Jennifer Rosales will defend her title this week in another leg of the “southern swing” at the Chick-fil-A Charity Tournament hosted by Nancy Lopez. Rosales narrowly beat out Grace Park, Rosie Jones, Becky Morgan, and Jung Yeon Lee to clinch the 2004 event with a 7-under par 65. Jennifer was also the first winner of the 2005 season at the SBS Open. Previous winners of the crystal vase including Se Ri Pak (2003), Juli Inkster (2002) and Annika Sorenstam (2001), who will all be on hand and clawing to get a share of the $1.6 million purse and the $240,000 victory check.
Eagle’s Landing Golf Club, a 6,368-yard, par-72 course located in Stockbridge, GA, will be the site of this year’s golf festivities. The competition will benefit local charities Winshape Homes, Aim for the Handicapped, and East Lake Community Foundation. This will be the last year that Chick-fil-A will be the major sponsor of the event. A multi-year contract has been signed with Metro South Golf Charities, Inc., which will continue to sponsor the event through 2008.
LPGA Commissioner Ty M. Votaw stated, “We are very appreciative of the support… the team at Chick-fil-A have provided to the LPGA and this event throughout the years. Their efforts have resulted in significant money for charity as well as establishing this as one of the top events on Tour.”
This week’s final field includes the top ten golfers from the 2004 money list and 92 players in the top 100. Nine former champions out of the thirteen original Chick-fil-A winners will be attending and all of last year’s major champions will be here. In addition, every 2004 LPGA tournament winner will be here as well as every active member of the LPGA Hall of Fame.
Watch out golfers! Annika Sorenstam, who leads the LPGA in greens in regulation, second in driving distance and fourth overall in putting, will be bringing her littany of golf shots with her this week. Coming off a loss at last week’s Michelob, she needs this win to affirm her greatness. Expect her to make a great challenge and keep the field on its toes.
Cristie Kerr, coming off of last week’s victory at the Michelob Ultra, will attempt to win back-to-back tournaments. Grace Park, Natalie Gulbis and Lorena Ochoa are also in the final field. Ochoa has had three second place finishes this season but, so far, no wins.
In second-round action at the Michelob, the Nancy Lopez award was given to Paula Creamer in honor of her phenomenal final amateur season. Expect Paula to put on a show for her fans.
Sponsor exemptions will be given to amateurs Morgan Pressel and Laura Coble. Pressel is just 16 years old. At the age of 13, Morgan became the youngest golfer to qualify for the U.S. Women’s Open through sectional qualifying. Coble is considered Georgia’s top female amateur golfer and has been the Georgia State Golf Association’s Women’s Player of the Year every year since 1998.
LPGA golf coverage begins this Thursday on ESPN2: May 12, 13, and 14th from 2:00-4:00 pm (ET) and the final round on May 15th 4:00-6:00 pm (ET).