The LPGA Has Found a Home in Ann Arbor and at Travis Pointe Country Club

Ann Arbor, Michigan – As the final round concluded at the Volvik Championship, it proved to exceed the expectations of everyone as a first year tournament on the LPGA Tour.

The LPGA and Travis Pointe Country Club seem to be the perfect fit and after the first inaugural event, it seems to be a course that adds some challenges where the players have to think about their shots. Thursday thru Sunday, the patrons filled the ropes to watch the stars of the LPGA Tour battle varying conditions throughout each of the four rounds of the tournament. Top LPGA names were at the top of the leaderboard throughout the week including Christina Kim, Ariya Juntanugarn, Jessica Korda and Brooke Henderson.

This year that tournament fell on Memorial Day Weekend, which could’ve aided in the increased crowds but possibly didn’t help with potential patrons who could’ve been heading out of state for the long holiday weekend or could’ve been headed to the Senior PGA Championship in Benton Harbor, Michigan. Either way, the crowds proved that the LPGA has a following here in Michigan.

Michigan is a golf state from the beginning of May until October or November (we take advantage of any extra golf we can get). Michigan golf courses showcase the beauty they offer to Michiganders and visitors. Travis Pointe Country Club is the perfect mix of a northern Michigan course and Mitten courses down here. Travis Pointe is a course that not only has a challenging course for the players but also can hold all of the facilities needed for the professional golfers. It is also located in Ann Arbor which in my opinion is the perfect location for the LPGA Tour in the years to come. Ann Arbor is just 30 minutes away from downtown Detroit and not that far from the suburbs of the city.

After Christina Kim’s second round she was asked about being in contention for the weekend. “Yea, I love it out here. I’m a big fan of the 313. There are very few places well, I guess it’s the 734, but 313 is right there. I think that Ann Arbor is one of my favorite towns in the country and it is hard to find anywhere that beats the weather here than here in the middle of May, end of May in any part of the world. It’s absolutely perfect right now. A little bit of humidity, lots of heat, cool breeze, grass is green. You can’t find anything to complain about this week.”

There were also plenty of Michigan natives in the field, Saline native Sarah Hoffman earned the sponsor exemption, Grosse Pointe Shores native Samantha Troyanovich Monday qualified at Eagle Crest Golf Club in Ypsilanti, Michigan as well as Ann Arbor native Jennifer Song.

Sam Troyanovich spoke with the media after her first round on Thursday “Who doesn’t love the Mitten in May when the suns out?”

One of the biggest compliments I overheard throughout the weekend is that this tournament seems like it has been run for years before. A huge credit should go to tournament director Keith Karbo and the rest of his staff during the tournament. They were everywhere from Tuesday thru Sunday and you never had to wonder where any of them were. The volunteers throughout the weekend were phenomenal, polite and gracious to the players, media and fans. I never met a volunteer who wasn’t personable and everyone that I spoke with said that they wanted to be back next year.

Where do we go for next year? That’s a good question but maybe for a different time because I’d rather think of all of the good things this tournament had to offer. Ariya Juntanugarn may have won her 3^rd straight tournament but it seems like Travis Pointe and the LPGA were the real winners from that weekend.

Professional Golf Returns to Southeastern Michigan in the form of the LPGA Tour and Volvik Championship

Ann Arbor- Professional golf once again returns to Southeastern Michigan with the Volvik Championship May 23 – 29. This would be the first time since the 2009 Buick Open at Warwick Hills Country Club in Grand Blanc, Michigan.

All eyes will be on the stars of the LPGA Tour as they battle for points in one of the last tournaments to qualify for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de janiero, Brazil. Many of the biggest names on the LPGA Tour will compete at Travis Pointe Country Club such as Lydia Ko, Inbee Park, Lexi Thompson, Brittany Lincicome, Michelle Wie and Christie Kerr.

One of the two sponsor exemptions went to a local Saline native Sara Hoffman. Hoffman is a graduate of Grand Valley State University where she got her degree in nursing. She was originally recruited to play basketball at Grand Valley State.

Hoffman stated “I put myself out there for basketball. I didn’t try for golf, I didn’t try and be recruited for golf.”

The state golf championships were at Grand Valley her senior year and the coach recruited her to play golf at Grand Valley and she was the only coach that recruited her for golf. Hoffman played four years at Grand Valley but pursued her nursing career. She would stay home and save up the money while also playing in amateur events.

“In February I quit my job and moved down to Florida to start preparing for Q school in August.” Hoffman stated.

Hoffman grew up playing the game since she was five years old and Travis Pointe Country Club is her home course and where she owns the course record. One of the most interesting and difficult greens on the course is the thirteenth green. Sarah was asked about the 13th Green

“The 13^th green? I had a Volkswagen Beetle while in college and I totaled it and I think they buried it under that green. I’ve played it for so long I know it really well so it doesn’t even bother me, it’s not a huge thing for me. I just know where to put myself on that green or where to miss the so you have a better chip than putt. I don’t think the girls are going to like it, though.”

