Cambridge, Mass., (October 18, 2006) — The Legends Tour, the LPGA’s official tour for professionals age 45 and older, announces today the final roster for the United States team in this year’s inaugural Handa Cup. Six members of the LPGA and World Golf Halls of Fame and six former U.S. Solheim Cup players will join a team of 12 Americans captained by Hall of Famer Kathy Whitworth.
"It’s fun to be involved in the start of something," said Whitworth, who also served as the captain of the inaugural U.S. Solheim Cup team in 1990, and again in 1992. "This event will be competitive and will have the same flavor as the Solheim Cup, but without the pressure."
The Handa Cup will be staged Dec. 15-17, at the World Golf Village’s Slammer & Squire Course in St. Augustine, Fla. The field will be comprised of 12 professionals from the U.S. and 12 from an all-international team, whose final roster will be announced within the next 10 days. The format will kick off with a one-day pro-am, followed by two days of team match play between the two sides.
"I have an all-star cast," said Whitworth, the winningest golfer in the world with 88 professional tournament wins. "I won’t have to coach them or tell them anything because this group has ‘been there, done that.’ All I’ll have to do is come up with the pairings."
Whitworth’s U.S. team will boast four other former U.S. Solheim Cup captains. Hall of Famer Joanne Carner, who captained the 1994 U.S. team and won 43 LPGA titles, will join Hall of Famers Pat Bradley, captain of the 2000 U.S. Team and winner of 31 LPGA titles, Patty Sheehan, captain of the 2002 and 2003 American teams and winner of 35 LPGA titles, and Nancy Lopez, captain of the U.S. side’s 2005 team and winner of 48 LPGA titles. A captain’s pick, Bradley was a U.S. Solheim Cup member in 1990, 1992 and 1996. Lopez was a Solheim Cup member in 1990, and Sheehan played on the American squad in 1990, 1992, 1994 and 1996.
Rounding out the U.S. Handa Cup team will be: Hall of Famer Amy Alcott, who boasts 29 LPGA Tour wins; 2003 Solheim Cup assistant captain Jane Geddes, who owns 11 career titles; captain’s pick and Hall of Fame member Sandra Haynie, with 42 career titles; 1998 Solheim Cup team member Christa (Chris) Johnson, with nine career wins; 13-time winner and Solheim Cup team stalwart Rosie Jones, who played on the American team in 1990, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2003 and 2005; Marilyn Lovander, who has won once on the Legends Tour and 10 times on the Duramed FUTURES Tour; Martha Nause, who won three LPGA Tour titles, including one major championship; and captain’s pick Cindy Rarick, who won five times on the LPGA Tour. Lori West, an 18-year LPGA Tour veteran, will serve as Whitworth’s co-captain.
"The players seem excited about this competition and we have the full support of Mr. Haruhisa Handa, sponsor of the event, to make this Cup a success," added Whitworth. "It will be a great chance for people to see some real ‘names’ in women’s golf."
Added Jane Blalock, President of The Legends Tour: "The Handa Cup has generated such enthusiasm among all of the players on The Legends Tour that we now intend to make it an annual event. The competition for the honor to represent the United States and the international golf community in this match play format has been so intense that we anticipate a fiery battle at the World Golf Village in December. Many of the participants are Solheim Cup veterans and are looking forward to renewing some exciting rivalries."
Single day grounds passes ($10) will be available for purchase on-site at the entrance to the Handa Cup tournament, behind the World Golf Hall of Fame. A grounds pass will be needed for access into the tournament on Saturday, Dec. 16, and Sunday, Dec. 17. No refunds, no rain checks. Amateur spots in the Friday pro-am are still available for purchase and interested community groups may obtain complimentary one-day passes in advance by contacting JBC Golf.
The Legends Tour is an Official Tour of the LPGA for professionals 45 and older. Founded in 2000, the mission of The Legends Tour is to provide opportunities for professional women golfers to compete and to promote women’s golf worldwide. The burgeoning women’s tour has grown to more than 100 members, including some of the most recognizable names in women’s golf. Combined, The Legends Tour members have won 600 tournaments, including 55 major championships. Current LPGA members turn 45 virtually every year, contributing to the tour’s long-term growth and vitality.
Contact:
Erin Wilson at JBC Golf, Inc.
617-225-0008, ext. 104
ewilson@jbcgolf.com