The Safeway Classic Presented by Coca-Cola will take place Aug. 24-30 in Portland, OR and the final field for the event is set. The 38th edition of the tournament will feature a very strong field, with the top 50 players on the 2009 LPGA Official Money List signed up to play. The tournament is highlighted by defending champion and 2009 leading money winner Cristie Kerr and Rolex Rankings number one Lorena Ochoa. Additionally all 12 members of the US Solheim Cup Team will appear, along with eight members of the European team. LPGA and World Golf Halls of Fame members Karrie Webb and Se Ri Pak are in the field as well.
The sponsor’s exemptions this year will feature one professional and one amateur. Samantha Richdale, a Duramed FUTURES Tour player from British Columbia, who is currently fifth on the money list, will play along with Amy Eneroth, a graduated senior from the University of Idaho. Eneroth won the Safeway Classic Amateur Open earlier this month to earn the second spot in the tournament. 2004. Richdale’s mother has been a Safeway employee for 25 years, and Samantha worked at Safeway growing up in Kelowna, British Columbia.
The 54-hole tournament will be played from Friday Aug. 28-Sunday Aug. 30 at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club. Pumpkin Ridge is located west of Portland in North Plains. The tournament will be played on the Ghost Creek course. The purse for the event this year is $1.7 million. Friday and Saturday play will be broadcast on ESPN2 and Sunday on ESPN. Pro-Am events and practice rounds will be held from Monday through Thursday Aug. 24-27.
“We are thrilled with the strength of our field this year, not only do we have the top 50 on the money list but we also have 97 of the top 100 here as well,” 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 and the players love for playing golf in Oregon. There is a lot of excitement for our new venue 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 $10 million during the 13 years with Safeway as title sponsor.
The best value for fans interested in attending the event is to use their Safeway Club Card and 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.
Fans can also log on to the tournament website and purchase tickets through the Tickets Fore Charity program and designate one of over 40 charities that will receive 100% of the revenue from their ticket purchase. Children 17 and under get in free with a ticketed adult.
