THE COLONY, Texas, Sept. 13, 2023 – Defending champion Charley Hull, Texas residents and past champions Angela Stanford (2020), Cheyenne Knight (2019) and Stacy Lewis (2014) and major champions Celine Boutier and Lexi Thompson headline an elite field early commitments for the 2023 Ascendant LPGA benefiting Volunteers of America, tournament officials announced today.
The longest running LPGA event in the state of Texas, The Ascendant LPGA benefiting Volunteers of America will feature a field of 132 of the world’s top professional golfers competing for a share of the expanded $1.8 million purse, taking place Oct. 2-8 at Golf Clubs at The Tribute (Old American Golf Club).
Joining Stanford, Knight and Lewis as local Texans who are early commitments include LPGA Tour winners Celine Boutier, In Gee Chun, Mi Hyang Lee, Jeongeun Lee6, Gaby Lopez, Annie Park and Sei Young Kim. A total of 15 players with Texas ties are currently entered into the tournament.
The field also will feature 13 players who will be competing in the upcoming Solheim Cup in Spain, including:
United States: Ally Ewing, Megan Khang, Cheyenne Knight, Jennifer Kupcho, Stacy Lewis (Captain), Angela Stanford (Assistant Captain) and Lexi Thompson.
Europe: Celine Boutier, Charley Hull, Leona Maguire, Madelene Sagstrom, Gemma Dryburgh and Emily Pedersen.
“We are honored to once again host the best players in the game to Golf Clubs at The Tribute and Old American Golf Club for the 2023 Ascendant LPGA benefiting Volunteers of America,” said Tournament Director James Clark. “The state of Texas has a rich golf history, and we are proud to provide the many Texans on the LPGA Tour the chance to compete in their home state. We look forward to welcoming the LPGA Tour in October and opening the gates to our passionate fanbase in what will be an outstanding week.”
Tournament officials will be announcing in the coming weeks special ancillary events taking place throughout the week at The Ascendant LPGA benefiting Volunteers of America, as well as sponsor exemptions and field commitments. For a complete list of tournament entries, click HERE.
Tickets now on sale: Tickets are now on sale for the 2023 Ascendant LPGA benefiting Volunteers of America, including daily and weekly general admission tickets offering a wide degree of entertainment and access. New for 2023, BITE by the Lake will be an upgraded culinary experience featuring complimentary food and drink samplings. BITE by the Lake will showcase a variety of local chefs, restaurants, and brands for patrons to sample. Daily tickets to BITE by the Lake start at $50 per day. Tickets are available for purchase exclusively at www.AscendantLPGA.com/tickets/. All tickets will be digital and will be emailed after purchase. Tickets can be viewed on either a mobile device or printed out where they will be scanned at the main gate.
2023 Ascendant LPGA Ticket Options: Early ticket offerings include two options for fans interested in attending the tournament:
- BITE by the Lake
- General Admissions
- New for 2023, BITE by the Lake is an upgraded culinary experience featuring complimentary food and beverages from local chefs and restaurants.
- BITE VIP Upgraded Hospitality includes access to a hospitality area with greenside views of Old American Golf Club’s signature 18th hole along with complimentary signature cocktails.
- Daily BITE by the Lake: $50. Valid for one day, Friday-Sunday
- Daily BITE VIP: $150. Valid for one day, Friday-Sunday.
- Daily Grounds: $20. Valid any one day, Thursday-Sunday, Oct. 5-8.
- Weekly Grounds: $45. Valid each day Thursday-Sunday, Oct. 5-8.
All military (active, reserve, retired and veterans) and first responders will receive complimentary admission to the 2023 Ascendant LPGA benefiting Volunteers of America by showing proper identification at Admissions in exchange for a daily grounds pass. Children 17-and-under will be admitted free with a ticketed adult.
The 2023 Ascendant LPGA benefiting Volunteers of America also will pay tribute to its longtime tournament ambassador and golf’s winningest player, Kathy Whitworth, who passed away suddenly in 2022, with a variety of programs and initiatives. Whitworth, a Dallas resident, was instrumental in growing the game of golf for the younger generation with a mission providing increased access to the game in communities that ordinarily would not be introduced to the sport.
