News and notes for the week of September 21, 2009

1. Kim returns to defend first LPGA career victory at CVS/pharmacy LPGA Challenge
2. This week: CVS/pharmacy LPGA Challenge, Blackhawk Country Club, Danville, Calif., $1,100,000, September 24-27, 2009; TV Times; GCSAA Course Information
3. LPGA T&CP announces results of sectional elections
4. Rolex Rankings move of the week
5. Shin maintains lead in Rolex Player of the Year race
6. Next week: Navistar LPGA Classic Presented by Monaco RV, RTJ Golf Trail, Capitol Hill, The Senator, Prattville, Ala., $1,300,000, October 1-4, 2009; TV Times; GCSAA Course Information
7. Choi becomes Rolex First-Time Winner at Samsung World Championship
8. Blumenherst wins LPGA Sectional Qualifying Tournament
9. Park visits LPGA-USGA Girls Golf site
10. Smith hosts first charity golf event
11. Choi crosses $2 million mark
12. Miyazato continues hot streak
13. Creamer crosses $1 million in 2009
14. Shin continues to lead LPGA
15. Choi earns stay at Canyon Ranch

1. Kim returns to defend first LPGA career victory at CVS/pharmacy LPGA Challenge
 
DANVILLE, Calif. - The LPGA Tour returns to Blackhawk Country Club this week for the CVS/pharmacy LPGA Challenge, with In-Kyung Kim in the spot as defending champion for the first time in her three-year LPGA Tour career. In 2008, Kim became a Rolex First-Time Winner by holding off Angela Stanford by three strokes. This is the fourth time that Blackhawk Country Club has played host to a LPGA Tour event, and first under the new name.

Since notching that first win one year ago, the South Korean player has racked up 10 top-10 finishes, and her second career victory at this year's LPGA State Farm Classic, where she defeated LPGA Tour and World Golf Halls of Famer Se Ri Pak by one stroke.

Overall in her two and a half years of playing official events on the LPGA Tour, Kim has accumulated 20 top-10 finishes, including seven top-three finishes, to go along with her pair of victories. If the 21-year-old can successfully defend her title this week at the CVS/pharmacy LPGA Challenge, she would join only LPGA Tour and World Golf Halls of Fame member Juli Inkster as the players who have recorded back-to-back wins at the event in Danville, Calif.

Joining Kim this week at the LPGA Tour's 22nd official event of the season will be seven of the top-10 players from the LPGA Official Money List. The current top-ranked player in the world, Lorena Ochoa, and the leading money winner, Jiyai Shin, represent those who have won multiple times in 2009. Ochoa recorded victories at the Honda LPGA Thailand and Corona Championship, while Shin has three wins at the HSBC Women's Champions, Wegmans LPGA and P&G Beauty NW Arkansas Championship Presented by John Q. Hammons.

In addition to Shin - the top rookie on the LPGA Tour - seven other first-year LPGA Tour members will be teeing it up at Blackhawk Country Club, with six of them looking for their first career victory. Earlier this year, M.J. Hur became a Rolex First-Time Winner at the Safeway Classic Presented by Coca-Cola.

Shin heads into this week holding the top spot in three key categories. While becoming the leading money winner a few weeks back with her victory at the P&G Beauty NW Arkansas Championship Presented by John Q. Hammons, Shin also has the lead in the Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year and Rolex Player of the Year races. Should Shin claim both prestigious season-ending awards, she would become the first player to do so since Nancy Lopez in 1978. All awards races conclude at the season-ending LPGA Tour Championship in Houston in November.

 
2. This week: CVS/pharmacy LPGA Challenge, Blackhawk Country Club, Danville, Calif., $1,100,000, September 24-27, 2009; TV Times; GCSAA Course Information
 
Par: 37-35, 72
Yardage: 6,212
Format: 72-hole stroke play
            Winner: $165,000
            Runner-up: $101,098
Field: 132 players
Defending champion: In-Kyung Kim
Victory margin: Defeated Angela Stanford by three strokes
Media center: 925-791-4424
LPGA media contact: Jason Taylor
 
● TV Times
 
Golf Channel
Sept. 24-25 6:30-8:30 p.m. (tape delayed)
Sept. 26 6:30-9:30 p.m. (tape delayed)
Sept. 27 7-9:30 p.m. (tape delayed)
 
All times Eastern
 
● GCSAA Course Information
 
Golf Course Superintendents Association of America
Blackhawk Country Club
Danville, Calif.
 
