This Week on the LPGA Tour

Volunteers of America Classic

Old American Golf Club | The Colony, Texas | Oct. 3-6, 2019

  

MONDAY BOX

The Monday Box includes updated statistics through the Indy Women in Tech Championship driven by Group 1001 and the $1.3 million purse breakdown for the seventh edition of the Volunteers of America Classic:

https://lpga.box.com/s/j11jjd4h5rhvcth0dp99wlf7a70heexj 

TOURNAMENT FORMAT

144 players; 72 holes, stroke play; after 36 holes, the field will be cut to the top 70 and ties

PURSE

$1.3 million; winner’s portion is $195,000

AON RISK REWARD CHALLENGE HOLE

No. 17, par 5

TV TIMES (all times Eastern on Golf Channel)

Thursday, Oct. 3 – 1-4 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 4 – 1-4 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 5 – 1:30-5 p.m.

Sunday, Oct 6 – 1:30-5 p.m.

WHITELINE PAR AND YARDAGE

35-36—71, 6,475 yards (par and yardage are subject to change through the start of the tournament)

LAST FIVE CHAMPIONS AND RUNNERS-UP

2018: Sung Hyun Park, 131 (-11); Lindy Duncan, 132 (-10)

2017: Haru Nomura, 281 (-3); defeated Cristie Kerr with a birdie on sixth extra hole

2016: Jenny Shin, 270 (-14); Amy Yang and Mi Jung Hur, 272 (-12)

2015: Inbee Park, 269 (-15); Cristie Kerr and Hee Young Park, 272 (-12)

2014: Stacy Lewis, 268 (-16); Meena Lee, 274 (-10)

TOURNAMENT SCORING RECORDS

18 holes: 63 (-8), Dori Carter, second round, 2017

36 holes: 131 (-11), Sung Hyun Park, 2018

54 holes: 199 (-14), Gerina Piller, 2016

72 holes: 268 (-16), Stacy Lewis, 2014

WHO’S IN THE VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA CLASSIC FIELD

Past Champions (3)

Sung Hyun Park (2018), Jenny Shin (2016), Inbee Park (2013, 2015)

2019 LPGA Tournament Winners (11 of 19):

Celine Boutier (ISPS Handa Vic Open), Cydney Clanton (Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational), Hannah Green (KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, Cambia Portland Classic), Brooke Henderson (LOTTE Championship, Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give), Mi Jung Hur (Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open, Indy Women in Tech Championship), Eun Hee Ji (Dimond Resorts Tournament of Champions), Sei Young Kim (LPGA MEDIHEAL Championship, Marathon Classic presented by Dana), Bronte Law (Pure Silk Championship), Jeongeun Lee6 (U.S. Women’s Open), Sung Hyun Park (HSBC Women's World Championship, Walmart NW Arkansas Championship), Jasmine Suwannapura (Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational)

2019 LPGA Rookies (21 of 27):

Pajaree Anannarukarn, Sarah Burnham, Youngin Chun, Maria Fassi, Isi Gabsa, Kristen Gillman, Clariss Guce, Cheyenne Knight, Jennifer Kupcho, Jeongeun Lee6, Ruixin Liu, Louise Ridderstrom, Sarah Schmelzel, Klara

Spilkova, Lauren Stephenson, Linnea Strom, Elizabeth Szokol, Charlotte Thomas, Alana Uriell, Anne van Dam, Suzuka Yamaguchi

Texas Connections:

Texas Residents - Celine Boutier, Kristen Gillman (Austin), Mi Jung Hur, Kim Kaufman (Fort Worth), In-Kyung Kim, Sei Young Kim, Cheyenne Knight (The Woodlands), Brittany Lang (McKinney), Mirim Lee, Su Oh, Gerina Piller (Flower Mound), Angela Stanford (Fort Worth), Jin Yang

Texas Collegiate Alumnae – Kim Kaufman (Texas Tech University, 2013), Gerina Piller (University of Texas at El Paso, 2007), Angela Stanford (Texas Christian University, 2000)

Monday Qualifiers:

Https://qs.lpga.com

STATS TO KNOW (Through July 1)

