Suzann Pettersen rallied from nine shots back on Sunday to win the 2011 Safeway Classic Presented by Coca-Cola, recording a par on the 18th hole to defeat Rolex Rankings No. 5 Na Yeon Choi on the first hole of a playoff. Pettersen fired the lowest round of the week, a 7-under 64, on the Ghost Creek Course at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club and finished her round nearly two hours before Choi bogeyed the 18th hole to force the playoff.

In the playoff, Choi’s second shot on the par-4 18th went into the water to the right of the green, and she missed a putt for bogey before Pettersen, who had lost in a playoff to M.J. Hur at the 2009 Safeway Classic, sank her winning par putt.

Pettersen, who is a native of Norway, entered Sunday at 1-over-par, trailing second-round leader Choi by nine shots, but a strong day with her putter helped her to stake the impressive comeback. Pettersen had five birdies and one eagle on No. 10, which was nearly an albatross as Pettersen joked she had to sink just a two-inch putt, en route to putting herself at the top of the leaderboard.

This is Pettersen’s second LPGA Tour title of the year and the eighth of her career. She also won the 2011 Sybase Match Play Championship back in May. Petterson, who recently captured the Ladies European Tour’s Ladies Irish Open at Killeen Castle on Aug. 7, will now move up to No. 2 in the Rolex Rankings behind World No. 1 Yani Tseng.

“I definitely didn’t think I was going to sit here when I started the day warming up,” Pettersen said after her victory. “It was nice to have a back‑to‑back win, Ireland and here, and my full‑time caddie on the bag this week. So now this is really a bonus coming off a five‑day vacation back home. I did not anticipate this, but I’ll take it.”

Another emotional win: While things have been clicking on the golf course for Pettersen this summer, life certainly has not been easy off of it. First there was the tragedy that struck her hometown of Oslo, Norway on July 22. A total of 77 people lost their lives in two attacks, a bombing near the government buildings in the capital city and a mass shooting at a youth camp on a nearby island.

Pettersen was grieving another loss this week after a close family friend, Amman Henneie, was killed in a skydiving accident on Wednesday back in Norway. Henneie, 29, left behind a wife and a 10-day-old son and Pettersen dedicated her victory to his memory.

“It’s been a brutal summer,” Pettersen said. “This last incident was just the top of the ‑‑ just, I don’t know. It’s, like I said, it’s been very, very tough. All I can think of is my love and my hugs go to his family and his wife and his little son. It’s just very, very sad.”

“It makes you realize life’s not all about golf,” she added. “It makes you put things in perspective.”

Moving on Up: Pettersen woke up on Sunday morning thinking that she was too far behind the leaders to be able to put herself into contention. So instead, she focused on another goal in order to motivate herself to shoot a low round – her spot in the Rolex Rankings.

“I’m on the range, and Dave [Brooker, Pettersen's caddy] goes you know if you shoot a low one today you might take over the number two spot in the world ranking,” Pettersen said. “Sometimes you just need a few triggers like that to get an extra focus and make you wanting it because you’re kind of out of the hunt, you feel like.”

Of course Pettersen was able to shoot a low enough round to put her right back in the mix for another victory, but she also accomplished that second goal. When the Rolex Rankings are released on Monday, Pettersen will jump ahead of Cristie Kerr to take over the No. 2 spot.

“No. 2 ranking doesn’t really mean much to me,” Pettersen said. “I’m trying to chase down Yani. To chase down her, you’ve got to win tournaments. I went one step in the right direction.”

SUZANN PETTERSEN, Rolex Rankings No. 3

THE MODERATOR: We’d like to welcome the 2011 Safeway Classic champion Suzann Pettersen into the interview room, starting the day nine shots back of the leader. Kind of take me through your day and kind of what your emotions were going from the moment you teed off until winning?
SUZANN PETTERSEN: Wow, I definitely didn’t think I was going to sit here when when I started the day warming up. But I teed off, and my caddie told me, you know, if we have a good one today, we might be able to pass Cristie on the World Ranking. Just something to have some motivation to go out.

We got off it to a pretty good start. Gave myself a lot of chances, missed the short putt on 8. I really thought I had no chance and just tried to grind. I knew people ahead of me weren’t doing too much, but I never saw the leaders are going to kind of end up where they did. Made a fantastic eagle on 10, and a birdie on 11 and a great par save on 12.