Hoffman will tee off at 1:43 PM EST with Cheyanne Woods and Laetita Beck off of #1.

A name that should be considered to win the Volvik Championship is Lexi Thompson who is number 10 in the Rolex World Rankings. Thompson is one of the longer hitters on tour who currently ranks first in average driving distance with 283.07 yards.

Thompson will have to use her length this week at Travis Pointe Country Club as it will be the 5^th longest on tour this year at 6,709 yards on tour. Thompson was asked about does her length off the tee help or hinder her?

“Well, it doesn’t hurt (laughs for a second). Yeah, I hit a good amount of drivers and some 3-woods out there, and there’s some holes  that you’re better off laying back on a few. I think it’s all a matter of getting the targets down on the tee and then leaving yourself on the right side of the hole because there’s some hills on the greens that you don’t want to be behind and then putting over.”

Lexi Thompson will be teeing off at 1:21 PM EST with Charlie Hull and Shanshan Feng off of #1.

One of the main tests that will be the greens. They can be very tricky and some greens have very subtle breaks in them. Since Travis Pointe Country Club is new to the LPGA, not many of the players have gotten the chance to play here before and gain an advantage over the others.

All four rounds of the tournament will be shown on the Golf Channel. Thursday and Friday’s will be shown from 7-9 PM EST and 3-6 PM EST on Saturday and Sunday.

Big Names Are Set to Play in 2016 LPGA Volvik Championship at Travis Pointe Country Club

Big Names Are Set to Play in 2016 LPGA Volvik Championship at Travis Pointe Country Club

The field is officially set for the 2016 Volvik Championship (May 23-29) at Travis Pointe Country Club. Nine of the Top Ten in the Rolex World Rankings and other LPGA Tour stars will compete in the first professional golf tournament in southeastern Michigan since 2009. The ninth player in the world Ha-Na Jang being the only player who will not compete as she remains out with an injury.

Among the names playing in the Volvik Championship will be Saline native Sarah Hoffman and 15 year old Korean amateur Ayean Cho who both earned sponsor exemptions into the field.

The inaugural event looks to not only showcase the growth in women’s golf but also a premier golf course located in southeastern Michigan.

This tournament is very important to the women who are looking to gather much needed points in one of the last tournaments to qualify for their country in the 2016 Olympic Games Rio de janiero, Brazil.

Below is a list of the full field and alternates who will compete next week.

