KIA CLASSIC Presented by J Golf to hold pre-qualifying tournament Tuesday, March 9 at La Costa Resort and Spa
All amateur female players with a 2 handicap or lower are eligible; top two players will gain automatic entry into the tournament's official Monday qualifier
CARLSBAD, Calif., Feb. 12, 2010 – The KIA CLASSIC Presented by J Golf announced today that it will hold an open pre-qualifying tournament at La Costa Resort and Spa on Tuesday, March 9, giving amateur female golfers the opportunity to potentially play alongside LPGA touring professionals.
The players with the two lowest scores from the March 9 event will earn automatic entry into the official LPGA Monday qualifier on March 22, normally reserved for LPGA members only. The top two players from the Monday qualifier on March 22 will earn entry into the 144-player field at the KIA CLASSIC Presented by J Golf, to be played March 25-28.
“We're excited to be able to offer this opportunity to earn entry into the official Monday qualifier,” said Jim Felechner, tournament director for the KIA CLASSIC Presented by J Golf. “This is a great chance for amateurs to test their skill level and potentially play alongside LPGA professionals.”
The $1.7 million KIA CLASSIC Presented by J Golf, to be held March 22-28 at La Costa Resort and Spa, is a full-field, 144-player event that will bring the best names in women's golf to San Diego for the LPGA's first 2010 event in the United States. Tickets are available at www.lpgalacosta.com or by calling 1-888-SEE-LPGA.
For available volunteer opportunities, details on corporate sponsorship and the official KIA CLASSIC Presented by J Golf Pro-Am, as well as all other tournament information, log on to www.lpgalacosta.com or call tournament coordinator Danielle Genet in the tournament office at (760) 579-7365.
The KIA CLASSIC Presented by J Golf will continue a long tradition of professional women's golf in San Diego, beginning in 1953 with the San Diego Open. Most recently, Na Yeon Choi became a Rolex First-Time Winner at the 2009 Samsung World Championship. In the 55 years between, San Diego tournament winners have included the likes of LPGA and World Golf Halls of Fame members Louise Suggs, Mickey Wright, Betsy Rawls and many other prominent LPGA stars.
La Costa Resort and Spa will host an official LPGA event for the first time when it welcomes the KIA CLASSIC Presented by J Golf, though the majestic coastal resort is no stranger to professional tournaments. La Costa most recently hosted the PGA TOUR's World Golf Championships (WGC) Accenture Match Play Championship (1999-2006). Its longest-running tournament brought the PGA TOUR's best to La Costa from 1969-1998, first as the Tournament of Champions and later as the Mercedes Championship. It also hosted the CBS Golf Classic in 1965, and was home to the Haig Scotch Mixed Foursome Championship from 1965-67.
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