Golf Local, Rochester

Yani Tseng is one of the youngest players in the LPGA , yet she is ranked No. 1 in women’s golf. Following her in the Rolex Rankings is Cristie Kerr at No. 2 and Suzann Pettersen at No. 3. They will all be going for the championship title this week at the Wegmans LPGA Championship. Tseng has won three majors already and will go for her 4th. She won the 2008 LPGA Championship, 2010 Kraft Nabisco Championship and the RICOH Women’s British Open in 2010.

Tseng has proven she is a great golfer, and in 2010, she claimed the title as the 2010 Rolex Player of the Year. This title had been held by Lorena Ochoa from 2006-2009 and Annika Sorenstam from 2001-2005. This title is awarded based on a formula in which points are awarded for top 10 finishes and are doubled at the LPGA’s four major championships and at the season-ending Tour Championship.

The winner of the Wegmans LPGA Championship will have a big impact on the 2011 rankings and if Christie Kerr can defend her win from last year she could move to the top of the board. It is going to be a great week of women’s golf in Rochester, NY.

Paula Creamer and Natalie Gulbis are two of the most popular women in the LPGA and will be playing this week at the Wegmans LPGA Championship. They both bring to each round a great show of talent and fan appreciation.

Locust Hill Country Club, Rochester, New York, April 21, 2011—

The Wegmans LPGA Championship leadership team has announced that Lexi Thompson has been invited to compete in the 2011 Wegmans LPGA Championship and has accepted the invitation. This will mark Lexi’s first visit to Rochester and her first opportunity to play in the LPGA Championship.

Her resume is very impressive:

• She was named Golfweek’s 2009 Junior Amateur Player of the Year (18 and under) and 2009 Amateur Player of the Year (18 and over), becoming the youngest, at just 14, to ever win both of these honors at the same time and the first in 15 years since Cristie Kerr accomplished this at the age of 18.
• Lexi is the youngest to compete at Locust Hill CC in the Wegmans LPGA Championship.
• Lexi is the youngest person to qualify for the US Women’s Open at age 12.
• Lexi turned pro in June of 2010 at the age of 15 and played in the US Women’s Open finishing tied for tenth place.
• Lexi finished 2nd at the 2010 Evian Masters.

“It will be a great experience for our spectators to watch Lexi compete against the best women golfers from around the globe at LHCC. We look forward to welcoming Lexi to the Wegmans LPGA Major Championship and to Rochester, New York,” said Jerry Stahl, Tournament Co-Chairman. “This adds to the excitement in Rochester as we celebrate 35 years of LPGA at Locust Hill Country Club. Joining us for the Wegmans LPGA Championship celebration will be LPGA Hall of Fame and Rochester Champions Nancy Lopez, Pat Bradley and Patty Sheehan” states Linda Hampton, Tournament Director.”

About Graduation in the Goal

All proceeds from the Wegmans LPGA Championship will benefit United Way of Greater Rochester’s Graduation is the Goal, the charitable mission of the Tournament. Graduation is the Goal aids evidence based program that show significant promise in delivering on its mission. In 2010, proceeds of $400,000 were donated and will be distributed in mid May.

Photo credits: www.alexis–thompson.com

Cristie Kerr wins her 14th LPGA title

With a final score of -19, Cristie Kerr dominated the field and won her 14th LPGA title and second major championship at the LPGA Championship presented by Wegmans.

Kerr goes on top as #1

With this win at Locust Hill Country Club, it moves Kerr into the number one spot of the world’s best woman golfer. She tops Ai Miyazato who held the title and tied for third in today’s match with a score of -6.

Miyazato had a great day with a -6 but could not catch Song-Hee Kim for the second place finish.

Song-Hee Kim comes in at #2

To our excitement, Song-Hee Kim closed at -7 for the tournament and came in 2nd overall. Song-Hee Kim was our favorite for this tournament but we are so glad to see her make it to the 2nd place with total winnings of $207,790.

