Safeway International Amateur Open Will Provide LPGA Opportunity for Players
Tournament Golf Foundation Inc., (TGFI), the owners and organizers of the Safeway International LPGA tournament, announced that US Amateur Champion Morgan Pressel has accepted a sponsor’s exemption to compete in the 2006 event. At the same time, tournament officials also announced that they have extended their other exemption to Michelle Wie, 16, who recently turned professional. Wie’s schedule for 2006 has not been finalized.
Pressel who was also the runner-up at the 2005 US Women’s Open as an amateur, is 17 and is currently trying to qualify for the LPGA tour through Q school. She will be a part of the Q school finals, to be held in Daytona Beach, FL from Nov. 30-Dec. 4. Even if she wins a tour card at Q school, she will not be eligible for regular LPGA tour events until she turns 18 later in the year, without exemptions such as the one she is receiving for the Safeway International.
"I talked with Morgan and she is thrilled to be coming to the Valley for the event," said Tom Maletis, President of TGFI. "Her amateur record is very impressive and we are extremely excited to have her here in March."
Regarding Wie, Maletis says that an exemption has been extended, but there has been no final word from Wie or her family on her schedule for the coming year. Wie is not eligible to play the tour full-time and can accept six exemptions, plus two for the US Women’s Open and Women’s British Open.
"Michelle has been here the past two years, and obviously we would love to have her back again in 2006," said Maletis. "At this point her schedule has not been finalized and her school year and other factors will be a part of where she determines to play. We, of course, respect whatever decision she and her family make."
Safeway Amateur Open
TGFI also announced that they will hold the Safeway International Amateur Open on Thursday February 9 at Superstition Mountain Golf and Country Club, the site of the LPGA event. The two lowest scores in that event will earn spots in the Monday qualifier for the Safeway International, to be held March 13-19. The two low scores in the Monday Qualifier will play in the tournament proper.
Any woman amateur golfer with an established USGA handicap of 3.4 or less is eligible to compete. The field will be limited to 72 players. According to Maletis, "This is a unique opportunity for amateur golfers to win a chance to compete at the highest level in the game."
The Safeway International Amateur Open will have a $75 entry fee, payable to TGFI. Players can apply by calling the Safeway International office at 602-495-GOLF. Entry deadline for the event will be March 1.
The Safeway International has been a featured event on the LPGA Tour since 1983. The event has now donated over $10 million to local charities, with cancer research programs at Banner Health Foundation being the primary beneficiary. The 2006 edition of The Safeway International, presented by Coca-Cola, will have a purse of $1.4 million and will be broadcast on The Golf Channel.
Annika Sorenstam won the 2004 and 2005 editions of the tournament and will return to defend her title. The field for the event in 2005 was one of the strongest on the LPGA tour and 2006 should be no exception.
Begun in 1972, TGFI is comprised of 47 individuals and couples, whose mission is to provide world class golf while helping raise money for local charities. TGFI is also the owner and operator of the Safeway Classic in Portland, OR.
For more information on the Safeway International and Tournament Golf Foundation, visit their website: www. safewaygolf.com.
Contact:
Tom Maletis
(503) 702-5000
Reid Hutchins
(503) 291-0109
