(Lexington, Kentucky - October 5, 2023) - Three Legends of the LPGA and one local legend in the making combined for a stellar 17 under par in The Woodford Legends Invitational Team Challenge today at The Woodford Club in Versailles, Kentucky. The event was played to showcase the venue and serve as a springboard for a larger Legends of the LPGA team event set for June 2024.
In an 18-hole round that included three eagles, LPGA Legends Jan Stephenson, Alicia Dibos and Pat Hurst along with reigning Kentucky Women’s Amateur Champion Alaina Schmitt combined for a final score of 55 to win bragging rights and the respect of local golf fans. A total of nine Legends of the LPGA playing alongside three Kentucky state amateur standouts took on The Woodford Club and gave area enthusiasts a taste of what’s to come next summer.
“The golf course was not your typical, wide open bombs away like many of the new courses today,” noted Stephenson, a 16-time LPGA Tour winner. “I liked the rolling hills and the variations of left to right and right to left on many of the holes. Local knowledge was key and having to play certain shots was a welcome challenge and a lot of fun. It was truly a team effort today and that’s what made it so special to get the win.”
Alicia Dibos celebrates rolling in a birdie putt on the 18th green at The Woodford Club.
Hurst agreed with Stephenson. “We were a true team,” said Hurst, winner of six tournaments on the LPGA Tour. “We had two bombers, we had two good chippers, we had four good putters. It’s all about the putting in a scramble and that’s what got us to 17 under par. It just all came together and we had a lot of fun.”
Stephenson, Hurst, Dibos and Schmitt carded 11 birdies and three eagles on their way to a two-stroke edge over the other two teams in the field which included LPGA Legends Jane Blalock, Rosie Jones and Michelle McGann with Kentucky Women’s Senior Amateur Champion Susan Stewart and LPGA Legends Pat Bradley, Hollis Stacy and Charlotta Sörenstam with Kentucky Golf Association Women’s Stroke Play Champion Taryn Durham-Walker.
“We had some great names out here today,” said The Woodford Club’s owner, Randy Clay. “They did not disappoint. They’re not only phenomenal golfers, they’re just great people with wonderful personalities, and the moments of fan interaction are something you never forget. Those experiences and memories are for life.”
World Golf Hall of Fame Hollis Stacy celebrates a great shot with amateur Taryn Durham-Walker.
Tournament organizers look forward to bringing the Legends back to the Bluegrass region June 6-8, 2024 for another unique two-day team challenge event along with a pro-am day that will include 32 Legends of the LPGA. Clay took advantage of today’s preview event to survey his golf course from a spectator’s vantage point.
“I was able to walk around to course as a spectator today, and it’s ready,” said Clay. “You can go to several spots and see three holes easily, whether it’s players teeing off or in the fairway or on the green. It doesn’t take a whole lot of walking to get really great vistas.”
For more information about The Woodford Legends Invitational returning to The Woodford Club in June 2024, visit TheWoodfordClub.com.
The team of Jane Blalock, Rosie Jones, Susan Stewart, Michelle McGann
The team of Charlotta Sörenstam, Hollis Stacy, Taryn Durham-Walker and Pat Bradley