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Press Release
Michelle Wie and Stacy
Lewis Accept JFOCC Sponsor Exemptions
Toledo, OH, -
The Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic Presented by Kroger announced
today that Michelle Wie and Stacy Lewis have accepted sponsors
exemptions to play in this year’s 24th annual tournament July
7-13, at Highland Meadows Golf Club.
Wie first played in the Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic as a 13
year-old amateur in 2003. After turning pro in 2006 Wie finished
2nd in the Evian Masters, 3rd in the U.S. Women’s Open and Kraft
Nabisco Championship and 5th in the McDonalds LPGA Championship
winning over $700,000 in prize money.
Lewis will be
playing in her third consecutive Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic
after making the cut last year to finish in 50th place. Born in
Toledo, Lewis is finishing her senior season at the University of
Arkansas. She will be defending her individual title in the
upcoming Women’s NCAA Championship and is currently ranked the No.
1 Women’s Amateur player in the United States by Golfweek
Magazine. Lewis was recently chosen to be a member of the 2008
U.S. Curtis Cup Team that will compete against players from Great
Britain and Ireland at St. Andrews in May. Lewis will turn pro at
the beginning of June immediately following the Curtis Cup
matches.
“We’re very excited to have two tremendous players like Michelle
and Stacy join our field,” stated tournament director Judd
Silverman. “The last time Michelle was here she was just 13
years-old. She has incredible ability and it will be great for
area golf fans to see her play again,” Silverman said. “Stacy has
had a tremendous amateur career and is ready to make the jump to
the LPGA Tour,” Silverman continued. “We’re delighted to be one of
her first tournaments as a professional,” Silverman concluded.
The Jamie Farr
Owens Corning Classic Presented by Kroger will be played for a
purse of $1.3 million. Defending champion Se Ri Pak will try to
become the first player in LPGA history to win the same tournament
six times. Other notable players already committed to play include
Paula Creamer, Morgan Pressel, Natalie Gulbis, Nancy Lopez, Suzann
Petersen and Laura Diaz.
The final three rounds of this year’s tournament will once again
be nationally televised on ESPN2. The tournament has raised nearly
$6 million for Northwest Ohio children’s charities since it’s
inception in 1984. This year’s tournament will benefit 15
Northwest Ohio children’s charities.
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