From then I just thought try to get a few more birdies and then I had to wait two hours for the other girls to finish. That was probably the tough part is I had to start all over again. I couldn’t ask for a better pin placement on 18. It really suits my go‑to shots. When I was in the first one to hit, I thought it would be good to just give it a go and put the pressure on her. So it was a good shot, and I made my good par.

Q. What did you do for those two hours?
SUZANN PETTERSEN: Well, went up to the clubhouse, saw the chiropractor, had a few cracks. Yeah, he popped a few joints. Tried to sneak out the names of the picks of Rosie and the U.S. captain. Just trying to get time running.

Q. I know it’s been an emotional summer for you with what happened in Norway this week and you dedicating this win to your friend. Can you just talk about what this summer has been like off the course?
SUZANN PETTERSEN: I don’t think we can take anymore back home. It’s been a brutal summer. This last incident was just the top of the ‑‑ just, I don’t know. It’s, like I said, it’s been very, very tough. All I can think of is my love and my hugs go to his family and his wife and his little son. It’s just very, very sad.

To pass away at 29 years old is way too early, but he left this place doing what he loved to do. So I guess that’s the only kind of thing you can look back at and say he did what he loved to do. But anyway, it’s tragic. It was nice to go ahead and play some golf and put life in perspective. Even though I didn’t feel great in my game. I dug deep, and grind, and made a few putts on the back nine.

Q. What does it mean to you with how you played this week that you take over the No. 2 spot in the Rolex Rankings?
SUZANN PETTERSEN: Yeah, well, No. 2 ranking doesn’t really mean much to me. I’m trying to chase down Yani. To chase down her, you’ve got to win tournaments. I went one step in the right direction. It was nice to have a back‑to‑back win, Ireland and here, and my full‑time caddie on the bag this week. So now this is really a bonus coming off a five‑day vacation back home. I did not anticipate this, but I’ll take it.

Q. Can you talk about on the playoff hole, talk about your drive? First you got a good kick out there, and what was the go‑to shot? Can you describe what was your go‑to shot?
SUZANN PETTERSEN: I’ve been aiming down that left side all week long. You never get a huge bounce coming off there. Even if it stays out there, it leaves you a pretty good angle. But 9 out of 10 shots are always going to jump back out to the fairway, that is one thing I’ve learned over the years playing this course.

I mean, I can hit draw, I can hit fade, and my go‑to shot is a fade. I took a little off, and I told my caddie, There is no point anywhere from this pin, and I hit it pretty good. It was just two or three inches too long. It stayed on the green. Me being the first one to hit, I thought I had to put the pressure on first. So good shot, good execution.

Q. Can you describe your eagle on number 10?
SUZANN PETTERSEN: Yeah, it was like two inches too short. Yeah, it was as close as you can get, I guess, but I left it short.

Q. What was the club you hit?
SUZANN PETTERSEN: I hit a 3‑wood. Little nice draw 3‑wood. It was 240 out and got the right bounce. It was a bit of an aggressive line, but I got the right bounce and perfect.

Q. Did you come in thinking of a number today or anything like that?
SUZANN PETTERSEN: You know what, we tried to go out and make birdies. To be honest, I never thought 6‑under was going to do it. But around this place, you can make birdies, but if you miss greens, it’s hard to get up‑and‑down, especially with the greens being this firm.

So I don’t know. I’m a bit surprised. But that’s a good thing. When you can post a low number, you can sit and relax and wait for the other ones.

Q. When you’re isolated in first place, does your mind play tricks on you when you’re that far in front of everybody else?
SUZANN PETTERSEN: I really don’t know how far. I know she shot 6‑under in the first round and then she was three shots ahead. Three shots is nothing out here. You see that’s the thing. You have three shots and you never feel secure or safe.

I can’t talk on her behalf, but you’ve got to go out and try to play your own game. Like I said, I never thought 6‑under. I never paid attention to the board. I looked at the board on 17. I saw my name in that little window, and it said T‑1. I’m like,

(From earlier interview with Pettersen after her round ended)

SUZANN PETTERSEN: His nickname is Annan. Close family. Just one of those friends that you’ve been growing up with and you have all the same friends. It’s just tragic, 29 years old.

Q. What is his last name?
SUZANN PETTERSEN: Henneie. I mean, it’s just absolutely terrible. He left a 10‑day old boy. Got married this spring. So it’s just very, very ‑‑ it’s been a tough summer. It just feels like I don’t feel we can take anymore right now, so, yeah.

