DONALD ROSS CLASSIC PREVIEW

FRENCH LICK, Ind. — The 14th stop on the 2019 “Road to the LPGA” takes the Symetra Tour to the Donald Ross Course at French Lick Resort in the Hoosier State for the third annual Donald Ross Classic from July 11-13.

“A beautiful Donald Ross-designed track will provide a stern test for our players,” said Mike Nichols, the Chief Business Officer of the Symetra Tour. “French Lick Resort has been an outstanding host since they first welcomed us three years ago and we are grateful for their support of women’s professional golf, both the Donald Ross Classic and Senior LPGA Championship in October.”

Greeting the 144-player field in French Lick, Ind. is a total purse of $225,000. Individuals are set to compete in a 54-hole stroke play format with a cut to the low 60 players and ties after 36 holes. The winner’s share for the event is $33,750. 

“We are thrilled to feature the next wave of LPGA Tour stars in southern Indiana,” said Dave Harner, the Director of Golf for the Donald Ross Course and tournament director. “The staff and grounds crew have everything in top shape for the event. With the third largest purse on the Symetra Tour and great course conditions, it is sure to be a fantastic week in French Lick.”

Defending champion Stephanie Kono (Honolulu, Hawaii) is not among the competitors, as she finished tied for 39th at the inaugural LPGA Q-Series to earn Priority List Category 14 status for the 2019 LPGA Tour season. The victory was one of seven top-20 results for Kono last season.  

“Getting my first win as a professional at the Donald Ross Classic was so surreal and something I will never forget,” Kono said. “To add to the feeling was the outpouring of support from the French Lick community, which really made it extra special. I want to wish the field the best of luck and make sure to get your walking shoes on with those hills of the Donald Ross Course.”

Action gets underway at 7:30 a.m. ET all three days with play starting off No. 1 and No. 10 tees in the first and second round. Meanwhile, all groups will head off No. 1 tee in twosomes for the final round with a trophy presentation to follow on No. 18 green.

ABOUT SYMETRA TOUR

The Symetra Tour is the official qualifying tour of the LPGA Tour and enters its 39th competitive season in 2019. With the support of its entitlement partner Symetra, the Tour’s mission is to prepare the world’s best young women professional golfers for a successful career on the LPGA Tour. Since Symetra’s inaugural sponsorship year in 2012, the Symetra Tour has grown from 16 tournaments and $1.7 million in prize money to $4.0 million in prize money awarded over the course of 24 events. With more than 600 alumnae moving on to the LPGA, former Symetra Tour players have won a total of 437 LPGA titles. Follow the Symetra Tour on the web at www.SymetraTour.com, Facebook.com/Road2LPGA, Twitter.com/Road2LPGA, and YouTube.com/Road2LPGA.

ABOUT SYMETRA 

Symetra Life Insurance Company is a subsidiary of Symetra Financial Corporation, a diversified financial services company based in Bellevue, Washington. In business since 1957, Symetra provides employee benefits, annuities and life insurance through a national network of benefit consultants, financial institutions and independent agents and advisors. Symetra began its partnership with the Road to the LPGA in 2010 as the title sponsor of the Symetra Classic. It secured naming rights for the Symetra Tour in November 2011. In addition to its title sponsorship of the Tour, which runs through 2021, Symetra sponsors two events on the tournament schedule—the Symetra Classic and the season-ending Symetra Tour Championship. For more information about Symetra, visit www.symetra.com.