BELLEAIR, Fla., Oct. 28, 2021 – New Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings No. 1 Jin Young Ko, who captured her second straight LPGA victory last week at the BMW Ladies Championship in Korea, headlines the latest commitments into the 2021 Pelican Women’s Championship presented by Konica Minolta and Raymond James, taking place Nov. 8-14 at Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Fla.
Ko captured her fourth LPGA win during the 2021 season on Sunday in a playoff to move ahead of Bradenton’s Nelly Korda atop the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings this week. Ko previously was World No. 1 for 100 consecutive weeks until Korda overtook the No. 1 position in June of this year. Since winning the Volunteers of America Classic in July, Ko has recorded five top-six finishes – including three wins and a runner-up – in her last six events.
Additional new commitments include two-time Olympian Aditi Ashok, Tiffany Chan, Beatriz Recari, World No. 19 Lizette Salas, Jennifer Song and Mariajo Uribe.
Tournament officials also announced today the event’s first sponsor exemption for the Pelican Women’s Championship, Destiny Lawson, the reigning North Florida PGA Women’s Section Champion. The Ocala native and current assistant golf professional at Ocala Golf and Equestrian Club captured the North Florida PGA Women’s Section Championship in September with a 2-under par finish and a seven-stroke victory at Streamsong’s Blue Course.
Lawson turned pro in April after a standout college career at Ferris State University, where she graduated in 2020. She made her LPGA debut in May at the Pure Silk Championship after advancing through the tournament’s Monday Qualifier. Lawson is an ambassador for Mackenzie’s Moment, a non-profit organization that offers hope and opportunity to women and children in need through health, education and welfare initiatives within the city of Ocala.
Joining them in the field for the Pelican Women’s Championship are previous commitments Nelly Korda (World No. 2), sister Jessica, 2020 champion Sei Young Kim, major champions Brooke Henderson and Lexi Thompson, and fan favorites/Tampa Bay area residents Brittany Lincicome and Brittany Altomare. Seven of the top-10 players in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings are entered into the Pelican Women’s Championship, the final full-field event of the 2021 LPGA Tour season. For a complete list of tournament entries, click HERE.
The 2021 Pelican Women’s Championship made its debut in 2020 without spectators and will welcome fans to Pelican Golf Club for the first time, featuring a field of 108 players competing over 72 holes for a share of the $1.75 million purse. Sei Young Kim captured the inaugural Pelican Women’s Championship in 2020 by three strokes at 14-under par, her 12th victory on the LPGA Tour.
Tickets are on sale for the 2021 Pelican Women’s Championship exclusively online at www.PelicanLPGA.com. A variety of ticket packages are available, including exclusive hospitality and general admissions tickets offering a wide degree of entertainment and access. In honor of Veterans Day on Nov. 11, military members (active, reserve, retired and veterans) will gain free access to the tournament grounds all week. Children under the age of 18 gain free admittance with a paid adult.
For more information on the 2021 Pelican Women’s Championship presented by Konica Minolta and Raymond James, follow the tournament’s social media handles, including @PelicanLPGA on Twitter, @PelicanLPGA on Instagram and Pelican Women's Championship on Facebook.
About Pelican Women’s Championship presented by Konica Minolta & Raymond James
The Pelican Women’s Championship presented by Konica Minolta and Raymond James is the LPGA’s annual tournament in the Tampa Bay region and features the world’s best female golfers competing over four rounds for a share of the $1.75 million purse. The tournament is contested at the newly renovated Pelican Golf Club, a Donald Ross design that offers world-class amenities and an unmatched golf experience. The Pelican Women’s Championship presented by Raymond James and Konica Minolta is operated by Outlyr, a global sports, event management and lifestyle marketing agency that specializes in the development and execution of engaging events and experiences. In addition to managing 11 professional golf tournaments, Outlyr also operates a number of other sporting and lifestyle events and manages the sponsorship portfolio for several blue-chip clients. For more information on the Pelican Women’s Championship, visit www.PelicanLPGA.com.
About the LPGA
The LPGA is the world’s leading professional golf organization for women, with a goal to change the face of golf by making the sport more accessible and inclusive.
Created in 1950 by 13 Founders, the Association celebrates a diverse and storied history. The LPGA Tour competes across the globe, reaching television audiences in more than 220 countries. The Symetra Tour, the LPGA’s official qualifying tour, consistently produces a pipeline of talent ready for the world stage. The LPGA also holds a joint-venture collaboration with the Ladies European Tour (LET), increasing playing opportunities for female golfers in Europe. Across the three Tours, the LPGA represents players in more than 60 countries.
Additionally, the LPGA Foundation has empowered and supported girls and women since 1991, most notably through LPGA*USGA Girls Golf, the only national program of its kind, which annually engages with nearly 100,000 girls. The LPGA Amateur Golf Association and LPGA Women’s Network provide virtual and in-person connections to female golfers around the world, while LPGA Professionals are educators, business leaders and game-changers dedicated to growing the game of golf for everyone.
Follow the LPGA on its U.S. television home, Golf Channel, online at www.LPGA.com and on its mobile apps. Join the social conversation on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
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Media Contact:
Jeremy Friedman
Pelican Women’s Championship Public Relations
Outlyr
407-721-9752
jfriedman@outlyr.com