Page 23 - Southwest Florida Golf Magazine | Golf News & Tournaments

SYMETRA TOUR

OPENS 2019 SEASON

@CHARLOTTE HARBOR NATIONAL

The Symetra Tour – The Road to the SKYiGOLF announced the three-year deal for the tournament during the
LPGA – will begin its 2019 season company’s late-October launch at the World Golf Hall of Fame in St.
in North Port with the inaugural Augustine, Fla. Charlotte Harbor National Golf Club at Bobcat Trail and
SKYiGOLF Championship hosted the Golf Links of Charlotte Harbor are the first two clubs to join SKYiGOLF,
by Charlotte Harbor National Golf a services and solutions organization aimed at giving PGA Professionals
and course operators the tools to run their business more efficiently, while
Club at Bobcat Trail. The SKYiGOLF enhancing the game for all who play.
Championship, a 72-hole event
scheduled for March 7-10, features “We at SKYiGOLF are proud to work with the LPGA Tour in hosting the Symetra
a full field of competitors battling for Tour’s SKYiGOLF Championship at Charlotte Harbor National,” said Rich
a purse of $250,000, matching the Smith, PGA, Founder/CEO of SKYiGOLF. “We want this event to have the feel
richest purse in Symetra Tour history. of a major for those women playing in it, and want to get the season started in
The SKYiGOLF Championship is style with a 72-hole event that will offer the largest purse of the season.”
currently the highest prize money
event for 2019 on the official The top 10 finishers in the season-long Volvik Race for the Card earn full
qualifying tour of the LPGA. LPGA Tour membership for 2020. From 1999-2002, the official qualifying
tour of the LPGA handed out cards to three graduates; from 2003-2007,
“We are excited to welcome that number increased to five; and 10 cards were distributed starting in 2008.
Since the inaugural year, a total of 147 players have graduated to the big
SKYiGOLF to the Symetra Tour family stage.
and are grateful that they sought out
the Symetra Tour as one of their first Symetra Tour graduates over the years have included Mo Martin, Gerina Piller,
significant industry partnerships,” said Christina Kim and 2018 first-time LPGA Tour winner Nelly Korda, as well as
Mike Nichols, Chief Business Officer World Golf Hall of Fame members Lorena Ochoa and Inbee Park. Other
for the Symetra Tour. “I know our players that have spent time on the Symetra Tour include Brooke Henderson,
members will be grateful to compete Cheyenne Woods, Jaye Marie Green, Madelene Sagstrom and 2018 first-
for the highest purse in Tour history in time LPGA Tour winner Annie Park.
the first tournament of the year. This
will definitely give some lucky players “To start out the 2019 season with a bang as big as the SKYiGOLF Championship
is really awesome,” said August Kim, who finished the 2018 season at No.
a major jump start in the Volvik Race 30 in the Volvik Race for the Card and earned exemption into the inaugural
for the Card, not to mention the Q-Series. “The large purse and sponsor support show the Tour continues to
financial comfort that comes with grow. I’m looking forward to the strong tone it will set right from the start of the
such a significant payout.” season, especially since it’s a couple hours from home for me.”

Proceeds from the SKYiGOLF Championship will be donated to the Folds of Honor, a 501(c)(3) that provides educational scholarships to the
spouses and children of wounded and fallen military members. For more information about the SKYiGOLF Championship, or to help out as a
volunteer, please contact Ben Herring of SKYiGOLF at ben.herring@skyigolf.com.

golfnews@easternshoregolf.net WINTER.2019 SWFL 23