WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE SHOPRITE LPGA CLASSIC

This is the 30th edition of the ShopRite LPGA Classic presented- began in 1986 (no tournament from 2007-09)
From 1986 through 2006, the tournament was played at two different courses near Atlantic City, with the first two and last nine years played on the Bay Course of the Stockton Seaview Resort
It was a 54-hole tournament played over three days, except for 1990 when it was a four-day, 72-hole event
For a decade (1988-97), the event was played at Greate Bay Country Club in Somers Point, known as Sands Country Club until 1991
The tournament was originally known as the Atlantic City LPGA Classic - its name was changed in 1992 to the ShopRite LPGA Classic when Wakefern Food Corporation took over as the sponsor
One of three 54-hole tournaments on the 2018 LPGA schedule along with the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship presented by P&G and the TOTO Japan Classic
Multiple winners of the event are Betsy King (1987, 1995, 2001), Annika Sorenstam (1998, 2002, 2005), Juli Inkster (1986, 1988), Stacy Lewis (2012, 2014) and Anna Nordqvist (2015, 2016)
There have been two playoffs, in 1988 and 1992
Four past champions are in the field this week: In-Kyung Kim (2017), Anna Nordqvist (2015, 2016), Stacy Lewis (2012, 2014) and Karrie Webb (2013)
Three players from New Jersey are in the field: Marina Alex (Wayne, N.J.), Taylor Totland (Tinton Falls, N.J.) and Joanna Coe (Mays Landing, N.J.)

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT DEFENDING CHAMPION IN-KYUNG KIM

In 2018, Kim has made six cuts in eight starts, with two top-five finishes including a runner-up result two weeks ago at the LPGA Volvik Championship
In 2017, Kim and Shanshan Feng led the LPGA Tour with three victories on the year
Kim posted a career-best year in 2017 with three wins including her first career major championship, five additional top-25 finishes and the fourth year of her career with over $1 million in season earnings
At No. 7 in the Rolex Rankings, Kim is the fourth-highest ranked Korean player which could land her a spot on Team Korea at the 2018 UL International Crown in Korea in October
At the ShopRite LPGA Classic, Kim has never missed a cut in seven starts with a win in 2017 and three additional top-10 finishes
She is an avid guitar player and won the 2015 Kia Community Assist Award for her charitable efforts with the Special Olympics

SHOPRITE LPGA CLASSIC IS LAP 15 IN RACE TO THE CME GLOBE

The 30th edition of the ShopRite LPGA Classic presented by Acer marks the 15th lap of the 2018 Race to the CME Globe. With her Tour-leading two wins coming in the last three events, 2016 Race to CME Globe winner Ariya Jutanugarn has taken a commanding lead in the standings with 2,450 points. Ariya’s older sister, Moriya Jutanugarn, is in second place with 1,600 points and is followed closely by LPGA Hall of Famer Inbee Park (1,598) and 2018 winner Minjee Lee (1,509).

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.

ShopRite LPGA Classic Tuesday Pre-Tournament Notes

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