LPGA tournament, to be played March 22-28 at La Costa Resort and Spa, will feature all of the top 10 players from the Rolex Rankings, including fan favorites Lorena Ochoa and Michelle Wie
CARLSBAD, Calif., March 16, 2010 – The Kia Classic Presented by J Golf announced today the final field for its inaugural tournament, and the list reads like that of a major championship field.
The 144-player field for the tournament, to be played March 22-28 at La Costa Resort and Spa, boasts all of the top 10 players in the current Rolex Rankings, and 40 of the top 50. It includes 49 of the top 50 players from the LPGA’s 2009 money list, and it features players who have won a combined 327 tournaments on the LPGA Tour, including 46 major championships.
The $1.7 million Kia Classic Presented by J Golf is the LPGA’s first tournament of the 2010 season in the United States, and third overall. Tickets are available at www.lpgalacosta.com, by calling 1-888-SEE-LPGA, or at Walgreens stores in San Diego, Riverside and Orange counties.
“We couldn’t be more thrilled with the players we have competing in our event,” said Jim Felechner, the Tournament Director for the Kia Classic Presented by J Golf. “We believe we’re bringing San Diego the best that the LPGA has to offer and we’re certain that fans will be amazed by the skill these players display on the golf course. This is a tremendous way to start our domestic schedule.”
Among the players in the final field are:
• Lorena Ochoa, the Mexican superstar who is the Rolex Rankings No. 1 and has won 27 times in her accomplished career
• Michelle Wie, who won her first professional tournament at the end of last season, at the Lorena Ochoa Invitational Presented by Banamex and Corona Light
• Ai Miyazato, the Japanese superstar who has risen to Rolex Rankings No. 3 with back-to-back victories to begin the LPGA season (Miyazato is the first player since 1966 to win the first two official events of the year)
• Jiyai Shin, the LPGA’s money leader and first-ever South Korean to top the season-ending LPGA Official Money List (2009)
• Brittany Lincicome, a three-time winner on the LPGA and the defending champion of the Kraft Nabisco Championship (her first major championship)
• Karrie Webb, who has won 36 times on the LPGA, including seven major titles, and is the tour’s active career leader in wins and money earned ($15.2 million)
• Laura Davies, a 20-time tournament winner who has four major-championship victories to her name
• Cristie Kerr, the American No. 1 who has won 12 times on the LPGA (including the 2007 U.S. Women’s Open) and finished second on the money list last year
• Morgan Pressel, a two-time winner on the LPGA (including the 2007 Kraft Nabisco Championship) who set a record (since broken) as the youngest player to qualify for the U.S. Women’s Open (in 2001, when she was 12)
• Juli Inkster, a Los Altos resident and an LPGA Tour and World Golf Halls of Fame member with 29 career victories to her name, including seven major championship wins
• Se Ri Pak, whose an LPGA Tour and World Golf Halls of Fame member whose 24 career victories include four majors
• Na Yeon Choi, who in October at Torrey Pines won the Samsung World Championship, the most recent LPGA event played in San Diego
• Christina Kim, who is as well known for her outgoing personality on the golf course as her two wins on the LPGA
• Angela Stanford, who has four career LPGA victories and nearly $5 million in earnings
• Natalie Gulbis, a fan favorite who in addition to golf has starred in her own reality TV show, appeared on The Apprentice and an episode of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
• Leta Lindley, a Carlsbad native and graduate of Carlsbad High School
