Fifth playing of LPGA senior major championship to be contested in Kansas for first time
SALINA, Kan. – On the heels of filing her entry into the 2022 U.S. Women’s Open at Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club, where she won the major championship in 1996, Annika Sörenstam continues to add to her competition schedule. The LPGA and World Golf Hall of Fame member will headline the 78-player field for the 2022 Senior LPGA Championship, contested July 22-24 at Salina Country Club in Salina, Kan. It will mark the first LPGA Tour-family event for Sörenstam in the state of Kansas since her runner-up finish in the 2002 U.S. Women’s Open at Prairie Dunes Country Club in Hutchinson, located just 65 miles south of Salina Country Club.
“I’m looking forward to getting back to Kansas for the first time in years to compete in my first Senior LPGA Championship,” said Sörenstam, a 10-time LPGA major champion. “The LPGA has meant so much to me and my career, so I want to support this event. We appreciate the opportunity to play.”
Juli Inkster, another LPGA and World Golf Hall of Fame member, will also highlight the collection of all-time greats converging on the Sunflower State for the Senior LPGA Championship, one of two majors on the Legends of the LPGA circuit, along with the U.S. Senior Women’s Open Championship hosted by the USGA. “We all love the game and thrill of competition. For Salina Country Club to open its doors and give us a first-class stage to continue our passion is an incredible opportunity,” said Inkster, a 31-time LPGA Tour champion including the 2002 U.S. Women’s Open at Prairie Dunes Country Club. “I have fond memories from my years spent in Kansas, especially the U.S. Women’s Open 20 years ago. It will be great to make new ones when everyone gets together in Salina this summer.” The Pete Dye Course at French Lick Resort in French Lick, Ind., hosted the Senior LPGA Championship on four occasions from 2017-2019 and in 2021. Englishwoman Trish Johnson is the only two-time winner of the Stephen L. Ferguson Trophy, having won the first and last editions in the Hoosier State. Competition now shifts to Salina Country Club, which is owned and managed by JRI Hospitality Management. “We look forward to showcasing Salina Country Club and the city of Salina to a national audience,” said Jason Ingermanson, a Salina native and JRI Hospitality President, Founder and CEO. “The LPGA Tour will help put a spotlight on the exceptional community we live in, and we’re thankful that they have selected Salina to host such an exciting senior women’s major championship.” “This is a major chapter in the history of Salina Country Club,” said Chris Nickell, General Manager and Operating Partner of Salina Country Club. “We are excited to share our story on a grand scale.”
Love, Chloe Foundation will be the proud beneficiary of the 2022 Senior LPGA Championship.
ABOUT SALINA COUNTRY CLUB
With nearby Smoky Hill River cascading along the edge of the property, Salina Country Club was established in 1911 and sits atop Tom White Hill, just east of the city providing an impressive landmark. A 40,000 square-foot clubhouse serves as the area’s hub for social activities, including three dining areas featuring fireplaces and separate bar facilities. A magnificent 18-hole championship golf course offers members and guests with a superb and challenging layout while other club amenities include four lighted tennis courts, a spacious swimming pool with a 163-foot water slide, and fully-equipped fitness center.
ABOUT LEGENDS OF THE LPGA
Legends of the LPGA is the official senior tour of the LPGA providing competitive opportunities for LPGA Tour professionals and eligible amateurs, age 45 and over. The tour was founded in 2000 by 25 veteran LPGA Tour professionals with a goal of showcasing the talents of some of the greatest women golfers of all time. Legends of the LPGA members, including 15 LPGA and World Golf Hall of Fame members, have combined for over 750 LPGA Tour victories including 84 major championships. Legends of the LPGA has helped raise approximately $24 million for charity.
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 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 gamechangers 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 CONTACT
Zach Sepanik, Manager, Epson Tour Media
zachary.sepanik@lpga.com, (386) 795-0594
PHOTO CREDIT
Juli Inkster - Courtesy of Craig Stacey
Annika Sörenstam - Courtesy of Julio Aguilar