FINAL Priority Field List

2016 LPGA Volvik Championship

1 Lydia Ko (1) Top 80 - 2015 Money List 1

2 Inbee Park (1) Top 80 - 2015 Money List 2

3 Sei Young Kim (1) Top 80 - 2015 Money List 4

4 Lexi Thompson (1) Top 80 - 2015 Money List 5

5 Amy Yang (1) Top 80 - 2015 Money List 6

6 Cristie Kerr (1) Top 80 - 2015 Money List 7

7 So Yeon Ryu (1) Top 80 - 2015 Money List 8

8 Shanshan Feng (1) Top 80 - 2015 Money List 9

9 Brittany Lincicome (1) Top 80 - 2015 Money List 12

10 Hyo Joo Kim (1) Top 80 - 2015 Money List 13

11 Suzann Pettersen (1) Top 80 - 2015 Money List 14

12 Minjee Lee (1) Top 80 - 2015 Money List 16

13 Mirim Lee (1) Top 80 - 2015 Money List 19

14 Chella Choi (1) Top 80 - 2015 Money List 20

15 Yani Tseng (1) Top 80 - 2015 Money List 21

16 Mi Hyang Lee (1) Top 80 - 2015 Money List 22

17 Ilhee Lee (1) Top 80 - 2015 Money List 24

18 Jessica Korda (1) Top 80 - 2015 Money List 27

19 Candie Kung (1) Top 80 - 2015 Money List 29

20 Azahara Munoz (1) Top 80 - 2015 Money List 32

21 Austin Ernst (1) Top 80 - 2015 Money List 33

22 Angela Stanford (1) Top 80 - 2015 Money List 34

23 Ariya Jutanugarn (1) Top 80 - 2015 Money List 35

24 Eun-Hee Ji (1) Top 80 - 2015 Money List 36

25 Karine Icher (1) Top 80 - 2015 Money List 37

26 Pornanong Phatlum (1) Top 80 - 2015 Money List 38

27 Xi Yu Lin (1) Top 80 - 2015 Money List 39

28 Pernilla Lindberg (1) Top 80 - 2015 Money List 40

29 Kris Tamulis (1) Top 80 - 2015 Money List 41

30 Sakura Yokomine (1) Top 80 - 2015 Money List 44

31 Kim Kaufman (1) Top 80 - 2015 Money List 45

32 Lee-Anne Pace (1) Top 80 - 2015 Money List 46

33 Paula Creamer (1) Top 80 - 2015 Money List 48

34 Charley Hull (1) Top 80 - 2015 Money List 49

35 Michelle Wie (1) Top 80 - 2015 Money List 50

36 Jane Park (1) Top 80 - 2015 Money List 51

37 Sun Young Yoo (1) Top 80 - 2015 Money List 54

38 Mariajo Uribe (1) Top 80 - 2015 Money List 57

39 Jaye Marie Green (1) Top 80 - 2015 Money List 59

40 Sydnee Michaels (1) Top 80 - 2015 Money List 60

41 Wei-Ling Hsu (1) Top 80 - 2015 Money List 61

42 Caroline Masson (1) Top 80 - 2015 Money List 63

43 Catriona Matthew (1) Top 80 - 2015 Money List 65

44 Moriya Jutanugarn (1) Top 80 - 2015 Money List 66

45 Alena Sharp (1) Top 80 - 2015 Money List 67

46 Haru Nomura (1) Top 80 - 2015 Money List 68

47 Jennifer Song (1) Top 80 - 2015 Money List 69

48 Min Lee (1) Top 80 - 2015 Money List 70

49 Christina Kim (1) Top 80 - 2015 Money List 71

50 Ryann O'Toole (1) Top 80 - 2015 Money List 72

51 Marina Alex (1) Top 80 - 2015 Money List 73

52 Mi Jung Hur (1) Top 80 - 2015 Money List 74

53 Kelly Shon (1) Top 80 - 2015 Money List 76

54 Beatriz Recari (1) Top 80 - 2015 Money List 77

55 Min Seo Kwak (1) Top 80 - 2015 Money List 78

56 Ai Miyazato (1) Top 80 - 2015 Money List 79

57 Christel Boeljon (1) Top 80 - 2015 Money List 80

58 Ayako Uehara (1) Top 80 - 2015 Money List 81

59 Se Ri Pak (2) Career Top 20 83

60 In Gee Chun (7) Non-Member Win 84

61 Brooke M. Henderson (7) Non-Member Win 85

62 Katie Burnett (8) CURRENT YEAR TOP 80 86

63 Megan Khang (8) CURRENT YEAR TOP 80 88

64 Paula Reto (8) CURRENT YEAR TOP 80 89

65 Jodi Ewart Shadoff (8) CURRENT YEAR TOP 80 90

66 Julie Yang (8) CURRENT YEAR TOP 80 92

67 Gaby Lopez (8) CURRENT YEAR TOP 80 93

68 Simin Feng (8) CURRENT YEAR TOP 80 94

69 P.K. Kongkraphan (8) CURRENT YEAR TOP 80 95

70 Nontaya Srisawang (8) CURRENT YEAR TOP 80 96

71 Thidapa Suwannapura (8) CURRENT YEAR TOP 80 98

72 Annie Park (9) Top 10 LPGA Symetra Tour 99

73 Giulia Molinaro (9) Top 10 LPGA Symetra Tour 100

74 Brianna Do (9) Top 10 LPGA Symetra Tour 101

75 Daniela Iacobelli (9) Top 10 LPGA Symetra Tour 102

76 Dani Holmqvist (9) Top 10 LPGA Symetra Tour 103

77 Lee Lopez (9) Top 10 LPGA Symetra Tour 104

78 Alejandra Llaneza (9) Top 10 LPGA Symetra Tour 105

79 Vicky Hurst (9) Top 10 LPGA Symetra Tour 106

80 Casey Grice (9) Top 10 LPGA Symetra Tour 107

81 Rachel Rohanna (9) Top 10 LPGA Symetra Tour 108

82 Amy Anderson (11) Nos. 81-100 109

83 Alison Walshe (11) Nos. 81-100 111

84 Tiffany Joh (11) Nos. 81-100 112

85 Perrine Delacour (11) Nos. 81-100 113