2019 STATISTICAL LEADERS

Official Money: Jin Young Ko, $2,638,412

Scoring Average: Jin Young Ko, 68.851

Greens in Regulation: Jin Young Ko, 79.9%

Eagles: Ariya Jutanugarn and Carlota Ciganda, 17

Birdies: Ariya Jutanugarn, 329

Holes-in-one: 22 players, 1

2019 AWARD LEADERS

Rolex Player of the Year: Jin Young Ko, 237

Race to the CME Globe: Jin Young Ko, 3,988

Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year: Jeongeun Lee6, 1,217

Rolex ANNIKA Major Award: Jin Young Ko, 120 (won)

2019 WINS BY COUNTRY (26 tournaments, nine countries)

13 – Republic of Korea (Mi Jung Hur (2), Eun-Hee Ji, Sei Young Kim (2), Jin Young Ko* (4), Jeongeun Lee6*, Sung Hyun Park (2), Amy Yang)

3 – United States (Cydney Clanton, Nelly Korda, Lexi Thompson)

3 – Australia (Hannah Green*, Minjee Lee)

2 – Canada (Brooke Henderson (2))

2 – Japan (Nasa Hataoka, Hinako Shibuno*)

1 – China (Shanshan Feng)

1 – England (Bronte Law)

1 – France (Celine Boutier)

1 – Thailand (Jasmine Suwannapura)

* = major champion

2019 WINS BY PLAYER (26 tournaments, 19 players)

4 – Jin Young Ko (Bank of Hope Founders Cup, ANA Inspiration, The Evian Championship, CP Women’s Open)

1 – Hannah Green (KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, Cambia Portland Classic)

2 – Brooke Henderson (LOTTE Championship, Meijer LPGA Classic)

2 – Sei Young Kim (LPGA MEDIHEAL Championship, Marathon Classic presented by Dana)

2 – Mi Jung Hur  (Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open, Indy Women in Tech Championship driven by Group 1001)

2 – Sung Hyun Park (HSBC Women’s World Championship, Walmart NW Arkansas Championship presented by P&G)

1 – Celine Boutier (ISPS Handa Vic Open)

1 – Cydney Clanton (Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational)

1 – Shanshan Feng (Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic)

1 – Nasa Hataoka (Kia Classic)

1 – Eun-Hee Ji (Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions)

1 – Nelly Korda (ISPS Handa Women's Australian Open)

1 – Bronte Law (Pure Silk Championship)

1 – Minjee Lee (HUGEL-AIR PREMIA LA Open)

1 – Jeongeun Lee6 (U.S. Women’s Open)

1 – Hinako Shibuno (AIG Women’s British Open)

1 – Jasmine Suwannapura (Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational)

1 – Lexi Thompson (ShopRite LPGA Classic)

1 – Amy Yang (Honda LPGA Thailand) 

ROLEX FIRST-TIME WINNERS (5)

Celine Boutier, Cydney Clanton, Hannah Green, Bronte Law, Jeongeun Lee6

Average age of winners in 2019: 24.56

Youngest winner: Nasa Hataoka, 20 years, 2 months, 18 days

Oldest winner: Eun-Hee Ji, 32 years, 8 months, 7 days

AON RISK REWARD CHALLENGE

1 – Lee-Anne Pace (-.792)

2 – Carlota Ciganda (-.775)

2 – Ariya Jutanugarn (-.773)

LEADERS TOP 10 COMPETITION

T1 – Brooke Henderson, Jin Young Ko, Hyo Joo Kim (10)

T4 – Ariya Jutanugarn, Nelly Korda, Jeongeun Lee6 (9)

Symetra Tour Championship

Jones Course at LPGA International | Daytona Beach, Fla. | October 3-6

Storylines

September 30, 2019

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — The 23rd and final stop on the 2019 “Road to the LPGA” takes the Symetra Tour to the Jones Course at LPGA International in the Sunshine State for the 12th annual Symetra Tour Championship from October 3-6. It is also the last tournament in the Million Dollar March, the stretch of five events to end the season with a cumulative purse of $1 million.

Greeting the 108-player field in Daytona Beach is a total purse of $250,000. Individuals are set to compete in a 72-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 $37,500.

Defending champion Ruixin Liu (Dalian, China) is not among the competitors, as she finished No. 1 in the 2018 Volvik Race for the Card to earn Symetra Tour Player of the Year. The victory on the Atlantic coast of Florida was Liu’s third in her sophomore season on the “Road to the LPGA” and one of 12 top-25s.

