FRENCH LICK, Ind., Sept. 25, 2013 –The Legends Tour, the official senior tour of the LPGA, makes its inaugural appearance this week at French Lick Resort for The Legends Championship presented by Humana.
The professional 54-hole event will be staged Friday, Saturday and Sunday (Sept. 27-29) on the 6,000-yard Pete Dye Course. A field of 58 professionals will compete for a $500,000 purse with the winner taking home $60,000.
“It’s a very challenging course,” said Illinois native Nancy Scranton, who has five Legends Tour wins with one earlier this season. “You need to hit the fairways here and the fairways are not very wide.”
Added fellow pro, Cindy Rarick of the Pete Dye tract: “The weather conditions here definitely make a difference. This course is long, and if the wind picks up, it will definitely play harder.”
Headlining the tournament field is Great Britain’s Laura Davies, who has 82 wins worldwide. The big-hitting Briton and 20-time LPGA Tour winner has one win on The Legends Tour.
Fresh off her playoff win at the tour’s event in Maine two weeks ago, LPGA veteran Rosie Jones of Atlanta hopes to keep her hot hand going. The former U.S. Solheim Cup captain hopes to notch her career seventh Legends Tour victory this week.
Legends Tour players in the field who have won tournaments this year include Michele Redman, Sherri Turner, Betsy King, Jane Crafter and Alicia Dibos. Canadian Lorie Kane, who has one career Legends Tour victory and nine top-10 finishes in 10 appearances, hopes to earn her first win of 2013 this week.
Seven LPGA and World Golf Halls of Fame players Amy Alcott, Pat Bradley, Donna Caponi, JoAnne Carner, Betsy King, Nancy Lopez and Hollis Stacy all will be in the field this week in Indiana.
In addition to the regular field, there will be a field of four Super Seniors, who will compete for a separate purse. Jane Blalock, Sandra Palmer, Donna Caponi and Susie Berning will play two rounds of competition on Saturday and Sunday.
Kristal Parker-Manzo of Scottsdale, Ariz., won the qualifying tournament earlier in the week to earn a spot in the full championship field.
Thursday’s pro-am tournament will have a shotgun start at 10 a.m. The event is free and open to the public. Friday’s first round will begin at 8:30 a.m.
Tickets for the tournament are $12.50 per day at the gate. A three-day Legends Pass is available at area Walgreens stores for $10. Kids 13 and under and all military personnel with an ID get in free.
Parking is free and includes a complimentary shuttle to the course. Follow signage to the Blue Lot for parking.
This year’s tournament will benefit the American Heart Association.