SCG partners with inaugural event to announce team commitments
MIDLAND, Mich. (May 29, 2019) – The world’s best golfers will team up to compete at the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational, an inaugural event taking place July 15-20 at Midland Country Club. The first-of-its-kind LPGA tournament will feature a 72-hole, stroke play team format, and SCG has teamed up with the event as the official sponsor of team commitments to unveil player pairings.
There are a couple of teams that have already been announced. Captain and vice-captain for Team Europe’s Solheim Cup squad, Catriona Matthew and Suzann Pettersen will team up as will Team USA stars, Cristie Kerr and Lexi Thompson. Kerr has appeared in nine Solheim Cups and has claimed the record for the most wins and points of any American in the tournament’s history. Kerr has had 10 playing partners across her nine cup appearances and Thompson is the teammate with whom she has the best and undefeated record.
Also in the field will be the team of current world numbers one and two, Jin Young Ko and Minjee Lee. The top-ranked duo share nine LPGA wins between them. Jin Young Ko, currently playing through her second year on Tour, has captured four wins, including one major championship. Lee has claimed five Tour victories and represented Australia at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
Two of the LPGA’s youngest players, Lydia Ko and In Gee Chun will join forces for the team event. Lydia Ko started earning her 15 LPGA Tour titles earlier in life than any other golfer, becoming the youngest person to ever win a Tour event at the Canadian Women’s Open when she was 15. She captured the first of two major championships when she was 18, younger than anyone in history to win a men’s or women’s major title. Chun, also a two-time major champion, started on the LPGA Tour in 2016 and captured nine wins on the LPGA of Korea, including a five-win season in 2015.
“[Chun] is one of the most consistent players on Tour,” said Ko when asked why she chose her teammate. “If I had a 15-footer to win a tournament, she’d be one of the players who I know would be able to make it. I’ve always felt like we’ve gotten along really well and that she has a very nice and calm personality.”
Other teams that have committed to competing at the Dow Great Lakes Invitational include:
- Marina Alex and Brittany Lang
- Angela Stanford and Dori Carter
- Gerina Piller and Stacy Lewis
- Austin Ernst and Bronte Law
- Amy Yang and Mirim Lee
- Shanshan Feng and Yu Liu
- Amy Olson and Katherine Kirk
- Pernilla Lindberg and Linnea Strom
- Megan Khang and Annie Park
- Ryann O’Toole and Jacqui Concolino
Top ranked players that have committed to the field without a confirmed playing partner include Ariya Jutanugarn, Nasa Hataoka, Danielle Kang, Moriya Jutanugarn, Lizette Salas, Angel Yin, and Michelle Wie.
There have also been teammate invitations extended on Twitter, including Tiffany Joh’s promposal to Jane Park showcasing their unique friendship.
LPGA players are encouraged to personally announce their teammates for the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational via their preferred social media platforms. Stay tuned by following @DowGLBI on Facbeook, Twitter and Instagram.
Ticket for the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational start at $10 and kids 17 and under are free. To purchase tickets, visit www.DowGLBI.com. To stay up-to-date on all team announcements and event information, join the social conversation at www.facebook.com/DowGLBI, www.twitter.com/DowGLBI, and www.instagram.com/dowglbi (@DowGLBI).
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