FRENCH LICK, IN – As an Indiana University alum, LPGA veteran Michele Redman admits it’s a sentimental journey whenever she returns to the Hoosier State.
“Indiana is kind of like a second home to me because I basically grew up there,” said Redman, a two-time All-American on the Indiana women’s golf team who won four college tournaments and was the 1987 Big Ten Conference champion. “I lived there for five years while I was going to Indiana, and I always love going back.”
Redman will be one of 50 Legends Tour players who will compete Aug. 19-21, at The Legends Championship presented by Old National Bank.
The Legends Tour will return to the Pete Dye Course at French Lick Resort in French Lick, Indiana this summer for the fourth year.
“It’s a tough golf course and you have to hit the ball well to play well,” said Redman, who recorded two wins during her 18 years on the LPGA Tour and competed on four U.S. Solheim Cup teams. “You really have to be on your game at French Lick because the course is hilly, so sometimes it’s hard to figure out which way the greens are sloping, making them difficult to read.”
Redman made her mark while at Indiana, finishing her college career as a four-time All-Big Ten Conference player. She also helped the Hoosiers win two Big Ten Conference titles and is a member of the Indiana University Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame and the National Golf Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
Since retiring from the LPGA Tour, she joined The Legends Tour in 2011, where she has won twice and posted 10 top-10 finishes in 14 events. Redman hopes her familiarity with the Indiana terrain and her love of the area will translate into a winning recipe at French Lick.
“I think that Indiana people and people in French Lick, in particular, are very welcoming to us, so going back there is a lot of fun,” added Redman, who recently completed her fifth year as the head women’s golf coach at the University of Minnesota. “They really know how to run events there and each year, there are people who play in the pro-am whom I have known for many years.”
In addition to The Legends Tour field, eight Legends Honors division players (age 63 and over) will compete in the 36-hole event. Local qualifiers will be announced at a future date.
The Legends Championship will offer a tournament purse of $325,000, awarding $37,700 to the winner. The Legends Honors event will compete for a separate purse.
The event’s pro-am tournament will be held Friday, Aug. 19, followed by the annual Legends Tour Hall of Fame induction dinner.
Tickets will be $15 for adults, with youth 13 and under, as well as active military with ID admitted free. Tickets will be valid for both rounds of the championship with 100 percent of all proceeds benefiting Riley Children’s Hospital. To purchase tickets, visit ticketmaster.com.
For more information on The Legends Tour, visit www.thelegendstour.com.
About The Legends Tour
The Legends Tour is the official senior tour of the LPGA. The tour began in 2000 by LPGA professionals to showcase the talents of some of the greatest women’s golfers of all time. The Legends Tour has more than 120 members, including 14 LPGA and World Golf Hall of Fame members. Legends Tour players have over 750 combined LPGA Tour victories, including 84 major championships. In its 16th season, The Legends Tour has awarded more than $13 million in prize money and helped raise over $17 million for charity. The Legends Tour has hosted events in Arizona, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Mississippi, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Japan and Australia. For additional information on The Legends Tour, log on to www.thelegendstour.com.
About French Lick Resort
French Lick Resort is a $600 million historic restoration and casino development spread dramatically across 3,000 scenic acres. It encompasses both the French Lick Springs Hotel and the West Baden Springs Hotel, which have been fully restored to their original sophistication and luxury, combine for 689 rooms and are located about one mile apart. The casino, built adjacent to the French Lick Springs Hotel, opened in 2006. West Baden Springs, with its spectacular massive dome, opened in 2007 after having not been used for its original luxurious purpose since 1932. Other facilities and amenities at this world-class golf resort destination include two spas with a 36 treatment rooms (they continue to offer the Pluto Mineral Springs bath), over 51,000 square feet of gaming space, 165,000 square feet of meeting space and a variety of dining and entertainment options. Free shuttle buses serve golfers and visitors from around the world. Visit www.frenchlick.com
Contact:
Legends Tour
Sue Fracker
(617) 513-4716
sfracker@jbcgolf.com
French Lick Resort
Dyan Welsh Duncan
(812) 936-5926
dduncan@frenchlick.com
Fusion Media Strategies
Kevin Frisch
(989) 614-0241
kevin@fusionmediastrategies.com
