BOSTON, Aug. 10, 2012 – The Legends Tour returns to Michigan this week for its sixth annual event in the Wolverine State. Making her inaugural appearance in the Wendy’s Charity Challenge presented by Aveeno will be LPGA and World Golf Hall of Famer Nancy Lopez.
Lopez and the Legends Tour, the LPGA’s official tour for professionals age 45 and over, will kick off play at noon on Sunday, Aug. 12, at the Country Club of Jackson in Jackson, Mich.
“I still love competing and I’m looking forward to returning to Michigan, where I played for many years on the LPGA Tour,” said Lopez, a 48-time LPGA tournament winner.
Fellow LPGA Hall of Famer Pat Bradley also will be in the field, while Donna Caponi, a Detroit native and member of the LPGA and World Golf Halls of Fame, will be making her first appearance at the event.
In addition, defending champion Lorie Kane of Canada, will return to Michigan this week hoping to defend her title. Kane is also a current LPGA Tour member, where she has won four tournaments.
The 18-hole professional tournament will be hosted by Michigan native and Legends Tour President Elaine Crosby and will feature a purse of $100,000.
One of eight tournaments on the Legends Tour, this year’s event will feature a Sunday professional tournament with 25 Legends players, followed by a Monday pro-am presented by Coca-Cola that will pair 25 Legends pros with 100 amateurs.
The Wendy’s Charity Challenge has raised more than $1.65 million for Wendy’s Wonderful Kids and the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption since 1999.
Past champions Rosie Jones (2007) and Michigan native Cindy Figg-Currier, a two-time winner at the event (2008, 2010), also will return for this week’s tournament.
Other top players in the field will include Australia’s Jan Stephenson, as well as Midwest natives Barb Mucha (Ohio), Sherri Steinhauer (Wisconsin) and Nancy Scranton (Illinois) – all former LPGA Tour winners. Former LPGA member and Michigan State University player Sue Ertl of Wisconsin is also in the field.
Tickets are $10 each day, with kids 17 and under admitted free. All military personnel are also admitted free with a current ID.
Advance tickets also may be purchased by visiting www.thelegendstour.com/tickets.