Top Big Ten Golfers from the Epson Tour will compete for one spot in LPGA event
ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN, April 27, 2017 - The LPGA Volvik Championship and the Epson Tour announced the Great Lakes Shoot-out, which will award one exemption spot into the LPGA Volvik Championship. The qualifier will take place on May 16 at Travis Pointe Country Club.
"The exemption is always of interest to golfers looking for the opportunity to play on a professional tour, and this shootout will be an exciting way for a player to earn that slot," said Keith Karbo, Tournament Director of the LPGA Volvik Championship, at the event's Media Day Tuesday, April 25 at Ruth's Chris Steak House. "Our idea to was to have local universities who have been supporting our tournament along with the best of Epson Tour competing to gain that coveted spot in the main event."
The top six former Big Ten players on the Epson Tour’s Volvik Race for the Card money list will compete in the qualifier along with top current college players from local universities -- Detroit Mercy, Wayne State, Eastern Michigan, Michigan State and Michigan. One at-large golfer will also be added to the shootout.
“There are so many talented players from the Big Ten that play the Epson Tour each year and this is a great way to give them a chance to compete for a spot in a LPGA event,” said Mike Nichols, Chief Business Officer of the Epson Tour. “Volvik is a major sponsor of the Epson Tour and the LPGA Volvik Championship, so it made sense to connect the tours.”
There are currently nine former Big Ten players that have earned a check on the Epson Tour through the first five tournaments. The six spots will be determined following the Epson Classic in Milton, Georgia, which runs from April 28-30.
The current standings are as follows:
1. Rachel Rohanna (Ohio State)
2. Elizabeth Tong (Indiana)
3. Emma Jandel (Ohio State)
4. Allyssa Ferrell (Michigan State)
5. Liz Nagel (Michigan State)
6. Lindsay McPherson (Michigan State)
7. Christine Meier (Michigan State)
8. Madeleine Shiels (Nebraska)
9. Amy Ihm (Iowa)
There are two players in the Epson Classic - Laura Kueny (Michigan State) and Kaitlin Park (Northwestern) - that could move into the top six.
The format for the 12-player Great Lakes Shoot-out will be nine holes of stroke play followed by a three hole elimination for the one spot. The top four scores from the stroke play will advance to the hole-by-hole elimination on holes 16, 17 and 18.
The LPGA Volvik Championship will take place May 25-28 at Travis Pointe CC. For more information call (734) 707-0789, email info@volviklpga.com or go to www.volviklpga.com.
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