(HARRIS, Mich.) Thailand’s Sherman Santiwiwatthanaphong – winner of the Island Resort Championship in June – is one of the top 10 finishers on the Symetra Tour’s “Volvik Race for the Card” money list this season and will play full-time on the LPGA Tour in 2017.
“I’m excited to play on the LPGA Tour because I’ve never played on [it] for a whole year,” Santiwiwatthanaphong said upon securing her coveted playing status for next season after the Symetra Tour Championship at Alaqua Country Club on Sunday, Oct. 16.
This was the 19-year-old’s first full season on the Symetra Tour as she missed three months of the 2015 season due to visa issues. Santiwiwatthanaphong’s victory at the 2016 Island Resort Championship was the second win of her young career.
“Everyone at Island Resort and Casino, Sweetgrass Golf Club and the many volunteers and fans who support our Symetra Tour event are thrilled for Sherman Santiwiwatthanaphong,” said Tony Mancilla, Island Resort & Casino general manager and event co-chair. “This is the second year in a row that the winner of the Island Resort Championship has earned status on the LPGA Tour at season’s end. We can’t wait to see if next year’s winner continues the streak. We’re already looking forward to 2017, our seventh consecutive year hosting the event.”
Last year’s IRC winner, Dani Holmqvist of Sweden, earned her LPGA Tour card.
Island Resort Championship has consistently ranked as a Symetra Tour player favorite on end-of-season surveys. All proceeds from the tournament go to local non-profit organizations.
The Island Resort Championship is part of the Potawatomi Cup, a collection of four Symetra Tour events sponsored by Potawatomi nation tribes, which awards cash bonuses to players based off performance in the four tournaments.
For more information visit www.sweetgrassgolfclub.com, or call 877-ISL-GREEN.
About the Championship
Welcoming the world’s brightest new talent in women’s professional golf, the Island Resort Championship at Sweetgrass is a Symetra Tour – Road to the LPGA event held at Sweetgrass Golf Club in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The 54-hole stroke-play event was last held June 24-26, 2016. Located in Harris, Michigan, Sweetgrass Golf Club was designed by Michigander Paul Albanese and is situated at the Island Resort and Casino. Both course and resort are owned/operated by the Hannahville Indian Community of the Potawatomi Nation.
About the Symetra Tour
The Symetra Tour – Road to the LPGA, is the official Qualifying Tour for the LPGA and completed its 36th competitive season in 2016. With the continued support of its umbrella sponsor, Symetra, the Tour’s mission is to prepare the world’s best young women professional golfers for a successful career on the LPGA Tour. Top-10 money winners receive full, equal status for the following season on the LPGA Tour.
Symetra Tour events have contributed more than $5 million to charitable organizations throughout the nation since 1989.
For more information: www.SymetraTour.com
Contact:
Kira Jones, Buffalo.Agency
703.940.3599, kjones@buffalo.agency
Dan Shepherd, Buffalo.Agency
703.891.3320, dshepherd@buffalo.agency