• Sponsor exemptions Tiffany Joh (Rancho Bernardo, UCLA), Victoria Park (Irvine) and Korean LPGA (KLPGA) star Hee Kyung Seo
The complete final field for the Kia Classic Presented by J Golf:
Shi Hyun Ahn Jeong Jang Gwladys Nocera
Helen Alfredsson Jimin Jeong Anna Nordqvist
Beth Bader Nicole Jeray Lorena Ochoa
Kyeong Bae Eun-Hee Ji Ji Young Oh
Amanda Blumenherst Lorie Kane Jin Young Pak
Heather Bowie Young Haeji Kang Se Ri Pak
Brandie Burton Jimin Kang Angela Park
Nicole Castrale Soo-Yun Kang Gloria Park
Silvia Cavalleri Sarah Kemp Grace Park
Irene Cho Katie Kempter Hee Young Park
Misun Cho Cristie Kerr Inbee Park
Chella Choi Birdie Kim Jane Park
Hye Jung Choi Christina Kim Mikaela Parmlid
Na Yeon Choi In-Kyung Kim Suzann Pettersen
Song Yi Choi Lucy Kim Stacy Prammanasudh
Ilmi Chung Mi Hyun Kim Morgan Pressel
Laura Davies Mindy Kim Reilley Rankin
Laura Diaz Song-Hee Kim Anna Rawson
Wendy Doolan Young Kim Beatriz Recari
Danielle Downey Kelli Kuehne Michele Redman
Moira Dunn Candie Kung Jean Reynolds
Tamie Durdin Brittany Lang Samantha Richdale
Tania Elosegui Bona Lee Jennifer Rosales
Shanshan Feng Jee Young Lee Giulia Sergas
Allison Fouch Meena Lee Alena Sharp
Meaghan Francella Sarah Lee Jiyai Shin
Louise Friberg Seon Hwa Lee Karin Sjodin
Katie Futcher Taylor Leon Marianne Skarpnord
Sandra Gal Stacy Lewis Louise Stahle
Julieta Granada Brittany Lincicome Angela Stanford
Anna Grzebien Pernilla Lindberg Sherri Steinhauer
Natalie Gulbis Leta Lindley Karen Stupples
Sophie Gustafson Teresa Lu Kris Tamulis
Nicole Hage Paige Mackenzie Iben Tinning
Hee-Won Han Meg Mallon Yani Tseng
Allison Hanna Catriona Matthew Momoko Ueda
Mina Harigae Michelle McGann Mariajo Uribe
Maria Hernandez Jill McGill Wendy Ward
Maria Hjorth Kristy McPherson Karrie Webb
Katherine Hull Lisa Meldrum Michelle Wie
Amy Hung Na On Min Leah Wigger
M.J. Hur Ai Miyazato Lindsey Wright
Pat Hurst Mika Miyazato Amy Yang
Vicky Hurst Janice Moodie Eunjung Yi
Karine Icher Becky Morgan Sun Young Yoo
Juli Inkster Azahara Munoz
Liz Janangelo Liselotte Neumann
Sponsor Exemption: Qualifiers:
1. Hee Kyung Seo 1. TBD
2. Tiffany Joh 2. TBD
3. Victoria Park (a)
(Q) Two (2) places will be filled by the top-two finishers from the Qualifier.
Alternates
———-
001 Joo Mi Kim
002 Russy Gulyanamitta
003 Sarah Jane Smith
004 Michelle Ellis
005 Marcy Hart
006 Eva Dahllof
007 Lisa Strom
008 Stephanie Louden
009 Meredith Duncan
010 Kris Tschetter
011 Diana D’Alessio
012 Dina Ammaccapane
013 Mhairi McKay
014 Young-A Yang
015 Dorothy Delasin
016 Jackie Gallagher-Smith
017 Christi Cano
018 Paola Moreno
019 Jamie Hullett
020 Cathrine Bristow
021 Tanya Dergal
022 Adrienne White
023 Whitney Wade
024 Christine Song
025 Alison Walshe
026 Libby Smith
027 Jessica Shepley
028 Jeehae Lee
029 Cindy LaCrosse
030 Pornanong Phatlum
031 Jane Chin
032 Mallory Blackwelder
033 Lisa Ferrero
034 Kim Welch
035 Jean Bartholomew
036 Carri Wood
037 Erica Blasberg
038 Mug Ogg (T&CP member)
About the Kia Product Line
Kia Motors is in the midst of a dramatic, design-led transformation, which has been delivering dynamically styled vehicles in several important segments at exactly the right time, contributing to the brand’s continued gains in U.S. market share. The vehicle line features the stylish Forte compact sedan and all-new two-door Forte Koup, the highly personalizable Soul, functional Rondo CUV, award-winning Sedona minivan, purposeful Optima midsize sedan and versatile yet fuel-efficient Rio and Rio5 subcompacts. The launch of the all-new 2011 Sorento CUV, the official vehicle of the NBA and the first vehicle to be built at Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia (KMMG)1, Kia’s first U.S.-based manufacturing facilities in West Point, Georgia, further enhances the lineup.