Q. You said you still weren’t totally pleased with your game. What did you mean by that?
SUZANN PETTERSEN: I’m putting good. I’ve been putting good all this summer. I’m very happy with my new putter. It seems like coming down the stretch, it just seems to click. I burned a few edges yesterday. Burned a few edges early today. Burned a few that I felt like I should have made, but managed to get back in it and give myself a chance and just captivated the few that I had.

Q. How long was your eagle putt on 10?
SUZANN PETTERSEN: It was about three inches. It was almost in. It was just short.

Q. Have you ever had a double eagle before?
SUZANN PETTERSEN: No, I don’t think I have. I left it short.

Q. I apologize. I didn’t hear what happened to your friend.
SUZANN PETTERSEN: He died in a skydiving accident.

Q. When you started today, like you were saying before, you were nine shots back. How do you kind of prepare yourself mentally for a round today?
SUZANN PETTERSEN: Well, I’m on the range, and Dave [Brooker, her caddy] goes you know if you shoot a low one today you might take over the number two spot in the world ranking. Sometimes you just need a few triggers like that to get an extra focus and make you wanting it because you’re kind of out of the hunt, you feel like.

But I might have a chance. I think I’ll fall short. I think some of those girls will make some birdies coming in, but overall, very, very pleased with the first week back.

Q. Did you change your approach or just go for pins or anything like that?
SUZANN PETTERSEN: If you have a pretty good club in your hand with the yards she had, I just told her there is no point trying to fire away from the pin. Like on 11, I knew it was enough club to kind of go after it. So sometimes you’ve got to risk to get some reward, and yeah.

Q. On 17, did you hit the same club that you hit two years ago during the playoff?
SUZANN PETTERSEN: Thanks for reminding me.

Q. Yeah, sorry.
SUZANN PETTERSEN: No, it’s actually a new club. It it’s not the same club.

Q. But because of the way that finished?
SUZANN PETTERSEN: Yeah, but that’s two years ago. I feel like I can hit a lot more different shots now.

Q. Just overall with how you’ve played this summer, going back to Sybase and capturing that win, and the win at the Ladies Irish Open and now playing this way today, how pleased are you with your game overall?
SUZANN PETTERSEN: Overall, I feel good. Now I just feel like I can relax and enjoy it. I feel like I’ve kind of proven to myself that I won here. I won in Europe. It just makes you more relaxed. You know, I don’t know. You just go out with the lower shoulders.

I guess I’m just trying to enjoy it, don’t get upset with bad shots and just looking at a challenge. I mean, I had a terrible tee shot on 12. I mean, I wasn’t even close to the green on my second shot. You just see the chance and trying to get up‑and‑down. It’s actually quite fun.

Q. That was a great shot on 18 too. How was your lie on that?
SUZANN PETTERSEN: It was pretty good. But you’ve still got to pull it off and trust the putt, so, yeah.

Q. Did you know what Na Yeon was doing that she had gone to five?
SUZANN PETTERSEN: I hadn’t watched the leaderboard at all. I never thought it was going to be close.

LPGA.com
08/23/11

KRAFT PRO-AM- GHOST CREEK COURSE

NET WINNERS

1^st Place Net – (PRO)  SUZANN PETTERSEN
Larree Renda, Jason Lee, Jeff Campbell, Bill Mikulka

2^nd Place Net– (PRO)  STACY LEWIS
Kelly Griffith, Billy Watts, Ed Madden, Tim Fieldhouse

3^rd Place Net– (PRO) MEENA LEE
Steve Borowitz, Sam Monteith, Steve Malecki, Ed Albert

4^th Place Net– (PRO) MINDY KIM
Phil Markert, Ron Livingston, Michael Jackson, Chris Zehner

5^th Place Net– (PRO) BRITTANY LINCICOME
Kelly Griffith, Bill Klein, Jack Cloherty, Cliff Cox

GROSS WINNERS

1^st Place Gross– (PRO) AMANDA BLUMENHURST
Edward Maletis, Andy Maletis, John Maletis, Bryan Maletis

2^nd Place Gross– (PRO) ANGELA STANFORD
Tom Schwilke, Bill Tragos, Doug Knudsen, Chris Boever

3^rd Place Gross– (PRO) CHRISTINA KIM
David Lee, Bob Arnold, Tim Davis, Jay Toups

