Safeway Classic Amateur Open Will Provide Guaranteed Spot in LPGA Tournament to Winner.

Tournament Golf Foundation (TGF), the organizers of the Safeway Classic Presented by Coca-Cola (Safeway Classic), will host a one day amateur-only event that guarantees the winner a spot in the LPGA tour’s oldest non-major tournament.

The Safeway Classic Amateur Open will be held at Langdon Farms Golf Club in Aurora, OR (fifteen minutes south of Portland) on Friday, August 3, beginning at 7:00 AM.  Any woman amateur golfer with an established USGA handicap of 2.0 or less is eligible to compete.

The winner of the event will earn a guaranteed spot in the 54-hole Safeway Classic tournament proper to be held August 17-19, at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club, in North Plains, OR.  The second and third place finishers will earn spots alongside professionals in the tournament’s Monday qualifier to be held on Monday, August 13^th .  The top two finishers from the qualifier will also earn entry into the Safeway Classic.

According to Tom Maletis, President of Tournament Golf Foundation, “TGF and the Safeway Classic have been dedicated to growing women’s golf in the Northwest over our 41 year history.  With this event, we have established a tradition of offering amateurs a chance to play with the world’s best pros.  It is traditionally an exciting day as the amateurs play with great intensity for a shot at competing with the top pros.”

Last year, Ashlee Pickerell of West Salem High School (Oregon), won the Safeway Classic Amateur Open.  Current UCLA freshman Erynne Lee of Kitsap, Washington finished second and went on to earn a spot in the Safeway Classic via the Monday Qualifier.  The Safeway Classic Amateur Open will have a $95 entry fee and players can get an application by calling the Tournament Golf Foundation office at 503-626-2711 or by visiting the news section of the tournament web site, www.safewayclassic.com.  Entry deadline for the event will be July 27, 2012.

The Safeway Classic is the oldest non-major championship on the LPGA Tour.  The event, originally called the Portland Classic, has now donated over $16 million to local children’s charities since its inception in 1972, with $13 million coming in the past 16 years with Safeway as title sponsor.  In 2011 alone, the tournament and the Safeway Foundation contributed $1 million in tournament proceeds to Oregon charities.

The 2012 edition of the The Safeway Classic will again be held on the Ghost Creek course at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club in North Plains, OR. The purse for the event will be $1.5 million. The tournament will be broadcast on The Golf Channel all three days.

Suzann Pettersen won the 2011 Safeway Classic overcoming a 9-stroke final day deficit and defeating Na Yeon Choi in a playoff.  With the victory, she became the #2 ranked player in the world.  It was her second victory of the 2011 LPGA season.  Pettersen is currently ranked #3 in the world.

Tournament Golf Foundation is a local Portland area group of volunteers who donate their time and provide the primary operations for the annual event.  Begun in 1972, the group is now comprised of 38 local individuals and couples.

For more information on the Safeway Classic and Tournament Golf Foundation, visit www.safewayclassic.com or call 503-626-2711.  For more information on Langdon Farms Golf Club or for practice rounds, visit www.langdonfarms.com or call 503-678-4653.

By Steve Brandon
Portland Tribune
February 16^th, 2012

Video Provided by SportsOne
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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.

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