Cristie Kerr played some fantastic golf this weekend and never stopped. Her finish on 18, ending on a 4 foot birdie putt, displayed what a quality golfer she is.

Thank you Locust Hill

Golf Local would like to thank all those from Rochester, NY that put on this fantastic event:

• Gerard Heller, Peter Rogers, Steve Barber for hosting the event at Locust Hill Country Club
• Jim Albright and Kim Osur who head up the media tent
• Colleen Wegman and family for supporting such a great caliber of golf
• All the great volunteers and players.

Photo Gallery

View images from the final round at Locust Hill Country Club.

If you would like to use any photos displayed please email golflocal@gmail.com.

Weather provided by AccuWeather.com

LPGA players and spectators at the LPGA Championship in Rochester, NY  were surprised by an earthquake  that passed through Rochester, NY  mid afternoon on Wednesday.

The magnitude 5.0 earthquake shook homes and businesses covering a distance from Canada to Vermont. The heart of the earthquake was at the Ontario-Quebec border in Canada.

On Tuesday, the Excedrin Pro-Am was delayed twice before it was officially called off due to thunderstorms and rain. Despite the earthquake that took place on Wednesday, the weather ended up cooperating which helped dry out the course.

The weather looks to be OK for the rest of the week but has in the forecast more thunderstorms and rain. The best day of the tournament looks like it will be Friday with a sun-filled morning and afternoon with the highs being in the upper 70’s.

If you are coming out to the event make sure to bring an umbrella and some shoes you do not mind getting wet. The LPGA organizers are doing their best to make sure the course is in good playing shape but the rain will make it a very difficult course to play.

Only 1 week till the 2nd major tournament of the LPGA will be played this year. It will take place June 21 – June 27, 2010 at one of Rochester’s best courses, Locust Hill Country Club.

The first major tournament was won by twenty-one year old Yani Tseng with a scores 69-71-67-68 (-13) at the beautiful Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, CA.

Yani Tseng said, “Yeah, I’m still very excited right now, and I played very solid today.  I had an eagle on the second hole, and I know today is going to be my day.  I just keep telling myself commit to the shot and keep my tempo right, and just keep smiling all 18 holes, however I play, however if I make a three-putt or anything.  Just keep smiling, and I called my psychology teacher this morning before I played, and I had a really good talk with her, and she told me a lot, and it helped me a lot with today.”

Her official money winnings was $300,000.

With Tseng looking good for Locust Hill, Song-Hee Kim will be a good match who lead most of the Kraft Nabisco Championship the first major. Kim was strong but was not able to hold on. Tseng put up great shots and just played fantastic golf.

Song-Hee Kim is the highest ranked player without a win

Song-Hee Kim seems to be in good health and is the highest ranked player without a win. She finished in the top 21 of all four major championships in 2009. Last year she tied for 9th with Amy Yang, Stacy Lewis, Jin Young Pak at Locust Hill.

Look for Song-Hee Kim to be a strong contender for the second of four majors at the LPGA Championship presented by Wegmans. The LPGA Championship presented by  Wegmans, will be held at Locust Hill Country Club, June 21-27 and is the second of four major tournaments. The overall purse for the event is bringing in a $2,250,00.

Large turnout expected for LPGA

There is expected to be a large turnout of fans and even record-breaking numbers. The Buffalo News mentions that, tournament co-chairman Jerry Stahl said Monday that ticket sales are running about 50 percent ahead of the previous record. Daily crowds could reach about 25,000 for the four rounds of the event. The biggest one-day crowds in recent years have been about 20,000. The best crowds for the week at the event have been in the 100,000 range.

“If I had to guess, I’d say I wouldn’t be surprised if we had 125,000 or 130,000,” Stahl said. “I don’t think there’s an LPGA event that has that many spectators.”

With the excitement and expectation high we will be cheering on Song-Hee Kim as she fights for her first win.