The “Kathy Whitworth Ticket Program” will return to the #AscendantLPGA in 2023. The program encourages local clubs, businesses, golf teams, organizations, and individuals to continue serving Whitworth’s mission to spread access and awareness about the game of golf. Accepted applicants will receive complimentary tickets to the tournament and #AscendantLPGA promotional materials to help spread tournament awareness.
Volunteer Registration Now Open: Volunteer registration is open for the 2023 Ascendant LPGA benefiting Volunteers of America. For 2023, Children’s Health℠, one of the largest and most prestigious pediatric health care providers in the country and the leading pediatric health care system in North Texas, is the official supporter of the volunteer program. The Children’s Health system includes its flagship hospital, Children’s Medical Center Dallas, as well as Children’s Medical Center Plano, the Children’s Health Care Network, specialty centers, rehabilitation facilities and physician service.
Each year, hundreds of volunteers donate their time to serve critical needs at the tournament, including marshaling, scoring, transportation, hospitality services and many other important roles. In 2023, the tournament is seeking more than 500 volunteers to fill a variety of roles during tournament week. The $60 volunteer package includes two official tournament golf shirts; a hat or visor; four weekly grounds passes; a volunteer credential allowing grounds access and complimentary parking all week; and meals provided on scheduled days of volunteering. Volunteers who work three or more shifts will receive a voucher to play Golf Clubs at The Tribute. For more information on volunteering at the 2023 Volunteers of America Classic, visit www.AscendantLPGA.com/volunteer.
For more information on The Ascendant LPGA benefiting Volunteers of America, please visit and follow the tournament’s social handles @AscendantLPGA on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
About The Ascendant LPGA benefiting Volunteers of America
The Ascendant LPGA benefiting Volunteers of America is Texas’ signature LPGA Tour event held annually at Old American Golf Club, a part of the Golf Clubs at The Tribute in The Colony, Texas, featuring the world’s best golfers competing for a $1.8 million purse. The tournament made its debut in 2013. The event is owned and operated by Outlyr, a global sports marketing and event management agency. In addition to managing professional golf tournaments, Outlyr also operates a number of other sporting and lifestyle events and manages the sponsorship portfolio for several blue-chip clients.
About Cypress Ascendant
Cypress Ascendant is a highly diversified, small market, boutique investment group. We have holdings across a range of Real Estate and Finance, Hospitality and Entertainment, as well as Consumer Goods. Relationships and connectivity are the cornerstones of our firm. We make and maintain personal relationships with leadership from each and every investment we make. With meaningful financial commitments from our Management team, we strive to generate strong, risk adjusted returns for our investors over the life of their investments with us. To learn more about Cypress Ascendant, please visit www.cypress-ascendant.com.
About Volunteers of America
Volunteers of America is a national nonprofit, faith-based organization dedicated to helping those in need live healthy, safe and productive lives. Since 1896, our ministry of service has supported and empowered those most in need, including veterans, seniors, people with disabilities, at-risk youth, men and women returning from prison, homeless individuals and families, those recovering from addictions and many others. Through hundreds of human service programs, including housing and health care, Volunteers of America helps more than 1.5 million people in over 400 communities. Learn more at www.voa.org.
About Golf Clubs at The Tribute
Each course set on this remote peninsula inside The Tribute community was specifically designed to take you back in time to experience the game of golf in its purest form. Old American Golf Club, designed by PGA TOUR winner Justin Leonard and Golf Course Architect Tripp Davis, pays homage to the “Golden Age” of golf course architecture in America, while Tribute Golf Links, also designed by Tripp Davis, allows you to immerse yourself in a true link-style course paying homage to the most famous holes in Scotland. To learn more about the Club or its courses, visit www.golfclubsatthetribute.com.
About The Colony, Texas
The City by the Lake offers unparalleled entertainment in the heart of North Texas. Known for strikingly beautiful views of Lewisville Lake, The Colony extends 23 miles along its eastern shoreline providing endless outdoor excursions. Inside Grandscape, the city’s sprawling entertainment district, refined dining, live music and the world’s largest and most unique retail experiences away. The Colony offers a tranquil getaway complemented by modern, urban luxuries. To find out more about The Colony, please visit www.visitthecolonytx.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 Epson 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.
Media Contacts:
Jeremy Friedman
The Ascendant LPGA benefiting Volunteers of America
407-721-9752
jfriedman@outlyr.com
Payton Walker
The Ascendant LPGA benefiting Volunteers of America
469-626-2199
pwalker@outlyr.com