Annika Sorenstam charges into action after taking a break from the Sybase Classic last week. The 34-year old Swede has already claimed victory in four of five tournaments this year and will be defending her Corning title this week. Sorenstam had fifty wins on tour at the same time last year and has added ten trophies to her display case placing her third on the all-time win list.
Corning Country Club in upstate New York has been the host of this tournament since 1979. At the first tournament the winner received a mere $15,000 with a total purse of $100,000 compared with this weekend’s first prize check of $165,000 and a total purse of $1.1 million.
Prior champions in the 27-year history of the Corning Classic include Juli Inkster (2003) who defeated Canadian Lorie Kane by four strokes and set a personal best round of 62. Laura Diaz claimed a 2002 victory here against veteran Rosie Jones (1996 and 1997) in the country club’s first million dollar tournament. Both players will take their best shots at dethroning Annika this week.
Danielle Amiee whose acid comments and bleached blonde hair made her one of the most controversial ladies on the Big Break III will receive her second sponsor’s exemption into the Corning Classic. Although Amiee’s efforts at the Michelob Ultra Open led to a Friday cut she broke 80 in both her rounds. Danielle should have done better in her first LPGA exemption since it took place at Kingsmill, the same course where she won the Big Break III. Amiee will again attempt to break 80 and make the cut this week.
Christina Kim will take another stab at victory this week. Kim came close to winning her second LPGA tournament at the Sybase Classic after leading in the first and third rounds. After struggling through the final 18 holes she was defeated by 18-year-old Paula Creamer. LPGA rookie Creamer is attending her high school graduation instead of playing the Corning Classic. Happy graduation, Paula!
Although Natalie Gulbis has yet to win on tour the 22-year old is certainly ready to make her move. With three top-10 finishes in nine starts and over $258,000 in earnings for 2005 the University of Arizona graduate certainly has the potential to win. If Natalie should ever leave the LPGA tour she can always count on her status as a pin-up girl and reality television icon to keep her afloat.
Tune into The Golf Channel to see if Sorenstam can make this her sixth win in 2005: May 26-29th 4-6:30 p.m.(ET)(tape delay)