Action gets underway at 8:00 a.m. ET all four days with play starting off No. 1 and No. 10 tees for each round.

COLLEGE TIES RUN DEEP AT FINAL STOP
A total of five Florida institutions for higher education are featured among competition teeing it up in the Symetra Tour Championship with several names to keep an eye on once the event starts Thursday.

Florida Institute of Technology and Florida International University each have one lone representative in Daniela Iacobelli (Melbourne, Florida) and Paula Hurtado-Restrepo (Medellin, Colombia), respectively.

Meanwhile, Florida State University, the University of Florida and University Miami (FL) lead the way with two apiece in Kim Metraux (Lausanne, Switzerland), Matilda Castren (Helsinki, Finland), Samantha Wagner (Windermere, Florida), Karolina Vlckova (Kladno, Czech Republic), Delfina Acosta (Comandante Nicanor Otamendi, Argentina) and Dewi Weber (Groningen, Netherlands), respectively.

“Wearing the Blue and Orange is always a special feeling, and being able to do so as a professional in the state that means so much to me is even more awesome,” said Vlckova, a two-time All-SEC Second Team performer during her time in Gainesville. “I just hope to continue working as hard as my coaches taught me to and make them proud. UF will forever be my second home, the place that helped shape me into the person and player I am today.”

COUNTRIES (AND STATES) OF THE SYMETRA TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP

A total of 31 countries are represented this week at the Symetra Tour Championship, led by the United States with 54 players then followed by the Republic of Korea having the next highest of six competitors.

“Every week on the Symetra Tour means a lot because we are chasing our dream of the LPGA Tour, but there’s also many nationalities that come together all for the same goal and that is cool,” said Kelly Tan (Batu Pahat, Malaysia), one of 15 tournament winners on the season. “I’m thankful to have outstanding support from family and friends back home, which has helped me reach this point in my pro career. It is awesome to see the different flags flying during each event, especially Malaysia.”

Individuals from 19 different states are also set to tee it up on the Jones Course at LPGA International. Seven players hail from the host state, while California boasts the most with 10. 

“As a native of the Sunshine State, there’s nothing better than returning to the region that I grew up in and only now competing on an even bigger stage,” said August Kim (St. Augustine, Florida), the Symetra Tour professional in closest proximity to her hometown. “I love Florida, am used to the courses and all Bermuda grass having played and practiced here since my high school days. It’ll be a fun week, especially knowing it is not far from home and family can come watch.”
 

ROOKIES APLENTY IN THE SUNSHINE STATE

Numerous professionals in their first year on the Symetra Tour have made the trek to Volusia County, as 27 rookies are in the field and eager for the 23rd event of the Symetra Tour season.

Among them is Robyn Choi (Gold Coast, Australia). Named to the All-Pac 12 First Team as a sophomore for the University of Colorado in 2018, Choi finished tied for 45th at the inaugural LPGA Q-Series to earn Priority List Category 14 status for the 2019 LPGA campaign. Between 12 starts on the big stage and also eight on the Symetra Tour, she owns a season-best tied for 18th at the IOA Golf Classic.

“My rookie year has been challenging, but fun,” Choi said. “I’ve learned so much along the way and it is so different from the college experience I had at the University of Colorado. The time I spent in Boulder undoubtedly prepared me and I couldn’t be more appreciative of the opportunities there. I have been able to improve my game and improve in many aspects, while enjoying travel and seeing new places.”
 

VOLVIK RACE FOR THE CARD UPDATE

The Symetra Tour annually awards LPGA Tour membership to the top players on the Volvik Race for the Card money list at the end of the season and will usher in the next graduating class on Sunday once the Symetra Tour Championship concludes to cap 23 events on the 2019 calendar.

With 22 tournaments in the books, the top-10 underwent some shifting following the sixth annual IOA Golf Classic. All 10 members of the group are in Daytona Beach including Robynn Ree (Redondo Beach, California), currently ranked No. 7 with $86,657 earned across 18 starts.

“It all comes down to this to finally decide who will be on the LPGA Tour next year,” said Ree, one of five two-time winners on the Symetra Tour this season. “There have been incredible, historic numbers for all in the top-10 right now and it will only get crazier. I’m focused on making the cut and taking advantage of the event being four days by steadily working my way up the leaderboard. All I need is a good finish to see my dreams come true.”