GCSAA Class A Golf Course Superintendent, contact: Lonnie R. Stevens, 925-736-6500
Course architect, date: Bruce Devlin and Robert von Hagge, 1982
Most recent redesign/renovation: Damian Pascuzzo, 1999
 
Course grasses
Tees - Bentgrass; perennial ryegrass; poa annua
Fairways - Perennial ryegrass; poa annua
Greens - Poa annua
Rough - Perennial ryegrass; perennial ryegrass
 
For more information, access GCSAA Fact Sheets at GCSAA.org
 

3. LPGA T&CP announces results of sectional elections
 
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Members of the LPGA Teaching and Club Professionals (T&CP) cast their ballots and the results of their elections for new members of their sectional executive teams have been released. Each section rotates elections of two of the following offices each year, so as to ensure there are always two senior officers on each team after an election for the president, vice president, secretary and treasurer. They will join newly elected National President Dana Rader and National Vice President Deb Vangellow in serving the organization that is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2009.

The following members will serve two-year terms in their elected positions:

Central Section
Vice President - Marci Bozarth, Forest Creek Golf Club. Round Rock, Texas
Treasurer - Peggy Gustafson, Golftec-Arrowhead, Peoria, Ariz.
 
Midwest Section
Vice President - Faith Egli, Mohawk Golf and Country Club, Tiffin, Ohio
Treasurer - Betty Kaufmann, DePaul University, Chicago, Ill.
 
Northeast Section
President - Angela Aulenti, Sterling Farms, Stamford, Conn.
Treasurer - Linda Nevatt, The ACE Club, Lafayette Hill, Penn.
 
Southeast Section
Vice President - Pam Brosnihan, Quail Ridge Country Club, Boynton Beach, Fla.
Treasurer - Carole Clark, Outdoor Family Fun Center, Hendersonville, N.C.
 
Western Section
President - Kathy O'Kelly, Tumwater Valley Municipal Golf Course, Tumwater, Wash.
Secretary - Jennifer Alexander, Crystal Springs Golf Course, Burlingame, Calif.

 
4. Rolex Rankings move of the week
 
Choi nearing top-10, Yokomine breaks into top-25
As a result of becoming a Rolex First-Time Winner at the 2009 Samsung World Championship, second-year Tour member Na Yeon Choi moved up to become the 12th-ranked player in the world, while LPGA of Japan's Sakura Yokomine broke into the top-25 with her win at the Munsingwear Ladies Tokai Classic. It was a six-spot move to 22nd in the Rolex Rankings - the only system in women's professional golf, which ranks the top golfers in the world based on their performance over the past two years in sanctioned professional events.

On the LPGA Tour, Choi was runner-up to 2008 Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year in the rookie race last year and has accumulated 18 total top-10 finishes in her two years on the LPGA Tour - during which she has never missed a cut in 48 starts.

The Rolex Rankings (www.rolexrankings.com) are sanctioned by the five major women's professional golf tours: the LPGA; Ladies European Tour (LET); Ladies Professional Golfers' Association of Japan (LPGA of Japan); Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA); Australian Ladies Professional Golf (ALPG); as well as the Ladies Golf Union (LGU), which administers the RICOH Women's British Open. The Rolex Rankings are the only women's world rankings that incorporate player performances from the five major tours and the Duramed FUTURES Tour, the official developmental tour of the LPGA.

 
5. Shin maintains lead in Rolex Player of the Year race

With a third-place finish at last week's Samsung World Championship, Jiyai Shin maintained the lead in the Rolex Player of the Year race and significantly extended her lead in the Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year race. Should Shin win these two honors, it would be the first time a player claims both since Nancy Lopez did so in 1978.

Both awards will officially conclude at the season-ending LPGA Tour Championship Presented by Rolex, Nov. 19-22 at The Houstonian Golf & Country Club in Richmond, Texas, near Houston. The Rolex Player of the Year and Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year are both based on points systems, which awards players points based on how they finish in each official LPGA event. All points are doubled at the four major championships - Kraft Nabisco Championship, McDonald's LPGA Championship Presented by Coca-Cola, U.S. Women's Open, RICOH Women's British Open.

Rolex Player of the Year point system is based on top-10 finishes: 1st place-30 points; 2nd-12; 3rd-nine; 4th-seven; 5th-six; 6th-five; 7th-four; 8th-three; 9th-two; 10th-one.

Top-10 Rolex Player of the Year standings (as of 9/20/09)

The Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year point system rewards points to rookies based on their finish after making the cut. Points range from 150 for a win and five points for positions 41st through each player making the cut.