About Kia Motors America
Kia Motors America (KMA) is the marketing and distribution arm of Kia Motors Corporation based in Seoul, South Korea. KMA offers a complete line of vehicles through more than 670 dealers throughout the United States. For 2009, KMA recorded its 15th consecutive year of increased U.S. market share and recently achieved its best quarter of sales ever. Kia Motors subscribes to a philosophy of building high value, high quality, safe and dynamic vehicles. Kia Motors prides itself on producing vehicles that are exciting and enabling and evoke the Kia tagline “The Power to Surprise.” Kia Motors America is the “Official Automotive Partner of the NBA.” Information about Kia Motors America and its full vehicle line-up is available at its Web site – www.kia.com. For media information, including photography, visit www.kiamedia.com.
1 KMMG vehicles are built with U.S. and globally sourced parts.
About J Golf
J Golf is a 24-hour cable & satellite golf channel covering various golf tours such as the LPGA Tour (beginning in 2010), KLPGA Tour, European Tour, Ladies European Tour, JGTO and the JLPGA tour. Since its first launching in January 2005, J Golf has also been airing instructional programs not only for beginners but also advanced golfers. In addition, J Golf offers golfing event programs and golf news coverage from around the globe. J Golf is the first golf channel in the world to create original HD content programs. The proudest achievement in J Golf history is the contract signed in early 2009 to broadcast the LPGA Tour for five years, beginning in 2010. In Korea, J Golf has almost completed deals on airing the LPGA Tour, the most prestigious female golf tour in the world, with all types of TV platforms including terrestrial TV, cable TV, satellite TV, IP-TV, Digital Mobile Broadcasting and VOD. With J Golf, watching golf becomes as much fun as playing golf.
About the Ladies Professional Golf Association
The LPGA was founded in 1950 and today boasts a membership comprised of world-class LPGA Tour professionals and more than 1,300 dedicated Teaching and Club Professionals (T&CP). Players on the LPGA Tour, who represent more than 25 countries, compete globally showcasing the very best of women’s professional golf. LPGA T&CP members directly impact the growth of the game through teaching, coaching and management positions, and oversee programs aimed at increasing the involvement of women, girls and youth in golf. The LPGA’s Vision is to inspire, empower, educate and entertain by showcasing the best golf professionals in the world. Its Mission is to be a leader in the world of sports, to promote economic empowerment for all members, and to serve as role models on and off the course. The LPGA is headquartered in Daytona Beach, Fla. For more information on the LPGA, log on to www.LPGA.com.
About La Costa Resort and Spa
Nestled among the beautiful coastal foothills of Carlsbad, Calif., north of San Diego, La Costa Resort and Spa boasts the 43,000 square-foot Spa at La Costa, 610 spacious and well-appointed guestrooms, suites and villas, a Clubhouse with a fitness center, two acclaimed restaurants – Legends and BlueFire Grill and two championship golf courses. The entire resort, linked by walkways and washed in color by lush vegetation and gardens, enjoys a village-like ambience. For more information on La Costa Resort and Spa, call (800) 854-5000 or visit www.lacosta.com.
About KSL Resorts
Founded in 1992, KSL Resorts manages seven time-honored resorts with outstanding recreational amenities, including spa, golf, tennis and ski. Each is refined yet unpretentious, rich in legacy, and genuine in service. The KSL Resorts are:
• Hotel del Coronado (San Diego)
• Beach Village at The Del (San Diego)
• La Costa Resort and Spa (Carlsbad, Calif.)
• Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa (Rancho Mirage, Calif.)
• Vail Mountain Lodge & Spa (Vail, Colo.)
• Barton Creek Resort & Spa (Austin, Texas)
• The Homestead (Hot Springs, Va.)
For more information, call 1-866-KSL-7727 or visit KSLResorts.com.
Contact:
Mike Scanlan
LPGA
(386) 274-6275
Mike.Scanlan@lpga.com
Greg Ball
Brener Zwikel & Associates
(760) 271-9183
gregb@bzapr.com