86 Meena Lee (11) Nos. 81-100 114

87 Caroline Hedwall (11) Nos. 81-100 115

88 Jennifer Johnson (11) Nos. 81-100 116

89 Sarah Jane Smith (11) Nos. 81-100 117

90 Sarah Kemp (11) Nos. 81-100 118

91 Sadena Parks (11) Nos. 81-100 121

92 Grace Na (12) Top 20 Q-School 122

93 Budsabakorn Sukapan (12) Top 20 Q-School 123

94 Cyna Marie Rodriguez (12) Top 20 Q-School 124

95 Maude-Aimee Leblanc (12) Top 20 Q-School 125

96 Cydney Clanton (12) Top 20 Q-School 126

97 Ashlan Ramsey (12) Top 20 Q-School 127

98 Laetitia Beck (12) Top 20 Q-School 128

99 Cheyenne Woods (12) Top 20 Q-School 129

100 Sandra Changkija (12) Top 20 Q-School 130

101 Bertine Strauss (12) Top 20 Q-School 132

102 Lindy Duncan (12) Top 20 Q-School 133

103 Pannarat Thanapolboonyaras (12) Top 20 Q-School 134

104 Benyapa Niphatsophon (12) Top 20 Q-School 135

105 Jing Yan (12) Top 20 Q-School 136

106 Su Oh (15) Current- Year Reshuffle 137

107 Marion Ricordeau (15) Current- Year Reshuffle 138

108 Giulia Sergas (15) Current- Year Reshuffle 139

109 Stephanie Kono (15) Current- Year Reshuffle 140

110 Brittany Altomare (15) Current- Year Reshuffle 141

111 SooBin Kim (15) Current- Year Reshuffle 142

112 Katherine Kirk (15) Current- Year Reshuffle 143

113 Amelia Lewis (15) Current- Year Reshuffle 144

114 Becky Morgan (15) Current- Year Reshuffle 145

115 Nannette Hill (15) Current- Year Reshuffle 146

116 Felicity Johnson (15) Current- Year Reshuffle 147

117 Christine Song (15) Current- Year Reshuffle 148

118 Celine Herbin (15) Current- Year Reshuffle 149

119 Belen Mozo (15) Current- Year Reshuffle 150

120 Dori Carter (15) Current- Year Reshuffle 151

121 Briana Mao (15) Current- Year Reshuffle 152

122 Haeji Kang (15) Current- Year Reshuffle 153

123 Samantha Richdale (15) Current- Year Reshuffle 154

124 Demi Runas (15) Current- Year Reshuffle 155

125 Ji Young Oh (15) Current- Year Reshuffle 156

126 Laura Davies (15) Current- Year Reshuffle 157

127 Ssu-Chia Cheng (15) Current- Year Reshuffle 158

128 Jane Rah (16) Nos. 101-125 160

129 Dewi Claire Schreefel (16) Nos. 101-125 161

130 Ashleigh Simon (16) Nos. 101-125 163

131 Lisa Ferrero (16) Nos. 101-125 165

132 Victoria Elizabeth (17) Nos. 21-45 Q-School 168

133 Prima Thammaraks (17) Nos. 21-45 Q-School 169

134 Jiayi Zhou (17) Nos. 21-45 Q-School 170

135 Sherman Santiwiwatthanaphong (17) Nos. 21-45 Q-School 171

136 Heather Bowie Young (17) Nos. 21-45 Q-School 172

137 Karlin Beck (17) Nos. 21-45 Q-School 175

HELD SPOTS:

LPGA Top-10 Kingsmill (2)

LPGA Winner Kingsmill (1)

Sponsor invite (2): Sarah Hoffman, Ayean Cho

Qualifier (2)

ALTERNATES

138 Anne Catherine Tanguay 2016 Tournament Alternates (manual) 1

139 Nicole Jeray 2016 Tournament Alternates (manual) 2

140 Caroline Westrup 2016 Tournament Alternates (manual) 3

141 Jaclyn Jansen 2016 Tournament Alternates (manual) 4

142 Ginger Howard 2016 Tournament Alternates (manual) 5

143 Hannah Collier 2016 Tournament Alternates (manual) 6

144 Paz Echeverria 2016 Tournament Alternates (manual) 7

145 Lorie Kane 2016 Tournament Alternates (manual) 8

146 Silvia Cavalleri 2016 Tournament Alternates (manual) 9

147 Amy Hung 2016 Tournament Alternates (manual) 10

148 Danah Bordner 2016 Tournament Alternates (manual) 11

149 Stephanie Meadow 2016 Tournament Alternates (manual) 12

150 Elizabeth Nagel 2016 Tournament Alternates (manual) 13

151 Sue Kim 2016 Tournament Alternates (manual) 14

152 Kristy McPherson 2016 Tournament Alternates (manual) 15

153 Kendall Dye 2016 Tournament Alternates (manual) 16

154 Beth Bader 2016 Tournament Alternates (manual) 17

155 Jean Bartholomew 2016 Tournament Alternates (manual) 18

156 Ashli Bunch 2016 Tournament Alternates (manual) 19

157 Mindy Kim 2016 Tournament Alternates (manual) 20

158 Cindy LaCrosse 2016 Tournament Alternates (manual) 21

159 Candy Hannemann 2016 Tournament Alternates (manual) 22

160 Megan Grehan 2016 Tournament Alternates (manual) 23

161 Sara Banke 2016 Tournament Alternates (manual) 2

For more information regarding the Volvik Championship please visit http://volviklpga.com/