MAINEVILLE, Ohio — The highly anticipated inaugural Prasco Charity Championship on the road to the LPGA Tour has finally arrived at TPC River’s Bend with the Epson Tour gearing up for competition from June 29-July 1.
With a purse of $100,000, the 144-player field will compete in a 54-hole stroke play format featuring a cut to the low 60 players and ties after 36 holes. The tournament is the first LPGA Tour family event at any level to be contested on a PGA TOUR owned and operated course.
“Competing at a PGA TOUR venue is a major step in the growth of women’s golf and demonstrates our positive ever-evolving relationship with the PGA TOUR,” said Mike Nichols, the Chief Business Officer for the Epson Tour. “We are thrilled that the future stars of the LPGA have the opportunity to compete at TPC River’s Bend, an outstanding championship golf course, as they continue to pursue the highest level of women’s professional golf.”
TPC River’s Bend is no stranger to welcoming professional golf to its grounds. It has been the site of several professional tournaments, including the PGA TOUR Champions Kroger Classic between 2002 and 2004, and the Chiquita Classic on the Web.com Tour from 2010 to 2012.
“The PGA TOUR is excited to welcome the LPGA’s Epson Tour to TPC River’s Bend in 2018,” said PGA TOUR Chief Operating Officer Ron Price. “Everyone involved in this partnership is committed to helping grow the game. Having the LPGA compete at a TPC is a testament to that and the growing collaboration between our two organizations.”
In addition to hosting professional events, TPC River’s Bend was home to the 2017 and 2018 Big Ten Women’s Golf Championships.
Furthermore, there are four players from the Buckeye State among the competitors this week, including Jillian Hollis (Rocky River, Ohio) and Emma Jandel (Dayton, Ohio), as well as two amateur sponsor exemptions in Alexandra Swayne (Maineville, Ohio) and Katie Hallinan (Loveland, Ohio).
“My family is in town, the course is in awesome shape. It’s going to be an awesome week,” said Jandel, a former two-time Second Team All-Big Ten selection for Ohio State University. “I think my old Ohio State coach is coming down, my fiancés family, some friends.”
First and second round action will begin at 7:30 a.m. ET on Friday and Saturday, respectively, with groups going off No. 1 and No. 10 tees. The final round starts at 7:30 a.m. ET on Sunday and all play will begin on No. 1.
“It feels really good to come here and the course speaks for itself,” Jandel said. “I feel really proud of where I’m from, that Prasco is the sponsor. They’re great people. Just coming in the clubhouse and having a locker, little details that show they really want us here. It’s a quality event with quality people.”
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