Not only is this week’s event – the Marathon Classic Presented by Owens Corning and O-I – an example of a tournament that has stood the test of time on the LPGA Tour, but it is also a hotbed for up-and-coming players to announce their presence on a grand stage.
Through the years, the tournament has had its share of legendary champions like five-time winner and Hall of Famer Se Ri Pak, but it has also served as a proving ground for lesser-known players who also have the game to win at the highest level. Most recently, Eunjung Yi from the Republic of Korea defeated Morgan Pressel in a playoff to win the 2009 event for her first and only LPGA win to date.
Several other past champions won their first and only Tour titles at Highland Meadows Golf Club, namely Heather Bowie (2005), Joan Pitcock (1996), Kathryn Marshall (1995) and Tina Purtzer (1990). For the tournament’s first champion in 1984, Lauri Peterson, the victory was one of her three career wins, while 1985 and 1989 winner Penny Hammel recorded half of her four LPGA triumphs at the event.
This year’s tournament could easily produce a first-time winner, especially when taking the first round into account. Of the 17 players who finished the opening round 3-under or better, 11 of them are searching for their first LPGA victories, including first-round leader Ha Na Jang.
Three others – Lee-Anne Pace, Q Baek and Brittany Lang – have one win, while Sei Young Kim and Mirim Lee have two apiece. Only five-time LPGA champion Angela Stanford (-3) has more than two wins from the group, so there could be a new name added to the list of all-time Tour winners on Sunday.
There is still a great deal of golf to be played, and this week’s winner will need to put together four stellar rounds to survive the birdie barrage. In addition, steely veterans like Cristie Kerr, Brittany Lincicome, Shanshan Feng and Inbee Park are lurking close to the lead, and they likely will put pressure on the aforementioned players down the stretch.
The tournament’s champions have averaged 15-under-par the last 10 years, and that is a good target number for players to chase the next three days. With a $225,000 winner’s check up for grabs at the $1.5 million tournament, there will be plenty of motivation for everyone who is navigating the par-71 course.
Regardless of what transpires, fans can rest assured there will be plenty of drama on the closing holes on Sunday. It truly is anyone’s tournament to win at this point.
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