Serving Larchmont Village, Hancock Park, and the Greater Wilshire neighborhoods of Los Angeles since 2011.

Ladies Professional Golf Returns to Wilshire Country Club

The Dio Implant LA Open officially starts Thursday at the Wilshire Country Club. (image from ww.la-open.com)

 

The best women golfers in the world are gathering this week for DIO Implant LA Open Ladies Professional Golf Association Tournament  at the historic Wilshire Country Club, a neighborhood landmark. Today and tomorrow qualifying rounds are taking place in Los Angeles to determine the final four competitors who will join what organizers are calling one of the strongest fields in tournament history, featuring 17 of the top 25 in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings, major champions, and several former standout players hailing from UCLA and the University of Southern California.

The tournament gets underway Thursday, April 21, with more than 144 players vying for the nearly $1.5 million in prize money, according to tournament director David Tucker. The tournament runs through Sunday April 24.

“We are thrilled to be back at the Wilshire Country Club and open for spectators,” Tucker told the Buzz. The tournament had been closed to visitors for the last couple of years due to the pandemic. “We are planning on having a safe, exciting tournament with lots of family friendly activities including games for kids, food trucks and an autograph zone. The Wilshire course is very walkable, too. Fans can get close to watch some of the best players in the world. It’s a great way to experience the sport.”

This is also an a great year for fans, because the LPGA Tour is coming to Southern California with two back-to-back Official Tour stops. The DIO Implant LA Open at Wilshire Country Club from April 20 – April 24, and the Palos Verdes Championship, presented by Bank of America, from April 28 – May 1, are happening consecutively with special dual event tickets available.

“It’s very rare to have two events back to back in LA,” said Tucker.

For locals, traffic near the Wilshire Country Club will be redirected to allow shuttles for staff and volunteers to drop off at the Club’s Rosewood Ave. Parts of Rosewood, Cahuenga Avenue, and Lillian Way will be closed to through traffic. Signs will be posted. The tournament is encouraging fans to ride share or take public transportation. There is also offsite parking for staff and volunteers.

Ticket prices are $25 for a one day grounds pass, $40 for the week and only $70 for the dual event pass. Fans under 17 are admitted for free.

“We have free tickets for first responders and their families, and veterans and their families,” said Tucker. “We are also hosting a food drive on Thursday for the LA Food Bank, so anyone who donates three cans of food gets in free.”

The 144-player field will be headlined by World No. 1 Jin Young Ko, who recently set an all-time LPGA Tour record with 34 consecutive rounds under par. She has recorded six wins in her last 12 starts, dating back to last July, with her most recent win coming at the HSBC Women’s World Championship in Singapore in early March.

Joining Ko in headlining the field are 17 of the top 25 players in the world, including 2019 champion Minjee Lee (4), Atthaya Thitikul (5), Inbee Park (6), Danielle Kang (7), Sei Young Kim (9), defending champion Brooke Henderson (10), Nasa Hataoka (11), Yuka Saso (12), Patty Tavatanakit (14), Jessica Korda (15), Chevron Championship winner Jennifer Kupcho (16), Celine Boutier (17), Nanna Koerstz Madsen (18), Ayaka Furue (20), Leona Maguire (21) and Georgia Hall (25).

Tournament officials also announced three sponsor exemptions for the DIO Implant LA Open: Murrieta resident and UCLA alumnus Sydnee Michaels, South Korea’s Youngin Chun and former Duke All-American Gina Kim.

A former All-American at UCLA and Epson Tour Rookie of the Year in 2011, Michaels will make her first LPGA Tour start in 2022 at the DIO Implant LA Open. She returned to LPGA Tour competition in 2021, competing in eight events highlighted by a T5 finish at the ISPS Handa World Invitational. Away from the golf course, Michaels is the founder of ISLA Sport, a women’s clothing line collection designed for golf, tennis and lifestyle that is named after her daughter. She also is the founder of the Sydnee Michaels Foundation, advocating for girls in sports and empowering women to pursue their dreams. Michaels competed in the inaugural DIO Implant LA Open in 2018, finishing T39.

Kim, a three-time All-American from Duke University who led Duke to the 2019 NCAA Women’s Golf Championship and the 2021 ACC Championship, turned professional in January of 2022 after finishing T35 at the LPGA Q-Series in December 2021. A two-time participant in the Augusta National Women’s Amateur (2019 and 2021), Kim had a decorated amateur career before turning professional, climbing as high as 8th in the World Amateur Golf Rankings.

Chun, a decorated junior golfer who was a member of the Ping Junior Solheim Cup Team and a four-time Rolex Junior All-American, turned professional in 2018. She competed full-time on the Epson Tour in 2018 with two top-10 finishes and 14 cuts made in 21 events. She earned her LPGA Tour card for the 2019 season and made eight cuts in 18 starts, highlighted by a T-11 finish at the Dana Open presented by Marathon. She is returning to competition in 2022 on the Epson Tour and will be making her first LPGA Tour start of the year.

Also entered in the field are eight USC and seven UCLA alumni:

USC: Jennifer Chang, Allisen Corpuz, Muni He, Annie Park, Sophia Popov, Robyn Ree, Lizette Salas and Jennifer Song.
UCLA: Bronte Law, Alison Lee, Sydnee Michaels, Ryann O’Toole, Patty Tavatanakit, Mariajo Uribe and Lilia Vu.

Gates open Thursday-Sunday around 7 a.m. Check the website for the pairings guide and all the information on the players.

 

Golfers warming up on the putting green adjacent to the course in 2018.

 

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Patricia Lombard
Patricia Lombard
Patricia Lombard is the publisher of the Larchmont Buzz. Patty lives with her family in Fremont Place. She has been active in neighborhood issues since moving here in 1989. Her pictorial history, "Larchmont" for Arcadia Press is available at Chevalier's Books.

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