BOSTON, Oct. 22, 2013 – The Legends Tour, the official senior tour of the LPGA, will conclude its 2013 season at the ISPS Handa Legends Tour Open Championship next month.
The 36-hole event is set for Nov. 9 and 10, and will be staged on the Island Course at Innisbrook Resort in Palm Harbor, Fla. The fifth annual event will offer a purse of $200,000, with the winner taking home a prize check of $30,000.
Great Britain’s Laura Davies will return as the defending champion. She won the 2012 Legends Tour Open Championship by two shots over co-runners-up Beth Daniel and Barb Moxness. Davies was also a key contributor to the World Team’s recent Handa Cup victory over Team U.S.A.
Daniel, who will be one of five World Golf Hall of Famers in the championship, hopes to end the 2013 season with a victory. She has four top-10 finishes in five starts of stroke-play events on the Legends Tour and has finished in the top five in two appearances at the season-ending championship.
“Being at Innisbrook brings back many fond memories of playing the JC Penney Mixed Team event there for many years,” said Daniel, seeking her first Legends Tour tournament win. “The ninth and 18th holes at the Island Course are difficult finishing holes, but I have played well there in the past.”
While Davies edged out Daniel in last year’s Legends Tour Open Championship, Daniel defeated the big-hitting Briton in their singles match in the recent Handa Cup.
“I felt fortunate to win that match by one shot because Laura drove the 18th green to put pressure on me,” said Daniel. “We all know when Laura has confidence in her driver, she can be very dangerous. But she’s a great sport and has been an asset to the Legends Tour when she plays.”
Hall of Famers joining Daniel in this year’s tournament field will be: Pat Bradley, JoAnne Carner, Nancy Lopez and Hollis Stacy.
Past tournament champions include six-time Legends Tour winner Rosie Jones and Michele Redman, winner of two Legends Tour events.
Legends Tour Hall of Fame member Jan Stephenson, whose match clinched the World Team’s first Handa Cup, will also be in the field.
England’s Trish Johnson will join compatriot Davies in the field, as will Legends Tour season money leader Lorie Kane of Canada. The World Team’s Liselotte Neumann of Sweden, who was the captain of the winning 2013 European Solheim Cup team in August, also will play in the Legends Tour’s season-ending event.
Illinois native and Florida resident Nancy Scranton always plays well in the Sunshine State. Scranton will be seeking her sixth Legends Tour tournament title.
A local qualifying tournament will be held Thursday, Nov. 7. Winner of that event will be awarded a spot in the field.
The Colleen Walker Memorial Pro-Am is set for Friday, Nov. 8, starting at 11 a.m. The event is being played in honor and celebration of LPGA veteran and Legends Tour member Colleen Walker, who lost her battle with cancer shortly after last year’s tournament. Admission is free for the pro-am.
The Colleen Walker Spirit Award was created to recognize an active LPGA Legend who best embodies the spirit, determination and never-give-up attitude shown by Walker. This year’s recipient will be honored following play at the pro-am awards reception.
Tee times start at 8 a.m. each day for the stroke-play championship.
Tickets are $10 each day and are available at the gate. Tickets are also available at all area Walgreens stores for a 50 percent discount. A “Legends Weekend Pass” for both days of competition may also be purchased for $10 at Walgreens locations. Kids 17-under and all military personnel with I.D. get in free.
Free public parking for the event will be located in a lot at the corner of Belcher and Klosterman near Innisbrook Resort. Super Shuttle will provide complimentary transportation to the main entrance of the Island Course.
About The Legends Tour
The Legends Tour is the official senior tour of the LPGA. The tour began in 2000 by LPGA professionals to showcase the talents of some of the greatest women’s golfers of all time. The Legends Tour has more than 120 members, including 12 LPGA and World Golf Hall of Fame members. Legends Tour players have over 675 combined LPGA Tour victories, including 70 major championships. In its 12 seasons, The Legends Tour has awarded more than $10 million in prize money and helped raise more than $13 million for charity. The Legends Tour has hosted events in Arizona, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Wisconsin, Japan and Australia. For additional information on The Legends Tour, log on to www.thelegendstour.com .
Contact: Sue Fracker at 617-513-4716 and at sfracker@jbcgolf.com.
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