Tullymore Classic
Tullymore Golf Club
Canadian Lakes, Mich.
July 1, 2015
Wednesday Pre-Tournament News and Notes
CANADIAN LAKES, Mich., July 1, 2015 – The Epson Tour, the Road to the LPGA Tour, begins its second half of the season this week at the Tullymore Classic. The three-round event will begin on Friday, July 3, and run through Sunday, July 5, at Tullymore Golf Club.
The 144 player field will be competing for a share of a $100,000 purse with a top prize of $15,000. The top-10 on the year-end Volvik Race for the Card money list will receive their LPGA Tour cards for the 2016 season.
There will be a cut to the top 70 and ties following second round play on Saturday, July 4.
Meg Mallon is the Host With the Most: 18-time LPGA Tour winner Meg Mallon is honorary host of the inaugural Tullymore Classic and to say she’s done it all may be an understatement.
“Tullymore has done a first class job for the Epson Tour,” Mallon said. “It’s great to see a fit like this with the community that’s so accepting and welcoming of these young players. This facility is fabulous for them so I’m excited for the Epson Tour and the players as well as the community of Tullymore for these two to come together and have a great event.”
Mallon, who moved to Farmington Hills at age seven and played junior golf in Michigan, hosted a junior clinic, was a featured guest at the pro-am party, made various media stops and hit shots on the par-3 161 yard 15th in the pro-am, even registering an ace for one of the groups. The former Solheim Cup captain even found time to watch the U.S. women’s soccer team’s victory over Germany with several of the Epson Tour pros.
As fellow Michigander and Epson Tour pro Brittany Hamilton tweeted, “‘I’ve never felt more American than watching the World Cup with @MegMallonUSA #usa #solheimcup #captain #merica”
“It’s really been fun,” Mallon said of the week. “There’s a few players that I know out here so it’s great to catch up and see them and then meet some of the young players who are up-and-coming and get to know them a little bit so for me it’s a treat. I’m still very involved in the game and love it so much and this keeps my hand in it and able to see the young talent that’s coming up.”
Mallon had a decorated career on the LPGA Tour that included four major championships. Her career year came in 1991, when she won four times and was named the Female Player of the Year by the Golf Writers Association of America. Mallon won the U.S. Women’s Open twice in 1991 and 2004.
Brooke Henderson Will Compete in RICOH Women's British Open: Rolex Rankings No. 46 Brooke Henderson is excited to be competing in her fourth Epson Tour event of the season this week at Tullymore.
“It’s a beautiful golf course and clubhouse and all of the people here have been just great,” Henderson said. “The hospitality has been amazing and I’m really excited to be here.”
Henderson was originally a sponsor invite for the event but will now compete as a member of the Epson Tour as following her victory at the Four Winds Invitational, Henderson petitioned to waive the minimum age requirement and was granted Epson Tour membership by LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan.
“I’m very grateful to all of the people here for taking a chance on me and giving me the invite,” Henderson said. “It’s a tough golf course and you really need to play smart but it’s beautiful and it’s in perfect condition. I know I’m playing with the greens superintendent tomorrow so I’ll have to ask him a few questions around the greens and hopefully get a few hints.”
The 17-year-old found out earlier today that she has received a special exemption to compete in this year’s RICOH Women’s British Open.
“I’m really excited it’ll be a lot of fun,” Henderson said. “I played in the British amateur a couple of years ago, also in Scotland, and it was an experience of a life time.”
Henderson, who will also tee it up in next week’s U.S. Women’s Open, is the highest ranked player to ever compete on the Road to the LPGA.
Meier Looking for Some More West Michigan Magic: Amy Meier is one of seven Michiganders competing in the Tullymore Classic this week and is looking forward to another week competing in the Great Lakes state.
“Obviously being from Rochester I’m definitely a home state girl ,maybe not considered a home town girl, but it’s nice to feel like I’m back home,” Meier said.
Meier has some experience in the Canadian Lakes region as she competed at the St. Ives Golf Course during her junior golf career.
“I have played at the St. Ives resort course before so it’s nice to be back,” Meier said. “It was a tournament on the Powerbuilt Tour. I was probably 12 so I don’t remember much of it but I’m pretty sure that I won.”
Meier, who’s younger sister Christine is also in the field this week, will be hoping to replicate her junior achievement on the Tullymore Golf Course.
“This course is fantastic,” Meier said with a smile. “I know the course has a pretty high rating from Golf Digest so it’s going to be a really good test for us.”
Players Host Junior Clinic: Tournament host Meg Mallon and five Epson Tour players - Brooke Henderson, Meghan McChrystal, Jordan Britt, Amber Hensley and Jennifer Elzholz - took time out of their busy schedules on Tuesday to give back and host a junior clinic alongside the staff of Tullymore.
“It was a good variety of kids. From really young kids to teenagers and it’s really important to get them involved in the game,” Mallon said. “Every adult I talk to when I’m on the road says that they wish they had learned at a younger age. Just putting the club in their hands and have them get a feel for it and you never know you might tap their interest and get them out there playing golf.”
“It was a lot of fun,” added Elzholz. “I think the kids had a great time. We just gave them the clubs and let them go ahead and hit some and gave them a little bit of instruction but I think they just enjoyed the interaction more. To be able to give back is a great feeling.”
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