BOSTON, Jan. 14, 2016 – The Legends Tour will return to Sun City West, Ariz., for the 5th annual Walgreens Charity Classic. The 36-hole event will also return to Grandview Golf Course for the tour’s season-opening event.
Set for March 4-6, the field will include 50 Legends of the LPGA (age 45 and over) who will compete for a purse of $250,000. In addition, the event will feature a Super Legends Division (age 63 and over) competing for a separate purse.
For the fifth year, Walgreens will also return as the event’s title sponsor. Walgreens sponsors both The Legends Tour’s season-opening event in Arizona, as well as the season-ending, full-field event in South Florida.
“The annual Walgreens Charity Classic is a great opportunity to showcase world-class LPGA legends alongside Walgreens’ purpose to champion everyone’s right to be happy and healthy,” said Matt Sesto, Walgreens Regional Vice President. “ We’re thrilled to support two great charity partners in the process – the American Diabetes Association and Aunt Rita’s Foundation.”
Kris Tschetter of Virginia, the event’s 2015 champion, will return to defend her title. Tschetter, who has also won one event on the LPGA Tour, made last year’s season opener her first win on The Legends Tour. The native of Sioux Falls, S.D., played on the LPGA Tour for 21 years.
“I love the golf course and I am absolutely looking forward to getting back to Arizona to defend my title,” said Tschetter, who also recorded two runner-up finishes in major championships on the LPGA Tour, including the 1996 U.S. Women’s Open. “It felt unbelievably amazing and satisfying to win again.”
During tournament week, a local qualifying tournament will be held on Thursday, March 3. Two players in the qualifier will earn starting spots in the tournament field.
The tournament pro-am will be held on Friday, March 4, with competitive rounds set for Saturday and Sunday, March 5-6.
Advance daily tickets will be available for $10 per adult in Arizona Walgreens stores, starting Feb. 15. Daily tickets will be $15 per adult at the gate for tournament rounds. Kids 13 and under and all active military personnel with ID get in free.
Tickets for tournament rounds will include access to the Walgreens Healthy Living Expo, which will be staged adjacent to the clubhouse each day from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
A tournament roster will be announced in the coming weeks. LPGA and World Golf Halls of Fame members Nancy Lopez and Juli Inkster, along with past event champions Rosie Jones, Michele Redman and Liselotte Neumann, are expected to compete in this year’s tournament.
“The American Diabetes Association is grateful to be selected as a charity partner of the 2016 Walgreens Charity Classic,” said Anne Dennis, Area Director. “We thank Walgreens and The Legends Tour for supporting our vision of life free of diabetes and all its burdens.”
Aunt Rita’s Foundation raises and equally distributes funds to Central Arizona programs that prevent HIV/AIDS or assist those living with HIV/AIDS. Aunt Rita’s Foundation accomplishes this through direct public education and signature fund-raising events.
“Walgreens is an outstanding partner of Aunt Rita’s Foundation in our effort to provide funding for Central Arizona HIV/AIDS Service Organizations,” said Glen Spencer, executive director of Aunt Rita’s Foundation. “We are honored to be selected as a beneficiary of this year’s Legends Tour Walgreens Charity Classic.”
For more details, including ticket information, visit www.thelegendstour.com.
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