Top-10 Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year standings (as of 9/20/09)

6. Next week: Navistar LPGA Classic Presented by Monaco RV, RTJ Golf Trail, Capitol Hill, The Senator, Prattville, Ala., $1,300,000, October 1-4, 2009; TV Times; GCSAA Course Information
 
Par: 36-36, 72
Yardage: 6,546
Format: 72-hole stroke play
            Winner: $195,000
            Runner-up: $119,470
Field: 132 players
Defending champion: Lorena Ochoa
Victory margin: Defeated Cristie Kerr, Candie Kung on the 2nd hole of sudden death
Tournament information: 205-942-0444
 
● TV Times
 
Golf Channel
Oct. 1-4 8:30-10:30 p.m. (tape delayed)
 
All times Eastern

 
7. Choi becomes Rolex First-Time Winner at Samsung World Championship
 
LA JOLLA, Calif., Sept. 20, 2009 - South Korean Na Yeon Choi birdied the 72nd hole at the Samsung World Championship to become the sixth Rolex First-Time Winner of the season on Sunday. Choi's four-day total of 16-under-par 272 (71-67-63-71) was one stroke better than Ai Miyazato (68-68-68-69=273, -15). The 21-year-old banks $250,000 for the victory and moves into ninth on the 2009 LPGA Official Money List with $945,701.

"I can't believe I just won my first tournament," Choi said. "And that putt (on 18) was, I feel like I can't say, I was really nervous and I feel I just turned pro now."

The famed Torrey Pines South Course provided the stunning backdrop for what looked like a sure victory for Choi early in the day. She took a six-stroke lead on Sunday with birdies at holes two and four and an eagle at six, but three consecutive bogies at nine, 10 and 11 dropped her advantage to two shots. Miyazato - a Rolex First-Time Winner earlier this summer at the Evian Masters - took the lead after birdies at 12 and 16 and a bogey by Choi at 15, but the 18th hole proved to be the deciding factor. Miyazato hit her second shot into the greenside pond, took a drop and two-putted for bogey. Choi, playing in the last group after entering the final round with a lead for the first time in her career, two-putted for birdie from just in front of the green to seal the victory.

Choi was the runner-up to Yani Tseng in the race for the 2008 Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year award. Last season, she recorded then-career-best runner-up finishes at the Sybase Classic Presented by ShopRite and the Evian Masters, where she lost to Helen Alfredsson in a three-hole, sudden-death playoff. Choi was the last person to gain entrance to the elite 20-player field based on her position on the 2009 LPGA Official Money List following the Safeway Classic Presented by Coca-Cola.

 
8. Blumenherst wins LPGA Sectional Qualifying Tournament
30 players advance to final stage of LPGA qualifying

PALM SPRINGS, Calif., Sept. 20, 2009 - The first leg of the LPGA Sectional Qualifying Tournament is complete and the top-30 players are headed to Daytona Beach, Fla., for the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament in December. Amanda Blumenherst shot a 2-under-par 70 in Sunday's final round to earn medalist honors at the Palm Springs sectional at Mission Hills Country Club's Dinah Shore Tournament Course. She finished the week at 16-under-par 272 (70-67-65-70), six strokes better than Azahara Munoz, of Spain. The final cut came at 2-over-par 290.

Blumenherst arrived in Palm Springs with the goal of winning, and she prepared for the week as just another tournament on her schedule. That motivation carried her through the week and left her at the top of the leaderboard.

"I was just playing like it was a normal tournament," she said. "I was playing the best I could, and I didn't think about making the cut or posting a certain score. I just continued to play my game. I have been hitting my shots really good lately, so my goal was to just keep positive and just play my game."

The Scottsdale, Ariz., native finished the final day with three birdies and one bogey. Between now and December, Blumenherst will continue practicing and work on the things that brought her success this week at Mission Hills Country Club, the host course for the Kraft Nabisco Championship, one of four majors on the LPGA Tour.

"Well, I have one more tournament to play, then I will just continue working on my game," said the 2008 U.S. Women's Amateur Champion. "I will probably continue working on my chipping. I need to maintain the same ball striking, which I have been doing very well lately. I will work more on my short game as well."

Munoz finished in the runner-up spot with an overall score of 10-under-par 278 (70-66-71-71). Munoz has now qualified for the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament on her first attempt, and hopes to continue her successful play in the coming months.

"I played really well this week," she said. "I felt good all week, and it showed in my game. I'm just excited that I finished where I needed to and now can focus on the final qualifier in Daytona Beach. Overall, I am happy with my game this week."

The first two days, players competed on both the Palmer and Dinah Shore Tournament Courses at Mission Hills Country Club, playing each of the courses once before the cut was made to the low 70 and ties after 36 holes. The final two rounds were played on the Dinah Shore Tournament Course. The top-30 players and ties after 72 holes advance to the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament at LPGA International in Daytona Beach, Fla., Dec. 2-6.

