Kia Classic
Aviara Golf Club
Carlsbad, California
March 23-29, 2015

TOP STORYLINES

KIA CLASSIC RETURNS TO AVIARA
The LPGA continues its West Coast swing as it returns to the Aviara Golf Club during this week’s Kia Classic.

This is the sixth year of the Kia Classic and the third consecutive season it has been held at the Aviara Golf Club. In 2014, Anna Nordqvist claimed her fourth career LPGA win after carding consecutive 67’s over the final two rounds to defeat Lizette Salas by a stroke.

The gates open for competition rounds at 7 a.m. and the tournament will be broadcast live on the Golf Channel. For tickets or information, visit kiaclassic.com.

KOREAN RUN
Since Na Yeon Choi captured the season-opening event in Ocala, Korean golfers have been the story of the Tour with Sei Young Kim (PureSilk Bahamas LPGA Classic), Amy Yang (Honda LPGA Thailand) and Inbee Park (HSBC Women’s Champions) and Hyo Joo Kim (JTBC Founders Cup) taking home titles. The only player to win so far this season who doesn’t compete under the South Korean flag is Rolex Rankings No. 1 Lydia Ko (ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open) although she was also born in Seoul, South Korea before moving to New Zealand.

IMPRESSIVE GROUP OF ROOKIES
The 2015 LPGA rookie class, which arguably is one of the most talented in history, have so far lived up the hype through six events. Specifically, the players currently ranked within the top-5 of the Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year standings have performed even better than most expected. Sei Young Kim, winner of the Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic ranks third in the Rolex Player of the Year standings.

Cumulatively they have two wins, eight additional top-10 finishes and a total of 16 top 25 finishes through the first six tournaments combined. 20 of the 32 LPGA rookies are in the field this week looking to extend that streak. Visit lpga.com/news/2015-rookies-class for a complete list of 2015 rookies.

Below are the Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year as of March 23.

RANK	PLAYER	POINTS
1	SEI YOUNG KIM	315
2	ARIYA JUTANUGARN	283
3	HYO JOO KIM	233
4	HA NA JANG	198
5	MINJEE LEE	148

LEWIS CONTENDS AGAIN
Stacy Lewis’ name is no unfamiliar sight near the top of LPGA leaderboards but the world No. 3 player would like to see it at the very top more often. Lewis, who finished runner-up to Hyo Joo Kim last week in Phoenix, has eight runner-up finishes in her last 33 starts dating back to the season-opening Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic last year. The second-place finish was her second of the year after she T2 in Thailand during the Asian swing.

And it’s not that Lewis gives up on Sundays. She gave Kim counterpunches in every which way in the final-round battle including four birdies in a five-hole stretch on the back nine.

“Just that I fought like crazy,” said Lewis. “That back nine was pretty cool, the way we made birdies back and forth and on top of each other.”

Lewis is known as one of the grittiest players on Tour and it’d be no surprise to see her break into the winner’s circle more often than runner-up.

“Really, the way I played on the front, to think I could still be within a shot coming up those last few holes was pretty amazing,” said Lewis. “I’m proud of the way I hung in there.”

LPGA NOMINATED AS SPORTS LEAGUE OF THE YEAR
The LPGA was announced as one of the five finalists for the Sports Business Journal/Daily Sports League of the Year award category for the Sports Business Awards. Joining the LPGA as the other leagues nominated for the Sports League of the Year award are NASCAR, Major League Soccer (MLS), the Big East Conference and the National Basketball Association (NBA).

“I’m excited for our entire team, whose efforts have been tremendous. We are very honored to be recognized as a finalist by SBJ among other prestigious sports league,” LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan said. “The LPGA had a magical year filled with incredible storylines touching every part of our organization and many Tour victories that showed everyone global success is the best kind of sports story.”

The Sports Business Awards were established to recognize excellence, innovation and outstanding achievements in the business of sports. Nominations were earned for accomplishments during the period from March 1, 2014, to February 28, 2015. The executives and members representing SportsBusiness Journal/Daily will evaluate the nominees and determine the winners, who will be announced at a ceremony on May 20 at the New York Marriott Marquis.

NUMBERS TO KNOW
22 - Number of North American events in 2015
10 - Lydia Ko now has 10 consecutive top-10 finishes; LPGA record for most-consecutive top-10’s is 16 by Karrie Webb
7 - In Hyo Joo Kim’s last seven LPGA starts, she now has six top 10s including two wins in her last five starts
6 - There have been six different winners this year, each have been born in South Korea
5 - In five years, the Tour has gone from 23 events to 33 events
3 - Stacy Lewis has three consecutive top-3 finishes dating back to the Honda LPGA Thailand

QUICK FACTS
Field: 144 (143 professionals, 1 amateur)
Par: 72
Yardage: 6,593
Purse: $1,700,000
Winner: $255,000

TV Times
Golf Channel
March 19 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
March 20 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
March 21 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
March 22 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
All times listed are Eastern

Sponsor Invitations (2)
In Gee Chun
Marijosse Navarro (a)

Qualifiers (2)
Jane Rah, 70
Becky Morgan, 70

2015 LPGA Official Money List
Top 10: 9/10
Top 20: 19/20

Past Champions
2014: Anna Nordqvist (73-68-67-67=275/-13)
2013: Beatriz Recari ( 69-67-69-74=279/-9)
2012: Yani Tseng (67-68-69-70=274/-14)
2011: Sandra Gal (67-68-70-71=276/-16)
2010: Hee Kyung Seo (70-67-69-70=276/-12)

Top Storylines from the Kia Classic

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