Atlantic City Weekly

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Defending champ Annika Sorenstam looks for another win.

The ShopRite LPGA Classic, hosted by Seaview Resort and Spa, is the most prestigious event of the summer in the southern New Jersey area and continues to grow in popularity and importance. The $1.5 million tournament has become the richest 54-hole event on the LPGA Tour. The ShopRite LPGA Classic and title sponsor Wakefern Food Corporation recently presented a record $1.8 million in proceeds from the 2005 tournament to its 57 non-profit beneficiaries. The amount represents the largest contribution to charity by any LPGA event for 2005, the second consecutive year that the Classic has earned this distinction. Together, the ShopRite Classic and Wakefern/ShopRite have now contributed more than $12 million to its beneficiaries since the tournament's inception.

Hopefully, the ladies will have better weather conditions than we had for Media Day on May 1. The wind was gusting at 40 miles-per-hour on the Bay Course, from the shotgun start at 8:30am to the finish.

The course is in beautiful condition, the greens are perfect and a few changes have been made. The holes haven't changed, just the order; holes nine through 17 have been re-routed. Director of golf Steve Schaller explained, "The purpose of the changes is to create a better flow for players and spectators. It eliminates back-to-back par threes [an unusual arrangement] and spreads the par fives more evenly throughout the course."

General Admission and Volunteer Parking has also been relocated this year. Signage from the Garden State Parkway, Atlantic City Expressway, Jimmie Leeds and Pitney roads will direct you to the designated Richard Stockton College parking lots. The Classic's executive director Ruth Harrison made a plea for "more volunteers, who are so essential to the success of the event." If you haven't yet mailed your volunteer application, please call the tournament office at 383-8330. You may also sign up on-line at www.shopritelpga.org.

Volunteers are important, but not as important as the players, of course. With the McDonald's LPGA Championship (one of four major championships in women's professional golf) taking place the following weekend, nearly all of the top lady golfers in the world will compete in the ShopRite Classic to make sure their game is in top form. In fact the top 20 players in this year's money list are competing this weekend (see chart).

Those playing in the tournament include Kristi Albers, Dawn Coe-Jones, Paula Creamer, Beth Daniel, Laura Davies, Natalie Gulbis, Sophie Gustafson, Julie Inkster, Chris Johnson, Cristie Kerr, Michelle McGann, Janice Moodie, Soo Young Moon, Liselotte Newmann, Se Ri Pak, Grace Park, Annika Sorenstam, Charlotta Sorenstam, Angela Stanford and Karrie Webb.

The highlight of Media Day was a conference call between the media and Annika Sorenstam, last year's ShopRite LPGA Champion, who as of that date had not yet firmly committed to defending her ShopRite Classic title (she has since then). When asked if she had signed the commitment form yet, she replied, "I'm not sure but I will be there." Her determined answer underscores the importance of this weekend's tournament, not just for Sorenstam, but for the entire field.

The 2005 ShopRite Classic was just one of 10 championships the Amazing Annika won in 2005. The all-time record for wins in a season is 13 by Mickey Wright in 1963, the only player to have more wins in a single season than Sorenstam. The Super Swede's total of 67 career wins on the LPGA Tour (including one this year) has been accomplished in just 12 years. Last season alone she ranked first on the tour in earnings, scoring average, rounds under par, eagles, rounds in the 60s, greens in regulation, putts per green in regulation and birdies.

In winning the 2005 ShopRite Classic title, Sorenstam became the third multiple winner of the tournament in its 20-year history and the second player to have won it three times, joining fellow Hall of Famer Betsy King. Julie Inkster has won the title twice. In fact, last year's final pairing featured Sorenstam and Inkster each trying for their third Classic win, but Sorenstam's amazing 55-foot eagle putt on the final hole placed her at 17-under par, tied her own tournament scoring record of 196 and clinched her victory. This weekend Sorenstam will try to be the first player to win four championships and two in a row. But with seven other former Classic champions in contention, it won't be easy.

Through Sunday, June 4:
Seaview Marriott Resort & Spa, at New Road (Route 9) and Jimmie Leeds Road in Galloway Township, will host the 21st annual ShopRite LPGA Classic golf tournament. Tickets for the 2006 ShopRite LPGA Classic may be purchased online or at the admission gate. Daily admission tickets are $18 (grounds) and $20 (clubhouse). Grounds passes for the entire tournament (through Sunday) are $40 or $70 for weekly grounds and clubhouse passes. Admission to the tournament is free for children 15 and under accompanied by a ticketed adult. For sponsor, volunteer or ticket information, call 383-8330 or visit the tournament's official Web site at www.shopritelpga.org.

Greater Atlantic City Golf Association (GACGA)
1-800-GOLF-222. This association includes 10 of New Jersey's best golf courses and enables golfers to custom create their own golf outting. Golf packages vary to suit every mood, and include lodging accomodations, entertainment and relaxation. Reservations can also be made to schedule tee times. For more information or to book a package, go to www.gacga.com.

Tournament Schedule:
Thursday, June 1: Second day of Pro-Am.
Friday, June 2: Opening round of Championship; Family Fun Zone & Expo.
Saturday, June 3: Second round of Championship; Family Fun Zone & Expo.
Sunday, June 4: Final round of championship; Sudden Death Playoff in the event of a tie; Family Fun Zone & Expo.

Top 20 in the Money
2006 ADT Official Money List
1 Lorena Ochoa $1,114,888.00
2 Karrie Webb $935,202.00
3 Hee-Won Han $704,208.00
4 Mi Hyun Kim $584,826.00
5 Cristie Kerr $541,737.00
6 Juli Inkster $538,388.00
7 Annika Sorenstam $513,273.00
8 Seon Hwa Lee $435,414.00
9 Meena Lee $374,772.00
10 Natalie Gulbis $373,021.00
11 Paula Creamer $320,747.00
12 Pat Hurst $298,173.00
13 Jeong Jang $271,245.00
14 Sung Ah Yim $254,798.00
15 Joo Mi Kim $240,482.00
16 Helen Alfredsson $199,381.00
17 Ai Miyazato $182,193.00
18 Stacy Prammanasudh $181,900.00
19 Michele Redman $169,994.00
20 Shi Hyun Ahn $169,346.00
(All players in top 20 are competing this weekend)