TEXAS RESHUFFLE
The first reshuffle of the 2018 LPGA Tour season will happen after the conclusion of the Volunteers of America LPGA Texas Classic. Following this week, Members in categories 16 through 21 who have earned official money will be re-seeded into Category 15. Members placed into Category 15 will be ranked in the order of their position on the current year’s Money List through Volunteers of America LPGA Texas Classic. Members will remain in this category until the next reshuffle after the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship presented by P&G. Click here to view current LPGA priority list.
Freshman in High School and a Horned Frog Claim Exemptions into Volunteers of America LPGA Texas Classic
Meagan Winans, a freshman at Plano East High School and Annika Clark, a junior at Texas Christian University (TCU), played their way through a field of 50 in the HS/College Qualifier to claim their exemptions into the tournament. In addition to Winans and Clark, Chirapat Jao-Javanil was also awarded a spot by winning the 2017 Texas Women’s Open.
On Monday, March 26, Winans finished with the lowest score of 73, while Clark tied for second at 74 along with Alexa Pano and Sara Camarena. Clark was able to clench the second exemption by winning on the second hole of a sudden death playoff.
Last July at the 2017 Texas Women’s Open Jao-Javanil shot five under par to give herself a one shot victory over the 2016 champion Savannah Vilaubi.
On Monday at nearby Hurricane Creek Country Club 38 players vied for the final two spots in the field, with Hannah Arnold and amateur Kennedy Pedigo coming out on top.
TEXAS IS LAP 11 IN RACE TO THE CME GLOBE
The 2018 Volunteers of America LPGA Texas Classic, marks the eleventh lap of the 2018 Race to the CME Globe. With her win at the Bank of Hope Founder’s Cup and four additional top-10 finishes, Inbee Park has the lead in the Race to CME Globe with 1,498 points. HUGEL-JTBC LA Open winner Moriya Jutanugarn is close behind Park with 1,249 points.
Throughout the season’s 33 official events, LPGA Members will battle for position, with the top 12 players after the Blue Bay LPGA heading into the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship with the opportunity to take home a $1 million bonus, the biggest prize in women’s golf.
All tournaments have the same point values except for the five major championships, which carry 25 percent more value; there are 625 points up for grabs this week at the ANA Inspiration. For all events with a cut, points are awarded to members who make the cut, while for events without a cut, points are awarded to members who finish in the top 40 and ties.
Points will be reset for the CME Group Tour Championship following the Blue Bay LPGA, with the top 72 LPGA Members, as well as any non-Member winners and alternates, seeded into the championship field. For the top five players, it’s easy – win the CME Group Tour Championship and take home $1 million. However, the top 12 in the points race all have a mathematical chance to take the title of Race to the CME Globe Champion and win the coveted check.
In 2017, Lexi Thompson became the first American winner of the Race to the CME Globe and the accompanying $1 million prize. She joined Lydia Ko (2014, 2015) and Ariya Jutanugarn (2016) as the only players to hoist the crystal trophy.
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT: VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA
Volunteers of America is a national, nonprofit, faith-based organization dedicated to helping those in need rebuild their lives and reach their full potential. Our work touches the mind, body, heart – and ultimately the spirit – of those we serve, integrating our deep compassion with highly effective programs and services. Through hundreds of human service programs, including housing and healthcare, Volunteers of America helps approximately 1.4 million people in over 400 communities.
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