From 1999-2002, the official qualifying tour of the LPGA handed out three cards. Then from 2003-2007, that number increased to five before 10 were distributed starting in 2008. Since the inaugural year, a total of 147 players have graduated to the big stage.

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 23 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.

Sammy Ventura Voted 2019 PBA50 Dick Weber Sportsmanship Award Winner

CHICAGO (Sept. 30, 2019) – Nine-year PBA50 Tour veteran Sammy Ventura of Syracuse, New York, has been named the 2019 PBA50 Dick Weber Sportsmanship Award winner as voted on by his fellow competitors on PBA’s tour for players 50 and over.

“It’s an award you always hope to receive not only because it’s voted on by your peers but because of the person it’s named after,” the 61-year-old Ventura said. “I think my intense passion for the sport helps keep my attitude positive and that’s what everyone sees. When you’re fortunate enough to compete at the highest level against great bowlers, how could you not enjoy that experience?”

On the competitive side, the 2019 season was arguably Ventura’s best with two runner-up finishes that matched his career high on the PBA50 Tour.

“The guys (on tour) keep telling me I’m like a fine wine getting better with age,” said Ventura, who finished second in the PBA50 Johnny Petraglia BVL Open and PBA50 South Shore Open. “I’ve had a tendency to throw the ball too hard but within the last year or so my ball speed and rev rate have started to match up better which has resulted in more strikes.

“I’m confident as ever and still determined to win,” the 11-time PBA50 Regional winner added. “The game evolves so you have to be able to learn from your experiences and make the changes to get better.”

The PBA50 Dick Weber Sportsmanship Award is named in honor of the PBA legend who won 30 PBA Tour and six PBA50 Tour titles during his Hall of Fame career and was considered one of the sport’s greatest ambassadors. 

Other 2019 PBA50 Tour award winners were Walter Ray Williams Jr., who won his third PBA50 Player of the Year honor; Eugene McCune, Rookie of the Year, and Ron Mohr who won his fourth consecutive PBA60 Player of the Year award. Recipients will be presented their awards at the 2020 Senior U.S. Open in Las Vegas.

PBA50 DICK WEBER SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD WINNERS

2019 – Sammy Ventura

2018 – Chris Keane

2017 – Ted Staikoff

2016 – Kerry Fulford

2015 - Tom Carter

2014 - Chris Keane

2013 - Robert Harvey

2012 - Dave Soutar

2011 - Ray Randall

2010 - Robert Harvey

2009 - Larry Graybeal

2008 - Fred Baldwin

IOA Golf Classic

Alaqua Country Club | Longwood, Fla. | September 27-29

Final Round Notes

September 29, 2019

Course Setup: 35-36—71; 6,170 yards (R3 scoring average: 72.000)

Quick Links:

LEADERBOARD
	Player	To Par	Score
1	Marta Sanz Barrio	-13	64-67-69
2	Mind Muangkhumsakul	-12	65-69-67
3	Lisa Pettersson	-8	66-67-72
4	Sophia Popov	-7	64-68-74

SANZ BARRIO CAPTURES WIRE-TO-WIRE VICTORY
After sharing the 18-hole advantage at Alaqua Country Club, Marta Sanz Barrio (Madrid, Spain) never looked back. She converted par on No. 18 this afternoon to cap a 2-under par 69 final round and secure a wire-to-wire victory in the sixth annual IOA Golf Classic for her second career win on the Symetra Tour.

“It is extremely sweet and I’m really happy with the win, needed it for a chance to make the top-10 this year,” said Sanz Barrio, who climbs 14 spots to No. 13 in the Volvik Race for the Card and is just $14,663 out of the mix. “I feel that my game is the best it has been all season, so I’m ready to keep fighting and hopefully get into the group.”
 

The fourth time truly was the charm, as the IOA Golf Classic marked Sanz Barrio’s fourth appearance in a final pairing this year. Furthermore, the path was a little different from her first title on the “Road to the LPGA” at the 2018 FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship when she came back from two shots behind.

“It is definitely really exciting and I’m proud of myself, especially since I’ve struggled to hold a lead all year,” Sanz Barrio said. “I’m really glad I learned from the previous experiences and held on. It does get into your head, from all afternoon yesterday to all today thinking about who is going to catch me. You try and play your game, but being the one that everybody is chasing makes it satisfying to pull through.”

