Pettersen Defends Title at Pumpkin Ridge

North Plains, Oregon welcomes the LPGA Tour to the Ghost Creek Golf Course at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club this week. The 41st annual Safeway Classic Presented by Coca-Cola features a dominant field of 144 players competing for a $1.5 million purse and a $225,000 first-place check.

Reigning champ and Rolex Rankings No. 6 and 2011 Ladies Irish Open winner, Suzann Pettersen is back in the Northwest after an outstanding finish in 2011 when she defeated Na Yeon Choi in the first hole of a sudden-death playoff. 

The Norwegian fired the lowest round of the week, a 7-under 64, during Sunday’s final round to stage a nine-stroke comeback and her winning score was a four-day tally of 6-under-par 208. This win marked her eighth victory in her 10-year tenure on the LPGA Tour and her latest victory to date.

This week’s field consists of nearly all of the world’s top 50 golfers including No. 12 So Yeon Ryu and No. 17 Angela Stanford, who both had impressive finishes at last week’s Jamie Farr Toledo Classic.

Rookie standout Ryu became the fifth Rolex First-Time winners this season after taking a commanding lead in the final round last week. She tied the LPGA record for the lowest final round by a winner, shooting 62 to win by seven-strokes over Stanford. Ryu finished at 19-under-par for the event following four-straight rounds in the 60s.

Earlier this season, Stanford captured her fifth LPGA victory at the HSBC Women’s Champions in Singapore in a three-hole playoff. She tallied her third top-10 this season with a runner-up finish last week, her 65th top-10 in 12 seasons.

The eight other top-10 finishers from last week join Ryu and Stanford at the Safeway Classic Presented by Coca-Cola including South Koreans Inbee Park, I.K. Kim, Jiyai Shin and Chella Choi.

Irish Ladies Launch Pink Friday

Ireland’s top golfers teed up at Killeen Castle to launch ‘Pink Friday’ ahead of this year’s Ladies Irish Open, supported by Fáilte Ireland. 

The initiative will see all GUI or ILGU card holders who wear pink on the opening day of the tournament, Friday August 3rd, granted FREE admission. Collections will take place on the day and all monies raised will go to Breast Cancer Ireland.

Ireland’s top player, Rebecca Codd, accompanied by fellow professionals Danielle McVeigh and Tara Delaney and the sensational amateur twins, Leona and Lisa Maguire lined out to support the initiative ahead of competing with some of the world’s best female golfers as they battle it out for one of the most prestigious competitions on the Ladies European Tour.

Suzann Pettersen from Norway returns to the Jack Nicklaus Signature Course at Killeen Castle, County Meath to defend her title as Ladies Irish Open Champion. A number of the successful European Solheim Cup team, who defeated the US in a memorable competition at Killeen Castle, will also return including England’s Laura Davies, Melissa Reid along with Scotland’s Catriona Matthew and four-time Irish Open champion Sophie Gustafson from Sweden.

The Ladies Irish Open supported by Fáilte Ireland takes place from the 3rd – 5th August at Killeen Castle, Dunsany, Co. Meath. Large crowds are expected to attend the event which is now one of the biggest events on the Ladies European Tour with a prize fund of €350,000.

Tournament Director, Roddy Carr commented, “I would encourage people of all ages to take this opportunity to watch some of the world’s best golfers compete in one of the finest golfing venues in Ireland. I am delighted that such a strong international field will compete in this year’s Ladies Irish Open and hopefully people will turn out in pink on Friday to support this great initiative.”

Aisling Hurley, from Breast Cancer Ireland said “This is a super initiative which will help support our pioneering research efforts. One of our main objectives is to make all women, regardless of age, Breast aware. We are delighted that the Ladies Irish Open is helping us in our Race for A Cure”.

Along with the top-class golf, there will be plenty of entertainment for all including live music each day and a dedicated Kidzone and Junior Golf area. There will be a traditional Farmer’s Market which will provide a variety of delicious culinary delights and treats including The Thai BBQ, Tasty Land Asian Noodle Bar, Jarek’s Kitchen and for a more traditional option Gran Clarks Bakery will serve up tart’s, bracks and muffins.

Pettersen to Defend Killeen Title

Suzann Pettersen returns to the Jack Nicklaus Signature Course at Killeen Castle, County Meath to defend her title as Ladies Irish Open Champion. Teeing off on 3rd August, world no. 6, Pettersen will be joined by a selection of the world’s best female golfers as they battle it out in the quest to win one of the most prestigious competitions on the Ladies European Tour. 

Taking to the field in what is set to be one of the most competitive line-ups of the tour this season are four-time Irish Open Champion Sophie Gustafson and golfing legend Laura Davies as well as Solheim Cup Stars England’s Melissa Reid, Sweden’s Caroline Hedwall and the USA’s favourite Christina Kim.

The Ladies Irish Open supported by Fáilte Ireland takes place from the 3rd – 5th August at Killeen Castle, Dunsany, Co. Meath. Large crowds are expected to attend the event which is now one of the biggest events on the Ladies European Tour with a prize fund of €350,000.

Irish spectators will have plenty to cheer about with a wealth of home grown talent on show including Ireland’s top player, Rebecca Codd, recently turned professional, Danielle McVeigh from County Down and Carlow’s Tara Delaney. The sensational amateur twins, Leona & Lisa Maguire aged 17, jointly named Women’s Amateur of the Year at the AIB Irish Golf Writers’ awards for 2011, will also compete against the world’s best professionals.

Tournament Director, Roddy Carr commented, “I am delighted to announce such a strong international field for this year’s Irish Open and I am particularly pleased that so many of the victorious European Solheim Cup players will return to Killeen Castle, where they enjoyed one of the most dramatic wins over the USA in Solheim Cup history. I would encourage people of all ages to take this opportunity to watch our home grown players compete with the world’s best in one of the finest golfing venues in Ireland.”

Along with the top-class golf, there will be plenty entertainment for all including live music each day, a dedicated Kidzone and the traditional Farmer’s Market which will provide a host of delicious foods and beverages. 

Located just off exit 6 on the M3, just fifteen minutes from the Blanchardstown exit 6 M50 turn-off, the event is very accessible to the greater Dublin area and surrounding counties. 

Tickets are free for children and senior citizens and standard tickets cost just €10, with season passes for €25. Public parking is available on-site and tickets can be purchased on entry or by visiting www.ladiesirishopen.ie.