DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., July 30, 2008 – Four-time All-American Stacy Lewis has entered two tournaments on the Duramed FUTURES Tour this season. Lewis will be in the field next week at the Falls Auto Group Classic in London, Ky., set for Aug. 8-10, as well as in the Greater Richmond Duramed FUTURES Classic in Richmond, Va., to be staged Aug. 15-17.
“I had a one-month break between two LPGA tournaments and I just want to stay competitive,” said Lewis, 23, of The Woodlands, Texas. “I know so many people out there and I’m really looking forward to it. But of course, I’m trying to win and earn playing status for 2009, just to cover all my bases.”
Lewis, 23, is eligible to join the Duramed FUTURES Tour and to compete in tournaments based on her top-30 standing on the 2008 Golfweek Collegiate Rankings. The 2008 SEC Player of the Year finished the season ranked second in the collegiate rankings as she completed her college career this spring at the University of Arkansas. She also is eligible to compete on the Duramed FUTURES Tour based on her No. 1 women’s amateur ranking.
Among her many honors, Lewis produced an unprecedented perfect 5-0 record as a member of the victorious 2008 U.S. Curtis Cup team earlier this summer before launching her professional career at the 2008 U.S. Women’s Open Championship, where she tied for third. A 12-time collegiate winner, Lewis was the 2007 NCAA Champion, a four-time Academic All-American, finished tied for fifth as an amateur at the 2007 Kraft Nabisco Championship and won the LPGA’s rain-plagued 2007 NW Arkansas Championship, which was recorded as an unofficial event because it was shortened to 18 holes.
“We welcome Stacy and are delighted she will be playing a couple of events with us, competing against her peers,” said Duramed FUTURES Tour CEO Zayra F. Calderon. “This will be a great experience for her.”
Lewis will be reunited next week by a number of former collegiate rivals and Arkansas teammates now competing on the Duramed FUTURES Tour. She also will have a chance to play head-to-head against the Tour’s top-ranked player, Vicky Hurst of Melbourne, Fla., a four-time winner this season and the 2007 Rolex AJGA Player of the Year.
Including next week’s event in Kentucky, only four tournaments remain in the regular-season race for the five 2009 LPGA cards awarded to the top five season money winners. Lewis will not be eligible to earn one of those cards because recipients must have participated in a minimum of six tournaments, but she can earn 2009 playing status by finishing in the top 90 on the Tour’s season-ending 2008 Money List.
About the Duramed FUTURES Tour
Called “The Road To the LPGA and Beyond,” the Duramed FUTURES Tour has become the world’s largest international women’s developmental tour. In its 28th competitive season this year, the Tour has remained committed to developing LPGA stars of tomorrow and creating viable role models for youth today. The top-five money winners each season earn automatic exemptions for the LPGA Tour. With more than 300 alumnae as current members of the LPGA, through 2007, former Duramed FUTURES Tour players have won a total of 330 LPGA titles, including 35 major championships. Duramed FUTURES Tour events have contributed more than $4 million to charitable organizations throughout the nation since 1989. For more information, visit www.duramedfuturestour.com.
Contact:
Lisa D. Mickey, Duramed FUTURES Tour, 386-274-6216 or lisa@duramedfuturestour.com.
