSENG: Um, I don't know. That course we play three times, and is always big crowd there. But that course, like tree‑lined course is totally different than this. So, you know, when I have a week off next week, I just going to work on my driving. I want to hit on the fairway better, because I know if you hit on the fairway more you have more chance to winning a tournament.
Q. Jason, your caddie, how long has he been working for you?
YANI TSENG: Since this tournament last year. This is our one‑year anniversary.
Q. Very good. He said that a number of years ago he caddied for Annika for a time. Of course she was No. 1 for a very long time. He said Annika was ‑‑ her style was maybe more point A to point B, very analytical; whereas you're maybe still more aggressive. Is that ‑‑ do you feel like that's a pretty good description of you two?
YANI TSENG: Um, like first couple year I'm really aggressive than now, so now I kind of playing much smarter than the last couple years. So I been learning a little bit, a little bit every year. Then like I have a little fight with my caddie on 16 hole, because I hit it in the rough on the right and I was thinking hit 6‑iron or 7‑iron close to the green. And then after I ask him, What do you think? He's like, I think we need to layup, hit it to 60 yards, chip in. I was like, No. No way we can layup. It was only like 160, 170. I know I had a terrible lie, but I just tell him, Trust me. I can do this. Just trust me. Give me more confidence to do this. So, you know, sometimes I'm a little crazy I think, so he was like holding me little bit, not be too aggressive sometimes, too.
Q. For those of us who aren't real familiar with it, you live in ‑‑ you bought Annika's ‑‑ is it in Lake Nona, Florida?
YANI TSENG: Yeah.
Q. How long have you lived there now?
YANI TSENG: Yeah, I think it's already two years. Yeah, I try to follow her stuff, too.
Q. Well, I've read some stories that Annika, did she have sort of a trophy case or trophy area in your house? Is that your motivation, to try to fill up at least part of that?
YANI TSENG: Yeah, for sure. Every time I going back to the house I see empty trophy case, I'm not happy with that. So try to fill more and more. I was thinking I want to bring my amateur trophies coming back to put in there first, but, you know, here's another one.
Q. Yeah. There's enough gaps certainly for the early part of the LPGA schedule. Do you consider at all going back, and to keep yourself sharp, going back and playing some in Asia in non-LPGA events, or are you so committed that these are the events that you're going to play in?
YANI TSENG: Yeah, I do try to think about play some in Asia, because those like first, like those two, three months we don't have many tournaments. It's really hard to keep the rhythm going on. Sometimes I playing good and I want to keep going. It was really hard. But it's only one week between the tournament, and it's hard to go back to Asia and coming back. So I just stay home and work with my coach and just try to feel like, Okay, we still in good position. We still looking forward like prepare for majors.
Q. Jason, I asked him about your No. 1 ranking on the Rolex thing. Do you think about it a lot? Is that your main, like, motivation? Or do you just say, I'll try to win tournaments and then that'll take care of itself?
YANI TSENG: Yeah, I did. Actually, No. 1 in the world is my goal for this year. I been doing pretty good, so now I don't think about it anymore, because we have so many great player on the LPGA. Everybody is a great competitor. You never know who is going to win tournament. We have to keep working hard, because if you just stop there, everybody going to catch you very soon. So those player push me harder and I push them harder. I think we very good on this LPGA.
CRISTIE KERR, Rolex Rankings No. 1
MODERATOR: We'd like to welcome Cristie Kerr into the interview room. Congratulations on your round today. You knew it was going to take a low number to kind of catch up to the leaders, but for another runner‑up finish, how do you feel after this one?
CRISTIE KERR: Yeah, I played pretty well today. I thought the back nine played a little tough. We had longer clubs into the greens by two or three clubs. I played good; I just needed to get some of those putts to the hole, give 'em a chance it go in. Left a couple short. It would have been nice to make birdie on the last hole, but it didn't matter. She was too far ahead.
MODERATOR: After this tournament now you go into another tournament where you're the defending champion, the Wegmans LPGA Championship. Has this been a fun stretch for you going to these tournaments where you played so well last year and now you're playing well again?
CRISTIE KERR: It is. I love both of those golf courses, and I'm looking forward to Wegman's next ‑‑ well, after the week off.
MODERATOR: Questions.
Q. I know you've played solid golf lately. Talk a little bit about what's worked in your game lately.
CRISTIE KERR: At the Sybase where I had my first second‑place finish, I changed my irons. That's been, you know, a big part of the reason why I'm playing better as of late. I was struggling to hit my irons close if it even hit the green, and now I'm getting a lot more looks at birdie. That's usually where I have my strength, is on the greens, so that's been great. My whole game has been great: short game, everything.
Q. You always seem to play well here. What do you think this course has that suits your game?
CRISTIE KERR: Well, I think you do get a lot of looks at birdie on this course. As you see, the scores were low for everybody, and I think that's what fans want to see. You know, I can read these greens really well, and I think I've played well every year I've played here.
Q. Following up on that, you go out on this course, you go out onto the other course, you go on at two different times of the year. So beyond that common thread, when you go into a tournament where you've had success in the past, are you clearly more confident going into the week? Do you feel different than an event where maybe you struggled in the past?
