LPGA’S KIA CLASSIC TO HOLD PRE-QUALIFYING EVENT TUESDAY, FEB. 1 AT INDUSTRY HILLS GOLF CLUB
All amateur female players with a 2 handicap or lower are eligible; top two players will gain automatic entry into tournament’s official Monday qualifier
(JANUARY 10, 2011 – CITY OF INDUSTRY, Calif.) – The LPGA’s Kia Classic announced today that it will hold an open pre-qualifying tournament on the Eisenhower Course at Industry Hills Golf Club on Tuesday, Feb. 1, giving amateur female golfers the opportunity to potentially play alongside touring professionals in an official LPGA event.
All amateur female golfers with a handicap of 2 or lower are eligible to compete in the pre-qualifier. Interested players must contact Industry Hills Director of Golf Dave Youpa at 626-854-2350 by Jan. 28 to register. There is a $50 fee to compete, and qualified applicants will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis.
The two players with the lowest scores from the Feb. 1 pre-qualifier will earn automatic entry into the official LPGA Monday qualifier on March 21, normally reserved for LPGA members only. The top two players from the Monday qualifier on March 21 will earn entry into the 144-player field at the Kia Classic, to be played March 24-27.
“This is a terrific opportunity for some of the L.A. area’s top young golfers to come out and test themselves,” said Dennis Baggett, the Kia Classic’s tournament director. “We’re thrilled to be able to offer the chance for two players to earn their way into the Monday qualifier and potentially play alongside the best female players in the world.
The March 21-27 Kia Classic – which brings the LPGA back to the glitz and glamour of Los Angeles for the first time in five years – will feature a full field of 144 LPGA players battling for a $1.7 million purse at the tournament’s new host venue, Industry Hills Golf Club at Pacific Palms. Tournament week will feature a qualifier and practice rounds Monday, practice rounds Tuesday, a Pro-Am on Wednesday and four competitive rounds Thursday-Sunday.
Tickets and more information are available at www.kiaclassic.com or by calling 1-888-SEE-LPGA. Daily grounds passes are just $10 for Wednesday’s Pro-Am day and $20 for competition rounds, and weekly grounds passes are just $50. Children 17 and under will receive free admission to the Kia Classic when accompanied by a paid adult, and active military members and their families will be admitted free with military ID.
Kia Classic fans can follow the tournament through social media. The Kia Classic’s Facebook page (Kia Classic) and Twitter feed (@LPGAKiaClassic) allow fans to keep up on pre-tournament and tournament-week news, see exclusive photos and enter various contests for the chance to win Kia Classic tickets and other prizes.
)
)
)
)