The second LPGA Tour Sectional Qualifying Tournament will be Sept. 29-Oct. 2, 2009, at Plantation Golf and Country Club's Bobcat and Panther Courses in Venice, Fla. The top-30 finishers and ties from the Venice qualifier will join the top-30 players and ties from this week's sectional qualifier at the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament. Making up the rest of the field in Daytona Beach will be current LPGA Tour members attempting to improve their priority standing and eligible Duramed FUTURES Tour players who automatically advanced based on their position on the 2009 season-ending money list.

All media interested in covering the upcoming LPGA Sectional Qualifying Tournament and the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament should apply for credentials at www.lpgamediacredentials.com.

 
9. Park visits LPGA-USGA Girls Golf site

Inbee Park, 2008 U.S. Women's Open Champion, will visit the LPGA-USGA Girls Golf Club of Pleasanton (Calif.) later today. Park, who after her 2008 win donated $50,000 to The LPGA Foundation for Girls Golf programs and to provide equipment for girls in need as well as to help sponsor 'Girls Golf Days', will be on-site at the Pleasanton Golf Center at the Alameda County Fairgrounds starting at 3 p.m. local time. LPGA T&CP member Dana Dormann will host Park and the junior golf participants. Park will tour the facility and meet with area LPGA-USGA Girls Golf participants for a Q&A session with the junior golfers, a clinic with shot demonstrations and playing tips, as well as autographs and photos with the girls. The visit occurs during LPGA-USGA Girls Golf's 20th anniversary year. To-date, nearly 200 sites are located around the United States and have provided nearly 60,000 girls with the opportunity to make lasting friendships, gain self-confidence, learn to compete and have fun, while fostering a lifetime enjoyment of the game.
 

10. Smith hosts first charity golf event

The first annual Marilynn Smith LPGA Charity Golf Classic teed-off this morning at 8 a.m. at Pebble Creek's Tuscany Falls Golf Course in Goodyear, Ariz. Marilynn Smith, co-founder of both the LPGA and the LPGA Teaching & Club Professionals (T&CP) is hosting the event, which will support the Marilynn Smith Golf Scholarship through The LPGA Foundation. Teams were formed for the shotgun, scramble format and were paired with a professional or celebrity. An awards luncheon with live and silent auctions and a goodie bag will conclude the day.

The Marilynn Smith Scholarship supports young women who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement and community involvement, and plan to continue to play competitive golf at an accredited college or university.

 
11. Choi crosses $2 million mark

With her victory and $250,000 paycheck at the Samsung World Championship, Na Yeon Choi crossed the $2 million mark in career earnings. One year ago, Choi crossed the $1 million mark in career earnings at the same event. The second-year Tour member now has $2,041,467 in career earnings.
 

12. Miyazato continues hot streak

In her last seven events, Japan's Ai Miyazato has one victory, five top-six finishes and a tie for 10th. Miyazato's hot streak started at the U.S. Women's Open, where she tied for sixth and continued at the Evian Masters, where she became a Rolex First-Time Winner.

13. Creamer crosses $1 million in 2009

A tie for fourth and $56,620 paycheck at the Samsung World Championship for 2008 champion Paula Creamer made her the seventh player on the LPGA Tour this season to cross the $1 million mark in season earnings. Creamer now has accumulated $1,001,712 in 17 starts with nine top-10 finishes. This is the fifth season Creamer has managed to surpass the season-earnings mark and is quickly approaching $7 million in career earnings with $6,818,448, which is 14th on the LPGA Career Earnings List.

 
14. Shin continues to lead LPGA

Jiyai Shin increased her lead in the Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year, Rolex Player of the Year and 2009 LPGA Official Money List races with her third-place finish at the Samsung World Championship. Shin is looking to become the first player since Nancy Lopez in 1978 to earn Rolex Player of the Year and Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year honors. Shin has an 18-point lead over Cristie Kerr for Rolex Player of the Year (136 points to 118 points), a 660-point lead over Michelle Wie in the Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year race (1,344 points to 684 points) and a $154,176 lead over Kerr in the money race. She has not yet mathematically locked up any of the categories. Final awards will be announced at the LPGA Tour Championship Presented by Rolex in November.
 

15. Choi earns stay at Canyon Ranch

Na Yeon Choi celebrated her victory at the 2009 Samsung World Championship victory with an all-inclusive stay for two at a Canyon Ranch resort. In a combined effort to promote health and overall well-being among Tour players, Canyon Ranch will provide every winner of an LPGA event with one all-inclusive stay at one of Canyon Ranch's two destination resorts.