LYDIA KO GETS SPONSOR'S INVITE TO LPGA ARKANSAS CHAMPIONSHIP
NEWS RELEASE
The world’s top-ranked female amateur 16-year-old New Zealander Lydia Ko and the University of Arkansas freshman Gaby Lopez have been added to the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship field of competitors as official sponsor exemptions into the LPGA Tour event being held at Pinnacle Country Club in Rogers, Arkansas from June 17- June 23.
“We are delighted to invite Gaby and Lydia to play in the event as our sponsor’s exemptions,” said Gisel Ruiz, chief operations officer, Walmart U.S.
“Walmart is committed to empowering women, and we hope that providing this opportunity will help them to grow in their careers and to be successful if and when they join the professional ranks. We are also proud that the tournament can continue to support the Razorbacks golf team, which is producing outstanding student-athletes.”
Ko, whose parents are South Korean, resides in Auckland, New Zealand but is regularly competing in professional tour events and most recently took home low amateur honors at the Kraft Nabisco Championship—the third time in the last three majors she has accomplished that feat.
Last year, she became the youngest person ever to win an LPGA Tour event, winning the CN Canadian Women’s Open at the age of 15 years and four months.
Lopez and Ko will be competing against a stellar tournament field including defending champion Ai Miyazato, 2012 Player of the Year Stacy Lewis and two-time winner Yani Tseng. Eighteen of the top 20 in the Rolex World Rankings are also scheduled to compete. The entire field will be looking to play well leading into the U.S. Women’s Open being held the week after in Southampton, NY. With a $2 million purse and $300,000 going to the NW Arkansas champion, the two-week swing will feature $5.25 million in available prize money.
The world’s top-ranked female amateur 16-year-old New Zealander Lydia Ko and the University of Arkansas freshman Gaby Lopez have been added to the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship field of competitors as official sponsor exemptions into the LPGA Tour event being held at Pinnacle Country Club in Rogers, Arkansas from June 17- June 23.
“We are delighted to invite Gaby and Lydia to play in the event as our sponsor’s exemptions,” said Gisel Ruiz, chief operations officer, Walmart U.S.
“Walmart is committed to empowering women, and we hope that providing this opportunity will help them to grow in their careers and to be successful if and when they join the professional ranks. We are also proud that the tournament can continue to support the Razorbacks golf team, which is producing outstanding student-athletes.”
Ko, whose parents are South Korean, resides in Auckland, New Zealand but is regularly competing in professional tour events and most recently took home low amateur honors at the Kraft Nabisco Championship—the third time in the last three majors she has accomplished that feat.
Last year, she became the youngest person ever to win an LPGA Tour event, winning the CN Canadian Women’s Open at the age of 15 years and four months.
Lopez and Ko will be competing against a stellar tournament field including defending champion Ai Miyazato, 2012 Player of the Year Stacy Lewis and two-time winner Yani Tseng. Eighteen of the top 20 in the Rolex World Rankings are also scheduled to compete. The entire field will be looking to play well leading into the U.S. Women’s Open being held the week after in Southampton, NY. With a $2 million purse and $300,000 going to the NW Arkansas champion, the two-week swing will feature $5.25 million in available prize money.
Labels: LPGA TOUR
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | 8:01:00 am
<< Home