Broadcast Team Features Cara Banks (Play-By-Play), Judy Rankin and Paige Mackenzie (Analysts), and Karen Stupples and Kay Cockerill (On-Course Reporters)
First-Ever All-Women Golf Broadcast in U.S. Television History, Led by Producer Beth Hutter
STAMFORD, Conn. – NBC Sports will utilize an all-women broadcast team to call the ShopRite LPGA Classic at the Bay Course at Seaview in Galloway, N.J., on October 1-3 on GOLF Channel, marking the first-ever all-women golf broadcast team in U.S. television history.
The commentary team will feature Cara Banks handling play-by-play duties, alongside analysts Judy Rankin and Paige Mackenzie and on-course reporters Karen Stupples and Kay Cockerill.
Tournament coverage will be produced by long-time NBC Sports and GOLF Channel producer Beth Hutter. Hutter has produced LPGA coverage for more than 15 years and recently made history as the first woman to produce the U.S. Women’s Open at Olympic Club and women’s golf coverage at the Tokyo Olympics.
“We’re thrilled to assemble this incredibly accomplished group of women for our broadcast of the ShopRite LPGA Classic on GOLF Channel,” said Molly Solomon, executive producer for NBC Olympics and GOLF Channel, and the first woman to serve in that role for a national sports network. “Our NBC Sports team features talented women at all levels – both on-camera and behind-the-scenes – who are essential to making our coverage a success on every platform, and we’re honored to celebrate their work as part of this broadcast.”
NBC Sports made history in March 2020 with the first all-women broadcast for an NHL game. Earlier this year, NBC Sports producer Rene Hatlelid became the first woman to produce the Indianapolis 500 – “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” – on NBC, and Lindsay Schanzer became the first woman to produce a Triple Crown race, leading NBC Sports’ productions of the Preakness and Belmont Stakes on NBC.
NBC Sports is producing more than 500 hours of women’s golf coverage in 2021, the most hours and events ever dedicated to the women’s game in a single year.
Jamie Palatini
203-356-2791
jamie.palatini@nbcuni.com