4^th Place Gross– (PRO) KRIS TAMULIS
Andy Delaporte, Scott Inukai, Patti Cody, Patrick McCreery

5^th Place Gross– (PRO) PAIGE MACKENZIE
Roger Glenn, Doug Pitassi, Brooks Newsom, Steve Rempel

SKILLS

Wednesday:
Long Drive Men (Hole #18) – Brooks Newsom
Long Drive Women (Hole #10) – Juliana Chugg
Closest to the Pin Men (Hole #11) – Mark Ly
Closest to the Pin Women (Hole #16) – Regina McCarthy

Thursday:
Long Drive Men (Hole #18) – Chad Sumner
Long Drive Women (Hole #10) – Linda Fore
Closest to the Pin Men (Hole #11) – Brandon McDonald
Closest to the Pin Women (Hole #16) – Jewel Hunt

KRAFT AM-AM – WITCH HOLLOW COURSE

NET WINNERS

1^st Place Net
Darren Jones, Garth Borman, John Beretta, Joan Boire

2^nd Place Net
Marty Young, Brian Fogarty, Sam Scheibal, Paul Woods

3^rd Place Net
Tom Ehmen, Mark Jurik, Sean Skinner, Cindy Saunders

4^th Place Net
Brandon McDonald, Rick Rising, Mike Hayes, Ryan Voorhees

5^th Place Net
Bill Klein, Tobby Gavino, Cliff Cox, John Cohen

GROSS WINNERS

1^st Place Gross
Lindsay Bachman, Greg England, Steve Rempel, Roger Glenn

2^nd Place Gross
Randy Sell, John Trachtenberg, Abe Hawkins, Brian Sonnenberg

3^rd Place Gross
John Sheehan, Brad Raffanti, Joe Huston, Steve Burnham

4^th Place Gross
Norm Hwa, Tim Chocquette, Erik Krieger, Dan Gimbel

5^th Place Gross
Scott Ongley, Dave Saxe, Jim McDonough, David Anderson

SKILLS

Wednesday:
Long Drive Men (Hole #4) – Brian Leong
Long Drive Women (Hole #13) – Kumiko Rodewald
Closest to the Pin Men (Hole #12) – Brian Baer
Closest to the Pin Women (Hole #2) –Gwen Watt

Thursday:
Long Drive Men (Hole #4) – Jason Strobbe
Long Drive Women (Hole #13) – Missy Smith
Closest to the Pin Men (Hole #12) – Jim Sheeran
Closest to the Pin Women (Hole #2) – Marie Boleen

NOTE:  If you were unable to attend the Awards Dinner, your team prize certificates will be mailed to the Team Host and then distributed.

Ever wanted to run on a golf course?  This is your chance!  Join us for the brand new Safeway Classic Run the Links 5K benefiting Albertina Kerr on Sunday, August 21 at beautiful Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club.  Not only will you get to run around on a golf course, you’ll receive a weekly parking pass and two passes to the 2011 Safeway Classic (worth $65).  All that, plus you’ll be earning your wings in the Army of Angels, a community that stands together to reach out to the most vulnerable and give back.

When: Sunday, August 21, 2011

Time: Race starts promptly at 7:15 a.m.

Where: Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club, Ghost Creek Course
12930 Old Pumpkin Ridge Road, North Plains

Register: Online here or the day of the race starting at 6:15 a.m.

Cost: $30 (sign up early to get your passes)

After you register online, your name will go on the will-call list to pick up your tournament and parking passes at any time starting the day after you sign up.

Packet pick-up times:

Week of race: August 17-20
Packets will be available for pickup beginning Wednesday, August 17 and will be available through Saturday, August 20 at Will Call (North Plains Elementary School, 32020 NW North Ave, North Plains, OR). Will call is open from 6:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. each day.

Day of race: August 21
Packets will also be available the day of the run (Sunday, August 21) at the registration table beginning at 6:15 a.m. (an hour before the start of the race).

AUGUST 15, 2011

RESULTS

Gross

1^ST Place
Hee Young Park/Anders Giltvedt /Jerry Roslund /Jeff Johnson/Jim Pliska

2^ND Place
Paige Mackenzie/Robert Sznewajs/Ron Cain/Mike Truax /Don Ossey

Net

1^st Place
Stephanie Louden /Carol Grant/Barb Malensky/Nancy Molahan /Alyda Foote

2^nd Place
Leta Lindley/Pete Landry/Andy Hryciw /Robb Walther/Greg Fritz

3^rd Place
Samantha Richdale /Scott Inukai/Ken Vreed /Jerry Lenz/Bob Lanphere Jr.

