LPGA Tour Returns to Orlando
The LPGA Tour returns to Orlando this week as some of the top female golfers line up to do battle at Grand Cypress Golf Club. With year-ending awards and a first-place prize of $225,000 on the line, the season finale will likely put a punctuation mark on the end of an exciting and highly competitive LPGA Tour season. The top-nine ranked players in the world – Rolex Rankings No. 1 Jiyai Shin, No. 2 Suzann Pettersen, No. 3 Cristie Kerr, No. 4 Yani Tseng, No. 5 Na Yeon Choi, No. 6 Ai Miyazato, No. 7 In Kyung Kim, No. 8 Song-Hee Kim and No. 9 Paula Creamer – will join Rolex Rankings No. 15 and defending champion Anna Nordqvist (pictured above) in the 120-player field.
The 72-hole event will feature a total purse of $1.5 million and a unique two-cut format. The field will be reduced to the low-70 players and ties after 36-holes and to the low-30 players and ties after 54 holes. Nordqvist fired rounds of 70-68-65 at last year’s rain-shortened event to post a two-stroke victory over Lorena Ochoa. Nordqvist, however, will defend her title at a new venue this year. The tournament moved from the Houstonian Golf and County Club in Richmond, Texas, to Grand Cypress Golf Club in Orlando.
Here’s the latest press release:
ORLANDO, Fla., December 1, 2010 – Blue Diamond® Growers and the LPGA this week continue the “Walk a Healthy 18” campaign at the LPGA Tour Championship at Grand Cypress Golf Club. Fans who sign up at the Blue Diamond Almonds booth on Thursday and Friday will have an opportunity to walk inside-the-ropes with defending champion Anna Nordqvist the following day. Winners will be notified by telephone on the evening prior to the inside-the-ropes experience.
On Saturday, LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan and his family will host several area LPGA/USGA Girls’ Golf groups and their families at 11 a.m. Commissioner Whan will “Walk a Healthy 18” with his wife, three sons and winners of the of the 2010 Blue Diamond Walk a Healthy 18 LPGA/USGA Girls Golf Poster Contest. Fans are encouraged to participate in the walk. The winning posters will be on display at the Blue Diamond Almonds booth starting Thursday.
In addition, each tournament day fans are encouraged to visit the Blue Diamond Almonds expo booth to pick up a scorecard and pedometer, then walk the course and claim a prize at the expo booth upon departure. Walking 18 holes of golf is equivalent to approximately five miles, creating a call to action to make exercise a part of a healthy lifestyle. Mile markers will be erected around the course offering fans healthy tips and hints toward winning prizes.
The program, part of a partnership in support of Blue Diamond’s Oven Roasted Almonds announced earlier this year, encourages fans to lead a healthy lifestyle through their love of the game and their dedication to eating healthy and tasty foods such as almonds.
Additionally, Tour players will be stationed at the Blue Diamond Almonds expo booth each afternoon from Thursday through Saturday to hand out the scorecards and pedometers, interact with fans and sign autographs.
About Blue Diamond® Growers
Blue Diamond® Growers is the world’s largest tree nut processing and marketing company. Founded in 1910, the cooperative is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2010. Blue Diamond® led the development of California’s almond industry from a minor domestic specialty crop to the world leader in almond production and marketing. We continue to build markets and create new products, new uses, and new opportunities for members of Blue Diamond® Growers.
Headquartered in Sacramento, California, approximately 3000 California almond growers deliver California almonds annually to their cooperative. The crop is marketed to all 50 states and more than 90 foreign countries, making almonds California’s largest food export, and the sixth largest U.S. food export. The California crop is valued annually at over $1 billion dollars.
About the LPGA (Ladies Professional Golf Association)
The LPGA is the world’s leading professional golf organization for women. Founded in 1950, the association celebrates a diverse and storied membership with more than 1,700 members representing 29 different countries. With a Vision to inspire, empower, educate and entertain by showcasing the very best of women’s golf, LPGA Tour Professionals compete across the globe, while dedicated LPGA Teaching and Club Professionals (T&CP) directly impact the game through teaching, coaching and management. The Duramed FUTURES Tour serves as the official developmental tour of the LPGA, consistently producing a pipeline of talent ready for the world stage. The LPGA is headquartered in Daytona Beach, Florida. Follow the LPGA on its television home, Golf Channel, and on the web via: www.LPGA.com, www.facebook.com/lpga.official, www.twitter.com/lpga, and www.youtube.com/lpgavideo.
