Atlantic City Weekly

Seon Hwa Lee is the defending champion from 2006.

UPDATE: Check our blog 'Atlantic City Central' for the latest from the LPGA ShopRite Classic in Galloway Twp. through Sunday.

Let’s get the bitterness out of the way. Back in 2007, a dispute between the ShopRite Classic’s Ruth and Larry Harrison and former LPGA commissioner Carolyn Bivens over changing the starting date of the ShopRite Classic led to the shocking demise of the tournament. In the classic Hollywood term, it was a case of “irreconcilable differences.” The local fans and sponsors weren’t happy and the players weren’t happy. The numerous charities that had been given $12 million since the tournament’s inception were the ultimate losers.

Then last November came the news that the ShopRite LPGA Classic was back on the schedule. David Higdon, the LPGA’s chief communications officer, said at the media day for the tournament, “I would be rich if I had a hundred dollars for every time somebody asked me, ‘When are we going to have the ShopRite back?’ There has been a lot of exciting news about the LPGA the last six months, but I don’t think there was anything that topped the announcement that we were coming back to Seaview.”

ShopRite Classic executive director Tim Erensen, explains, “It didn’t leave because it wasn’t successful. It was clearly popular and the community response [to the return] has been great.”

Since the Classic takes place June 18-20, the week before the LPGA Championships June 24-27, all the best female golfers in the world, 99 out of 100 on the top money list, will be competing. The only one who isn’t coming is the recently retired Lorena Ochoa.

The 54-hole official event will offer a $1.5 million purse and will be televised live on the Golf Channel.

Paula Creamer, who has been sidelined nearly all season with a thumb injury, is scheduled to make her return to the tour at the Classic. Creamer has fond memories of ShopRite and Seaview. While still in high school at age 17, she participated as an amateur in 2004 and nearly won, coming in second, one stroke behind winner Cristie Kerr. The LPGA rookie of the year in 2005, Creamer has won seven tour events and is currently ranked 13th in the world.

In a phone conversation at the media day for the event, Creamer talked about her return to competitive golf and her ShopRite experience.

“It’s a great event to make my return,” she says. “I have so many great memories. It is such a great tournament and I’m looking forward to playing there this year. It was very disappointing to find out that we lost the ShopRite. When I found out it was gone, I wanted to know why. It’s great that it’s back but it’s three year’s too late. Hopefully, it will be back for another 25 years.”

The defending champion from 2006 is South Korea’s Seon Hwa Lee. It was her first tour win and she went to become the LPGA’s Rookie of the Year that season. Golf’s current amateur phenom, 15-year-old Alexis Thompson, will make her pro debut at the tournament.

In 2007 as a 12-year-old, she became the youngest player ever to qualify to play in the U.S. Women’s Open. Thompson was named Golfweek’s 2009 Women’s Amateur Player of the Year and the 2009 Junior Girl’s Player of the year. Says Thompson, “I have played in a several LPGA Tour events as an amateur and I am looking forward to making my professional debut that week in Atlantic City.”

The United States could use some fresh talent. International players have dominated the tour the past decade. Of the 26 events that are on this year’s LPGA schedule, only 14 take place in the United States. And, so far this year, no LPGA tournament has been won by an American born player. The Top 10 ranked players on the LPGA Tour, all competing at the ShopRite Classic, are:

1. Jiyai Shin (Korea)

2. Ai Miyazato (Japan)

3. Suzann Pettersen (Norway)

4. Yani Tseng (Taiwan)

5. Cristie Kerr (USA)

6. Anna Nordqvist (Sweden)

7. Michelle Wie (USA)