4^th Place
Heather Bowie Young/Dean Altenhofen/Dan Floyd/Mark Lynn/Dan Fajardo

Field Scores

Paige Mackenzie – 58(Gross) 52(Net)
Jeehae Lee – 64(Gross) 55(Net)
Mindy Kim – 60(Gross) 53(Net)
Janice Moody – 63(Gross) 52(Net)
Kris Tamulis – 61(Gross) 54(Net)
Stephanie Louden – 61(Gross) 49(Net)
Samantha Richdale – 58(Gross) 50(Net)
M.J. Hur – 63(Gross) 51(Net)
Hee Young Park – 57(Gross) 51(Net)
Christina Kim – 58(Gross) 50(Net)
Heather Bowie Young – 52(Gross) 50(Net)
Belen Mozo – 61(Gross) 53(Net)
Amy Hung – 66(Gross) 56(Net)
Allison Fouch – 65(Gross) 57(Net)
Leta Lindley – 60(Gross) 50(Net)
Marcy Hart – 62(Gross) 54(Net)
Anna Grzebien – 60(Gross) 54(Net)

Contests

Men’s Long Drive Hole #18 – Jay Booth
Women’s Long Drive Hole #10 – Gwen Ozaki
Closest-to-the-Pin Hole #11 – Jim Pliska

SAFEWAY CLASSIC PRESENTED BY COCA-COLA QUALIFIER RESULTS

PUMPKIN RIDGE – GHOST CREEK

AUGUST 15, 2011

* = AMATEUR

Q = QUALIFIED

Q+ = QUALIFIED IN A PLAYOFF

The Safeway Classic presented by Coca-Cola will celebrate 40 years of the LPGA Tour in Portland, Ore. when the event tees off next Friday on the Ghost Creek Course at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club.

Kathy Whitworth won the inaugural Portland Classic back in 1972 at Portland Golf Club, taking home a $3,750 first-place prize. The Portland Golf Club was the first of four golf courses that have hosted the event over its 40-year history. The tournament has also been played at Columbia Edgewater Country Club, Riverside Golf & Country Club and for the past two years it’s been held at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club in nearby North Plains, Ore.

The longstanding event has featured a star-studded list of winners including nine LPGA and World Golf Halls of Fame members — Annika Sorenstam, Nancy Lopez, JoAnne Carner, Juli Inkster, Patty Sheehan, Betsy King, Donna Caponi, Amy Alcott, and Whitworth. Five players have won the event multiple times, including Caponi who captured a record four titles in Portland.

Sorenstam and Beth Daniel hold the record for the lowest round in tournament history, shooting a pair of 10-under 62s at Columbia Edgewater Country Club. Sorenstam’s 62 came in the second round of the Safeway Classic in 2002. Daniel shot her 62 in the third round of the event the following year.

Five players have become Rolex First-Time Winners in Portland. They are Michelle Estill (1991), Donna Andrews (1993), Missie McGeorge (1994), Soo-Yun Kang (2005) and most recently, M.J. Hur (2009).And while the victory came early in some players careers, McGeorge ended one of the longest streaks in LPGA Tour history by capturing the win at the 1994 PING-Cellular One LPGA Golf Championship in Portland in her 295th start on the Tour.

There have also been plenty of exciting finishes over the tournament’s 40-year history. The event has come down to a sudden-death playoff 11 times with the most recent playoff victory belonging to Hur, who beat out a pair of LPGA veterans (Suzann Pettersen and and Michele Redman) to capture her first win on Tour.

Portland has been a staple on the LPGA Tour since its very first event back in 1972. There has been only one year that the event has not been played since that first tournament and that was in 2001 when it was cancelled due to the tragic events of September 11.

And when the event tees off next Friday, defending champion Ai Miyazato will try to see if she can make it back-to-back titles at the 54-hole tournament which this year features a purse of $1.5 million.

