|
|
|
|
|
Untitled Document
Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic Presented by Kroger celebrates 25 years on LPGA Tour
Paula 'Pink Panther' Creamer will fight to be second back-to-back winner after Pak
 SYLVANIA, Ohio - One of the LPGA's rising stars in Paula Creamer made one of the Tour's longest-running events her seventh LPGA career victory last year after a career-low 60 in the opening round gave her the momentum to win the 2008 Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic Presented by Kroger. Creamer - looking to overcome an injury that forced her out of competition last week - plays best when she is not feeling well and is sure to be a contender for the title at the 25th Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic Presented by Kroger and the $210,000 winner's check.
In the event's 25-year history, there have been 18 different champions, but only one has won back-to-back: LPGA Tour and World Golf Halls of Famer Se Ri Pak. Of Pak's 24 career LPGA victories, five have been at Highland Meadows Golf Club (1998, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2007). She is currently tied with Annika Sorenstam (Mizuno Classic, Samsung World Championship) and Mickey Wright (Sea Island Open) as the only players in LPGA history to win the same event five times. A win this week would be historic as she could be the only player to win the same event six times - and it would be her 25th career LPGA victory on the tournament's 25th anniversary.
 Although one of South Korea's next protégé's - Jiyai Shin - has the potential to be the next winner. After her win last week at the Wegmans LPGA - her second of the year and fifth on the LPGA Tour - the rookie has now crossed $1 million in season and official career LPGA earnings, leads the LPGA Official Money List, Rolex Player of the Year race and Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year race. Shin is on track to become the only player since Nancy Lopez in 1978 to win both Rolex Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year honors in the same season.
Boosting the purse to $1.4 million this season, as well as owning a position on the LPGA Tour schedule the week before the season's third major championship - the U.S. Women's Open - means this week's field will be one of the strongest of the season with only 14th-ranked Karrie Webb absent from the top-20 on the LPGA Official Money List. Adding to the excitement is the fact that the Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic Presented by Kroger will once again serve as the U.S.-based qualifier for the RICOH Women's British Open. LPGA members who have registered for the final major championship of the year, but are not already in the field, will have a chance to play for a berth. The top-five players after 36 holes not already qualified will earn entry into the 2009 RICOH Women's British Open July 30 to Aug. 2.
Finally, after making her LPGA Tour professional debut last week with a tie for 32nd, Duke University's Amanda Blumenherst will compete this week. Blumenherst carded rounds of 70-71-79-66 for a 2-under-par 286 cumulative performance. She has also competed in two events on the Duramed FUTURES Tour this season with a season-best tie for eighth at The Duramed Championship in Mason, Ohio - just three hours south of Highland Meadows Golf Club.
|
|