The RR Donnelley LPGA Founders Cup has announced the two sponsor exemptions are going to LPGA Tour rookies Jennifer Johnson and Shasta Averyhardt.
Johnson, 21, of Carlsbad, California, played collegiate golf at Arizona State University for one year, and was the runner-up at the 2010 NCAA Championship. She was named a 2010 NCAA First Team All-American and 2010 NCGA Freshman of the Year. In 2009 she finished runner-up at the U.S. Women's Amateur Championship and was the low amateur at the 2010 U.S. Women's Open. Johnson was a member of the 2010 U.S. Curtis Cup Team, 2009 Junior Solheim Cup Team and 2009 Junior Ryder Cup Team.
Averyhardt, 25, of Flint, Michigan, who is of African-American and Hispanic background, is just the fourth player with African-American heritage to play in an LPGA event (the others are Althea Gibson, Renee Powell and Laree Sugg). After graduating from Jackson State University in 2008, she turned professional and played the Sun Coast Tour in Florida, then earned her way onto the LPGA Futures Tour. She played 10 events on the developmental tour in 2010 and also qualified for the U.S. Women’s Open. She tied for 22nd at the Final LPGA Qualifying Tournament in 2010 to earn LPGA status for 2011.
The RR Donnelley LPGA Founders Cup, taking place March 18-20 at Wildfire Golf Club at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa in Phoenix, will donate its entire $1-million purse to charity, with $500,000 going to The LPGA Foundation and its LPGA-USGA Girls Golf programme and $500,000 going to the top-10 finishers’ designated charities.
Johnson is designating the Wounded Warrior Project as the charity she’s playing for, while Averyhardt is playing for Blessings in a Backpack.
While LPGA players will forgo tournament earnings in favour of charity, results at the RR Donnelley LPGA Founders Cup will impact the 2011 LPGA Official Money List. Players also will earn points towards Rolex Player of the Year, Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year, Rolex Rankings and U.S. Solheim Cup team. Scores posted also will count towards the prestigious Vare Trophy.
The RR Donnelley LPGA Founders Cup Pro-Am will take place at Wildfire Golf Club at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa in Phoenix Thursday, March 17 and the first round begins on Friday, March 18 with the tournament concluding on Sunday, March 20.
For more tournament information, please visit www.LPGAFounders.com