LPGA.com
8/12/11

The Safeway Classic Presented by Coca-Cola will take place Aug. 15-21 in Portland, OR and the field for the event is set to be one of the strongest on the LPGA Tour this year.  The 40^th edition of the tournament will feature the top 20 players on the 2011 LPGA Official Money List, and 97 of the top 100.  Defending champion Ai Miyazato along with Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings #1 and Ricoh Women’s British Open winner Yani Tseng highlight the field.  In addition 2008 Safeway Classic champion Cristie Kerr, Paula Creamer, Jiyah Shin, Suzann Pettersen and Michelle Wie are also entered. Additionally, LPGA and World Golf Halls of Fame members Karrie Webb, Juli Inkster and Se Ri Pak are scheduled to play.

The sponsor’s exemptions this year include Lexi Thompson, the 16-year old, who dominated the first stage of LPGA Q-school last week, winning by 10 shots.  Tour veteran Kris Tschetter has also been granted an exemption. The third spot belongs to Salem, Oregon high school senior Ashlee Pickerell, who earned a spot in the tournament by winning the Safeway Classic Amateur Open on July 25^th.

The 54-hole tournament will be played from Friday Aug. 19 -Sunday Aug. 21 at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club’s Ghost Creek Course.  Pumpkin Ridge is located west of Portland in North Plains.  The purse for the event this year is $1.5 million. All three days of tournament play will be broadcast on Golf Channel.   Pro-Am events and practice rounds will be held from Monday through Thursday Aug. 15-18.

“We are thrilled with the strength of our field this year.  Not only do we have the top 20 on the money list, but the depth of the field is just outstanding,” said Tom Maletis, President of Tournament Golf Foundation, the tournament organizer.  “It is a tribute to our long history with the LPGA, the commitment of Safeway to the Tour, the players love for playing golf in Oregon and their experience the last several years at Pumpkin Ridge.”

Proceeds from the event benefit children’s charities in Oregon through the Safeway Foundation.  Last year the tournament raised  $1 million for programs in need and has raised over $12 million during the 15 years with Safeway as title sponsor, and over $15 million in the 39-year history of the event.

The best value for fans interested in attending the Safeway Classic is to spend $35 at any local Safeway store in Oregon or Southwest Washington.  With the purchase they will get a coupon good for two any day admissions to the tournament. Children under 17 get in free with a ticketed adult.

Fans can also log on to the tournament website and purchase tickets through the West Coast Bank Tickets Fore Charity program and designate one of over 30 charities that will receive 100% of the revenue from their ticket purchase.

For more information on the Safeway Classic, visit www.safewayclassic.com.

2011 AMATEUR OPEN RESULTS

Ashlee Pickerell, a rising senior at West Salem High School, won the Safeway Classic Amateur Open at Langdon Farms Golf Club with an even par score of 71.  The victory provides Ashlee a sponsor exemption to play with the best professional’s on the LPGA tour at the Safeway Classic August 15^th – 21^st at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Course in North Plains, OR.  Erynne Lee shot just one stroke behind (72) to place second, and Tiffany Schoning took a close third (74) to earn entry into the Monday Qualifier for the Safeway Classic.

Pickerell has been very successful in her high school career placing in the top ten at the 6A high school tournament every year, including a second place finish this year.  Coming off the U.S. Junior Championships at Olympia Fields near Chicago where she didn’t have such great success, Pickerell said she was able simplify her swing over the past week resulting in an up-and-down round including six birdies, to shoot an even par round.

Erynne Lee came into the Safeway Classic Amateur Open on a high note after winning the Washington Women’s Amateur Title in June, and continued by shooting a +1, 72-shot round to earn second place.  The recent Central Kitsap High School graduate will continue her golf career as a UCLA Bruin next fall.

Portland State senior-to-be Tiffany Schoning had a nine-hole low score of -1 and finished with a +3, 74 to claim third place.   The Bend area native was named first team All-Big Sky Conference this year, and will look to be placed among one of the Portland State greats, already having the third best season scoring average in school history.

Winner of the amateur open, Ashlee Pickerell had an up and down day with 6 birdies, 4 bogies and a double bogey. When asked about the birdies, Pickerell credited her short game saying “My putting was on fire, it was definitely a big bonus.”

Pickerell played in the third to last group of the day, and knew she had a solid round, but said, “I didn’t really know the other participants scores until I finished my round, Tiffany was in my group and I knew she right with me all day.”  After the final scores came in and she was asked about the victory, Ashlee said she felt “Amazing, but it hasn’t really sunk in yet.”  As for her thoughts and plans for playing with the Pro’s, “I’m excited!  I’m just going to try and play my game and play one shot at a time.”

