STRONG FOUNDATION, BRIGHT FUTURE
The JTBC Founders Cup was created as a way for the LPGA and its current players to honor the past – most notably the 13 original Founders of the LPGA who in 1950 organized the LPGA and the Pioneers who helped bring the LPGA to where it is today. Additionally through the JTBC Founders Cup, the LPGA looks to the future of the game with several Girls Golf events taking place during the week.
In the five years of the event some of the premier names in golf have captured victories including - Karrie Webb, Yani Tseng, Stacy Lewis and 2015 champion Hyo Joo Kim. Additionally, the event has helped raise more than $2 million for the LPGA-USGA Girls Golf program.
HA NA JANG COMING OFF SECOND VICTORY OF 2016
Ha Na Jang picked up her second victory in her last four starts at the HSBC Women’s Champions the last time the LPGA was in action. After recording four runner-ups in her rookie year last season, Jang said her goal in 2016 was to get two wins. She following her win in Singapore she’ll have to reevaluate her goals.
“Target in 2016 is two wins, but right now, I’m there, so going to change my target from two more wins, so very comfortable right now,” said Jang.
Jang’s eccentric personality has been on showcase so far this year and has put on some memorable celebrations in big moments. In the season-opening event in the Bahamas, Jang had the first-ever albatross on a par 4 in LPGA history and took a traditional bow to the ground and kissed the green as she approached the hole. A week later in her maiden win, she celebrated as only she could by turning her putter into a samurai sword, laughing and then immediately began to cry in the rain as her dad raced over to embrace her. After her win at the HSBC Women’s, Jang busted out a dance inspired by Beyonce’s Super Bowl performance.
“I’m watching the TV and really good music with Beyonce, and watching Beyonce, she’s really nice,” said Jang. “I try, I think about, like I’m trying to dance after my putt, it’s really good today. Yeah, single ladies. I’m single right now, too. (Laughter).”
With a pair of viral celebrations under her belt Jang leaves fans wondering - “What will Ha Na do for an encore?”
HYO JOO KIM BACK TO DEFEND
Hyo Joo Kim delivered a masterful display in Sunday’s final round of the JTBC Founders Cup, shooting a 5-under 67 to defeat Stacy Lewis by three strokes and capture her second LPGA Tour win.
Since her win in the desert last season, Kim has proven to be one of the up-and-coming stars on the LPGA Tour as she added another title to her resume at the LPGA’s 2016 opener, the PureSilk Bahamas LPGA Classic.
2016 PIONEERS ANNOUNCED
Each year, the JTBC Founders Cup celebrates “Pioneers” of the LPGA, honoring their trailblazing spirit as well as their exemplary participation in the development and advancement of the LPGA Tour and women’s golf. This year, Sandra Haynie, Shirley Englehorn and Jan Stephenson will be honored as Pioneers during the week of the event at Wildfire Golf Club in Phoenix, Arizona.
Haynie won 39 titles in her career including a stretch in her career where she won for 14 consecutive seasons starting in 1962. Her best season was 1974 when she captured a career-high six victories including wins at the U.S. Women’s Open and the LPGA Championship.
Known as “The Lady in Red”, Shirley Englehorn won a total of 11 LPGA titles and was the 1964-65 President of the LPGA. In 2015, Englehorn was inducted into the LPGA T&CP Hall of Fame.
Stephenson won 16 LPGA events including three major championships.
WEBB LOOKING FOR THIRD FOUNDERS CUP TITLE
Karrie Webb has always been one of the most ardent supporters of honoring the history of the LPGA and its 13 Founders. So it’s perfectly fitting that in 2014, she became the first two-time winner of the JTBC Founders Cup.
The LPGA and World Golf Halls of Fame member fired a tournament course-record 9-under 63 in the final round to capture a one-shot victory. Webb came from six shots back to defeat third-round leader Lydia Ko and four other players who finished at 18-under-par. The win was Webb’s 41st career LPGA Tour victory, which moved her into a tie for 10th on the LPGA’s all-time win list with Founder Babe Zaharias.
Following the victory, Webb capped off the special day by donating $50,000 of her $225,000 winner’s check - $25,000 to LPGA-USGA Girls Golf and $25,000 to “The Founders” film, a documentary that will detail the story of the LPGA’s 13 Founders.
)
)
)
)