CRISTIE KERR: Well, I think that's the same for everybody. Having good memories always helps. I feel like I can feel my way around the course well here, and, you know, there's horses for courses. That's the expression.I've just always played really well here.
Q. Three straight runner‑up finishes. I know they're not the wins you would've hoped for, but do you take a lot coming off the past three tournaments and how you've been playing?
CRISTIE KERR: I do. The margin between finishing second three times and winning three times is very small. I mean, it's as small as it gets in the game. I've just got to keep doing what I'm doing and hopefully get a putt or two more a tournament to drop, and then it's a different ballgame.
Q. I saw the family that was here last year with the five children, I saw the little girls again. Did you have a chance to spend any time with them this week?
CRISTIE KERR: I did. I pronounced their last name Ducagi(ph); but it's actually Duchai (ph). It's Slovakian. It's a different pronunciation. Yeah, I spent time with them this week. Went to dinner on Thursday to Maldaner's in the city. That was a nice restaurant. I've been spending a little bit of time with them after the rounds every day. Hopefully we have this tournament next year, so I get to see them. But even if we don't, I'm going to bring them out to a couple tournaments hopefully and spend time with them. Their family has become very good friends with our family.
Q. I would think you're at the point in your career where you beat people as much with your head as your game you have so much experience in all the circumstances. Looking back to today's round and over the four days, how many mental mistakes do you think you made today? And then over the four days, can you identify how many you might have made that would have made a difference?
CRISTIE KERR: Today, mental mistakes? I felt like I was pretty solid today. The shots I missed or mishit or hit left, I don't think these were mental. I think that sometimes you make some bad or a little off golf swings.
I needed an 8‑under par round, which is nearly a perfect round, especially in the windy conditions. And the way the wind turned around on the back nine it played tougher today, so that was a lot to ask. But I almost did it. Over the whole tournament, maybe three or four times where I wasn't there. Maybe four or five, max where I wasn't mentally there over a shot or putt.
You know, it definitely saves shots out there because your misses end up better, and then you're on the green instead of missing a green and you have a chance to make birdie.
Q. (No microphone.)
CRISTIE KERR: Yeah, because you can't be perfect. I mean, if you try to be perfect you end up being less perfect. If you have like one, two max a day where you're not 100% there, I would say that's fairly acceptable. Because, you know, if you're focusing for that long, I mean, sometimes I get a headache when I focus really well. Like I had to take some Advil on the 15th hole because I could feel pressure building up. That's just me. I focus a lot. Thanks, guys.
Third-round notes and interviews
LPGA State Farm Classic - Second-round notes and interviews
LPGA State Farm Classic - First-round notes and interviews
Kerr presents $5,000 for cancer research to State Farm Classic charity partner
June 12, 2011
Filed under News
Defending Champion Cristie Kerr Presents Donation to Simmons Cancer Institute through Signature Wine Label 'Curvature'
SPRINGFIELD, IL. - June 8, 2011 - LPGA State Farm Classic Defending Champion Cristie Kerr presented a check for $ 5,000 to the Simmons Cancer Institute at SIU School of Medicine at a wine tasting event held today at Panther Creek in coordination with her signature wine label 'Curvature.' The donation provides funding for cancer research and was given in addition to the funds SCI will receive from the LPGA State Farm Classic as a charitable partner.
Kerr has committed her career to the cause of developing a cure for breast cancer. Having witnessed her mother, aunt and godmother battle the disease, Cristie founded Birdies for Breast Cancer, a charity that has raised several million dollars for breast cancer research and treatment. In 2010 she opened the Cristie Kerr Women's Health Center at the Jersey City Medical Center.
"Breast cancer is a disease that touches everyone in some way. The advancements in medicine are continuously evolving and I am fortunate to have the opportunity to help support the effort to find a cure," Kerr said. "The Simmons Cancer Institute at SIU School of Medicine does fantastic work and I'm proud to support their efforts."
Named one of the LPGA State Farm Classic's 2011 charities, Simmons Cancer Institute at SIU will use the funds it receives from the Tournament to purchase prostheses, bras and other supplies for its Just for You Salon that provides free services to breast cancer patients throughout central and southern Illinois in over 70 counties. The additional funds donated by Cristie Kerr will be used for cancer research.
"Cristie Kerr's generous contribution to Simmons Cancer Institute SIU will fund our ongoing research to fight breast cancer. Her many efforts have raised awareness and increased education about this disease, so we are very appreciative of her support and advocacy," said Dr. K. Thomas Robbins, SCI director. Currently, SCI researchers have more than $ 6.7 million in multi-year funding awards for breast cancer studies. Its grant funds for all cancer research totals more than $ 16.8 million.
ABOUT Curvature
Curvature wines is a unique collaboration between LPGA star Cristie Kerr and Suzanne Pride Bryan, co-owner of award winning Pride Mountain Vineyards. Curvatures limited production wines are hand crafted by Pride's master winemaker Sally Johnson, using select fruits from Napa and Sonoma California. Curvature's highly acclaimed Cabernet Sauvignon wines from 2006 and 2007 vintages and Chardonnay from 2009 are currently featured in some of the countries finest clubhouses, restaurants and private wine collections, and recently selected for the White House cellar for state functions. Proceeds from Curvature wines fund the fight against breast cancer.
Www.curvaturewines.com