This year’s Safeway Classic will be the 40^th edition.  The tournament has raised over $15 million for local children’s charities in Oregon through the Safeway Foundation since 1972, including at least $1 million each of the past five years.

For more information on the Safeway Classic and Tournament Golf Foundation, visit their website at www.safewayclassic.com

QUALIFYING FORMAT:

The LPGA will conduct an 18-hole stroke play competition to determine 2 qualifiers.
Each of these qualifiers will receive exemptions directly into the 2011 Safeway Classic sponsored by Coca-Cola.
To be contested at Pumpkin Ridge-Ghost Creek Golf Course on August 15, 2011 at 1:00pm.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

Contact Information: Jeanne Dahl-503-626-2711-Safeway Classic Tournament Office

• The Qualifier is open to LPGA Tour, LPGA Futures Tour, T&CP members, Non-LPGA professionals, and two (2) amateurs invited by the Tournament Sponsor.

• All NON-LPGA PROFESSIONAL AND AMATEUR ENTRIES MUST BE RECEIVED ON OR BEFORE 5:00 P.M. LOCAL TIME ON THE FRIDAY PRECEDING THE OPEN QUALIFIER.
Note: Faxed entries will not be accepted.

• All LPGA Tour, LPGA Futures Tour, and T&CP members on the Official Tournament Alternate List will continue to enter the Qualifier by contacting the LPGA Tour Advance Official on site               by 5:00 p.m. local time on the Sunday before the qualifier.
NOTE: Any player in this category who is not on the Official Alternate List must enter using this Open Qualifying form.

ENTRY FEES:

• The following Entry Fees will apply to players who participate in Official LPGA Open Qualifiers:
1. LPGA Futures Tour Professionals ($200)
2. Amateur qualifiers invited by the sponsor ($230)
3. Non-LPGA Professionals ($500).

• Entry fees are payable by credit card (Visa/Master Card only), cashier check, or money order. Payment must accompany the official entry form. Faxed entries will not be accepted.

• Entry fees, less a $50 administrative fee, will be refunded if the participant withdraws prior to the entry
deadline; otherwise the entry fee is forfeited. Late, faxed or incomplete entries will not be accepted
and are not the responsibility of the Safeway Classic presented by Coca-Cola

STARTING TIMES:

• Starting times will be available after 5:00 p.m. local time on the Sunday before the qualifier.
Please contact the Tournament Office at 503-626-2711

LPGA RULES AND REGULATIONS:

The Rules and Regulations of the LPGA Tour will apply, and are incorporated herein by reference. This includes the USGA Rules on Groove Specifications as implemented by the LPGA Tour. There will be no on-site testing for groove conformity. Players should confirm their clubs’ conformity in advance of the qualifier. Should a player who qualifies be disqualified as a result of this rule, the Open Qualifying spot(s) will be replaced by the next player(s) on the LPGA Tour alternate list.

Any player who participates in an Official LPGA Open Qualifier(s) acknowledges and agrees that she will be subject to the LPGA Tour Anti-Doping Program Protocol. Please visit LPGA.Com and click “LPGA Policies” for additional information on the LPGA Tour’s Anti-Doping Program.

CADDIES / GOLF CARTS / PULL CARTS:

Players will be required to have a caddie and shall walk at all times except when permitted by the LPGA Rules Committee to ride. Caddies shall wear smooth rubber-soled shoes (duck shoes are not considered to be smooth, rubber soled shoes). No golf shoes of any type will be permitted. Golf Carts and pull-carts are not permitted during the Qualifier.

REDUCTION / CANCELLATION:

Any reduction or cancellation in the respective qualifying competition shall be decided by the LPGA Tour Rules Committee. If in the judgment of the on-site LPGA TOUR Rules Official, whose decision shall be final, conditions render commencement or continuation of tournament play inadvisable, play shall be postponed until such time as the LPGA TOUR Rules Official determines that such weather conditions or other occurrences or conditions have improved sufficiently for play to commence or resume.

In the event the qualifying competition cannot be completed by the end of the scheduled competitive day, every effort will be made to complete the competition as soon as possible. The Open Qualifying competition will not continue beyond the end of the day immediately following the day of the scheduled qualifying round. In the event the 18 hole Open Qualifying is unable to be completed, qualifying spots will be filled according to the Priority List of those players entered in the qualifying round.

In the event the competition is canceled without any player having been able to play, all entry fees will be refunded. In the event the competition is canceled after play has begun, all entry fees will be refunded, minus a $50 administrative charge per player.