MIND OVER MATTER, MUANGKHUMSAKUL ENDS RUNNER-UP

A final round 4-under par 67 left Mind Muangkhumsakul (Banphai, Thailand) one stroke short of the IOA Golf Classic crown at 12-under overall. Nonetheless, the 20-year-old earned a third runner-up finish in 2019.

To begin the day, Muangkhumsakul found three straight birdies to tie the lead at 11-under par. From there, she bounced back and forth between the lead, a share of the lead and right in the hunt. However, a bogey on the par-3 18th ended hope of raising a trophy in central Florida.

“Today and all week, I’m happy with my game,” said Muangkhumsakul, who moves up two spots in the Volvik Race for the Card and is now No. 10. “On the first three holes, I made birdie to give me a lot of confidence right from the start. I have to do my best and work very hard for the last tournament. I will be ready and can hopefully keep this spot.”

VOLVIK RACE FOR THE CARD STANDINGS AFTER WEEK TWENTY-TWO

Following the 22nd tournament of the 2019 Symetra Tour season, the Volvik Race for the Card welcomes a fresh top-10.

The victory and $26,250 winner’s check move Sanz Barrio up 14 spots to No. 13 with $66,383 earned in 20 total starts this season. Here is a look at the current top-10 heading into the 12th annual Symetra Tour Championship on the Jones Course at LPGA International in Daytona Beach, Fla. from October 3-6:

1. Perrine Delacour (Paris, France) - $121,181
2. Patty Tavatanakit (Bangkok, Thailand) - $116,340

3. Ssu-Chia Cheng (Taipei, Chinese Taipei) - $97,325
4. Jillian Hollis (Rocky River, Ohio) - $96,959
5. Leona Maguire (County Cavan, Ireland) - $90,610
6. Julieta Granada (Asuncion, Paraguay) - $88,848

7. Robynn Ree (Redondo Beach, California) - $86,657
8. Jenny Coleman (Rolling Hills Estates, California) - $83,801
9. Esther Lee (Los Alamitos, California) - $81,865
10. Mind Muangkhumsakul - $81,046

NOTABLE QUOTES
Lisa Pettersson (-8, 3rd) on how she ended the IOA Golf Classic:
“It was fun, I was a little nervous and the wind picked up today so it got a lot harder to get closer to the pins. Also shifted in different directions a lot, which made it difficult. I don’t feel like I played that good, but am really happy that I didn’t drop. It didn’t seem like I was in the run for that long. I’m really happy and after the front nine, I had to make a run if I wanted to win. I was able to hold on and stick with it.”
 

Sophia Popov (-7, 4th) on recording a final round 3-over par 74:
“Obviously, disappointed about how it went today. My game is in a really great spot, though. I just have to catch a couple good breaks in order to get a win. Some things here and there to work on for Symetra Tour Championship next week, but looking forward to competing again and hopefully getting myself in contention again. At the end of the day, four straight top-10s isn’t all that bad.”

Perrine Delacour (-6, T5) on playing with Patty Tavatanakit as they both chase Player of the Year honors:
“It was nice, always great to play with her because she’s a nice girl. I enjoyed it. I had a rough start and then finally made some birdies, she was too. We finished at the same score and it was a good round. In my head, I am still thinking about the Player of the Year. Next week is the time to prove myself that I am the one deserving of it. No matter what, it has been a good year to be top-10 and get another top-10.” 

PLAYER NOTES
Marta Sanz Barrio

• Sanz Barrio, 27, is from Madrid, Spain
• Three-time All-SEC Second Team selection for Auburn University was also named to the 2011 SEC All-Freshman Team 
• Won the 2014 Ingaro Ladies Open on the Ladies European Tour (LET) Access Series
• Finished T43 at the Final Stage of the 2014 LPGA Qualifying Tournament to earn Priority List Category 17 status for the 2015 LPGA Tour season
• Ladies European Tour (LET) member with more than 40 career starts, including a career-best showing of T6 at the 2015 ISPS Handa New Zealand Women’s Open
• Represented native country at the 2018 Mediterranean Games, leading Spain to the team title and capturing individual gold medalist honors
• Total of 34 career starts on the Symetra Tour entering 2019 and became a first-time champion at the 2018 FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship at Battle Creek Country Club
• Really big soccer fan and especially huge supporter of Real Madrid CF

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 23 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.