Tournament Set to Return to the Park Hyatt Aviara Resort

March 23-29

SET TO COMPETE ALL 10 OF TOP 10 LPGA RANKED PLAYERS AND INCLUDING:

Jin Young Ko, Nelly Korda, Danielle Kang, Brooke Henderson and Kia Classic defending champion Nasa Hatoka to name a few:

75 OF TOP 80 GOLFERS IN THE FIELD

Carlsbad, Calif. (February 24, 2020) – Kia Motors America announced today that the 2020 LPGA Kia Classic – the tournament’s 11^th Annual – will return to Southern California and is set to take place at the Park Hyatt Aviara Resort from March 23-29.

Usually producing one of the strongest fields on the LPGA Tour, the eleventh annual Kia Classic is shaping up to be no different when 144 players will compete for a total purse of $1.8 million. Tournament week will include a qualifier, practice rounds on Monday and Tuesday, a Wednesday pro-am and four competitive rounds of play from Thursday through Sunday.

"We’re really excited about the 2020 Kia Classic. Our field once again is one of the most competitive on the LPGA circuit year-after-year bringing the world’s best players to San Diego,” said Tournament Director Lindsay Allen. "Having Kia as our title sponsor has been an integral component to this tournament’s success.”

The 2020 Kia Classic field includes all Top 10 LPGA players along with 75 of the top 80 golfers on last year’s money list are scheduled to compete.

The Top 10 Players as of February 2020 include:

1.         Jin Young Ko

2.         Nelly Korda   

3.         Sung Hyun Park

4.         Danielle Kang

5.         Nasa Hataoka

6.         Sei Young Kim

7.         Brooke Henderson

8.         Minjee Lee

9.         Lexi Thompson

10.       Jeong Eun Lee6

Nasa Hataoka won the 10^th annual Kia Classic with an 18-under-par posting a final round 67 to win by three strokes over Danielle Kang, Jin Young Ko, Azahara Munoz, Sung Hyon Park and Inbee Park. Hataoka had a great weekend posted 8-under-par on Saturday for 13-under-par. With her victory, Hataoka earned her third LPGA title and not only claimed the winner's check for $270,000 and the tournament’s distinctive red glass trophy, but also walked away with the keys to an all-new 2020 Kia Telluride.

Hataoka is the 10th different winner in the 10-year history of the Kia Classic and the first winner from Japan; players from seven other countries have won the tournament

For much of Sunday’s final round, it looked like Nasa Hataoka would run away with the 2019 Kia Classic. The 20-year-old from Japan started the day one stroke off the lead and when she reached the inward nine, she had pulled two strokes clear of the field. With a three-stroke lead at No. 16, Hataoka’s tee shot found the water, leading to just her third bogey of the week. But a birdie at the ensuing 17th let the young phenom cruise in to capture her third career LPGA Tour title.

“Anyone can make mistakes out here,” said Hataoka, who is projected to move from No. 7 to No. 4 in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings. “I forgot about the bogey very quickly. I knew that 17 was a chance I could make a birdie, and just very relieved and felt great that I was able to actually get a birdie.”

Since the inaugural Kia Classic was held in 2010, the tournament has proved to be a great success on multiple fronts. A decade-long alliance between the world’s leading professional golf organization for women and Kia Motors America has led to ongoing charitable work which has helped benefit military families and cancer research among several other worthy causes.

The event has also proved to very popular as the ultimate family destination, with activities and attractions that range from lesson zones to junior clinics held during tournament week.

To purchase tickets or to sign up to volunteer, please visit www.kiaclassic.com. Tickets start at just $20 for a daily ticket. The volunteer package is $70 and includes a round of golf at Aviara Golf Club. Military members and their families and children aged 17 or under receive free admission. Information on corporate hospitality packages, pro-am opportunities and advertising opportunities are also available at www.kiaclassic.com.

Kia Classic fans can also follow the tournament through social media. The Kia Classic’s Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/kiaclassic/), Instagram (@lpgakiaclassic) and Twitter feed (@LPGAKiaClassic) will allow fans to keep up on pre-tournament and tournament-week news, view exclusive photos and enter various contests for the chance to win Kia Classic tickets and other prizes.