PRACTICE ROUNDS:

Practice Rounds will be available for the Open Qualifying contestants. Please contact the
Golf Shop at 503-647-4747 for further information.

OPEN QUALIFYING APPLICATION FORM:

http://www.lpga.com/content/photos/2011/OPENQFORM.SafewayClassic.pdf

The trouble with being a champion? It creates great expectations. When Ai Miyazato reached No. 1 in the world last year, it meant she was no longer just another good young player on the LPGA Tour.

The native of Japan didn’t go into freefall after winning her fifth and final tournament of 2010 in the Safeway Classic at Pumpkin Ridge, but she admits that it has had an effect on her performance since then.

Miyazato, who finished last season ranked No. 6 in the world, hasn’t won since Portland. And she hadn’t played up to her usual lofty standards until the last two months, when a pair of top-10 finishes have vaulted her back up to 22nd on the LPGA money list.

“I feel like I’ve been playing pretty good, but it has not really come together,” Miyazato, 26, said Tuesday during an appearance with media and sponsors for the 2011 Safeway Classic Aug. 19 to 21 at Pumpkin Ridge. “But I played good last week, so hopefully I can get back in balance.”

Miyazato finished tied for sixth in the U.S. Women’s Open at Colorado Springs, Colo., two months after a fifth-place finish in the Sybase Match Player Championship at Gladstone, N.J.

Since her 11-week reign as No. 1 on the LPGA money list last year, though, the pressure has taken some edge off her game.

“Yeah, yeah, I think that is true,” she said, flashing her engaging smile. “But it was a great experience to be at the top of the world.”

Compounding Miyazato’s challenge was the March 11 earthquake in Japan that registered 9.0 on the Richter Scale and triggered a devastating tsunami. The epicenter was in the northeastern coastal city of Sendai – Miyazato’s hometown.

In Sendai, 740 died or are missing. The death toll reached 20,000 nationwide.

“To be honest, yes, a little bit,” said Miyazato when asked if the aftermath impacted her performance on the golf circuit. “I went to high school in Sendai. I know the area, know a lot of people there.

“All my friends are safe. A couple of friends lost their houses. That was too bad. It was difficult to concentrate on my game for a while.”

The victory drought began to weigh on Miyazato’s mind in recent months.

“It was,” she said, “but not anymore. I stopped thinking about so many things. I finally realized I need to focus on things I can control.”

Miyazato spent some time with her swing coach – her father, Masaru – and with her two mental coaches, who convinced her she has the stuff that can get her to No. 1 again.

“Oh yeah, I think so, definitely,” she said. “There are a lot of us right now with that same goal. It’s very competitive.

“You need to be not perfect, but on top of both the mental and physical game. I’m still in the process. Hopefully I can get back there.”

The queenpin of the tour right now is Taiwan’s Yani Tseng, who has won three times and has earned $1,329,383 in 11 events to rank as No. 1.

“Yani is head and shoulders above everyone else right now,” Miyazato said.

The 5-2, 115-pound Miyazato ranks seventh on tour in driving accuracy but is only 77th in driving distance (249.9 yards) and tied for 76th in greens in regulation. She is tied for 48th in putting in greens in regulation, a category in which she finished first a year ago.

“I’m not really a long hitter, so I need to work on my short game really hard,” she said. “I got a good feeling about it this last week, though, and everything is getting better with my putting.”

Miyazato flew from Colorado Springs to Portland Monday night after the finish of the rain-delayed U.S. Women’s Open, much to the delight of Safeway Classic Director Tom Maletis.

“Ai could have canceled, and I wouldn’t have blamed her,” Maletis says. “But she wanted to fulfill her obligation here. Shows you what kind of person she is. She is special.”

Part of it, perhaps, was the fondness she holds for Portland after her win here last season.

“This tournament is well-organized and always has big crowds,” she said. “The people treat you very nice. I enjoyed everything about it.”

Miyazato, who has a home in Irvine, Calif., will spend a few days in Seattle before flying to Europe for the Evian Masters in Evian-les-Baines, France, and the Women’s British Open. A few weeks later, she’ll be back in Portland, trying to defend her title.

By then, she hopes, she’ll be working her way back up the ladder toward No. 1.

“I’ll get there again,” she said. “There is still a long way to go in my career.”

Kerry Eggers
The Portland Tribune
7/14/11