After an exciting week in Indiana, the LPGA Tour heads to Texas for the seventh edition of the Volunteers of America Texas Classic. Traditionally contested in the late spring/early summer, this will be the first year the event takes place in October as 120 players will be vying for a $1.3 million purse.
World No. 2, and defending champion, Sung Hyun Park returns to Old American Golf Club to defend her 2018 title as she seeks to earn her third victory of the season.
It won’t be a cakewalk for Park, though, as four other top-10 ranked golfers will be teeing it up this week, including No. 3 Jeong-Eun Lee6, No. 5 Brooke Henderson, No. 8 Inbee Park, and No. 10 Ariya Jutanugarn.
Here are more details to help prep you for the LPGA’s Lone Star State stop.
The Skinny
Tournament: Volunteers of America LPGA Texas Classic
Dates:Â Oct 3-6, 2019
Where: The Colony, Texas
Course:Â Old American Golf Club
Distance: Par 71, 6,475 yards
Architect: Tripp Lewis and Justin Leonard
Format: 72-holes, stroke play, 36-hole cut
Purse: $1,300,000
Winning Share: $195,000
2018 Champion:Â Sung Hyun Park
Other Marquee Players:Â Jeong-Eun Lee6, Ariya Jutanugarn, Inbee Park, Brittany Lang, Cristie Kerr, Moriya Jutanugarn, Brooke M. Henderson, Bronte Law, Brittany Altomare, Georgia Hall
TV & Online
All rounds broadcast by GOLF Channel
Rd 1: Th 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Rd 2: Fr 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Rd 3: Sa 1:30 pm – 5:00 pm
Rd 4: Su 1:30 pm – 5:00 pm
Online: Web | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Youtube | Wikipedia
Tournament History
Now in its seventh year, the Volunteers of America LPGA Texas Classic has brought outstanding performances by some of the top names in women’s golf to the Dallas area, including last year when Korean superstar Sung Hyun Park won with a walkoff chip-in birdie.
The first five editions of the event were held at Los Colinas Country Club in Irving before a move to Old American Golf Club in The Colony last year.
The title sponsor, Volunteers of America, is a faith-based non-profit organization dedicated to helping the poor with housing and other issues.
History: Event Names
2018: Volunteers of America LPGA Texas Classic
2015-17: Volunteers of America Texas Shootout presented by JTBC
2013-14: North Texas LPGA Shootout
History: Recent Winners
2018: Sung Hyun Park (-11)
2017: Haru Nomura (-3)
2016: Jenny Shin (-14)
2015: Inbee Park (-15)
2014: Stacy Lewis (-16)
2013: Inbee Park (-13)
History: Records
Scoring:
268 (-16) Stacy Lewis (2014)
Wins:
2 – Inbee Park (2013, 2015)
Defending Champion
Due to torrential rain storms that blanketed the greater Dallas area, LPGA officials decided to reduce the 2018 edition of the Volunteers of America Texas Classic to 36 holes.
So after four days of stops and starts, while trying to cobble together 36 holes at the Old American Golf Club, it was Korea’s Sung Hyun Park who came out on top, winning by one stroke over America’s Lindy Duncan.
Park, who entered her final 18 holes on Sunday tied for the lead with compatriot Jenny Shin at 6-under par, stumbled out of the gate, making a bogey on No. 1. But the young Korean recovered nicely with an eagle on No. 4, followed by birdies on Nos. 6, 8 and 9 to turn at 10 under par.
A final gain on the 18th hole allowed Park to sign for a 5-under par 66 and reach 11 under, good for a one-shot win over the American Duncan, who posted a 64 to reach solo-second at 10 under par.
Chinese Yu Liu shot a 66 to finish alone in third-place at 9-under par. Thai Ariya Jutanugarn posted a 66 to tie Korean Sei Young Kim (67) for fourth-place at 8-under par.
Top-5 Finishers
1. Sung Hyun Park -11
2. Lindy Duncan -10
3. Yu Liu -9
4. Ariya Jutanugarn -8
4. Sei Young Kim -8
The Field & Odds
The field this week in The Colony, Texas is headlined by defending champion and world No. 2 Sung Hyun Park, who has odds of 14-1 to pull off a repeat victory.
The favorite this week, though, is Park’s countrywoman, Jeong-Eun Lee6, who, at 9-1, is a slight favorite over Canadian Brooke Henderson (10-1).
Another pair of Koreans – two-time Texas winner Inbee Park, and last week’s winner in Indy, Mi Jung Hur, are joined by American Lizette Salas at 12-1 to round out the top-5 favorites in the Lone Star State at 12-1.
Overall, it’s a tough field to sort out with any feeling of certainty, and – as always in Texas, a lot could depend on which way the wind is blowing.
Top-5 Favorites
1. Jeong-Eun Lee6 (9-1)
2. Brooke M. Henderson (10-1)
3. Inbee Park (12-1)
3. Lizette Salas (12-1)
3. Mi Jung Hur (12-1)
Full Field & Odds
Volunteers of America LPGA Texas Classic | Old American GC | The Colony, TX | Oct. 3-6, 2019
Credits: LPGA Tour Media, Getty Images
