The J Golf Phoenix LPGA International, in full the J Golf Phoenix LPGA International Presented by Mirassou Winery, was a women's professional golf tournament in Arizona on the LPGA Tour. Founded as the "Sun City Classic" in 1980,[1] it was held annually in the Phoenix area through 2009, making it one of the longest-lasting events on the LPGA Tour.
| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Location | Phoenix, Arizona, U.S. |
| Established | 1980 |
| Tour(s) | LPGA Tour |
| Format | Stroke play - 72 holes |
| Prize fund | $1.5 million |
| Month played | March |
| Final year | 2009 |
| Tournament record score | |
| Aggregate | 261 Annika Sörenstam (2001) |
| To par | −27 Annika Sörenstam (2001) |
| Final champion | |
 Karrie Webb | |
Tournament Golf Foundation managed the tournament since its start and continues to manage the Safeway Classic tournament on the LPGA Tour. Proceeds from the event were donated to local medical charities; over $12 million was raised during the course of the tournament.
The tournament had a variety of sponsors during its history, including Safeway Inc., a California-based supermarket chain.
It was at this tournament that Annika Sörenstam shot 59 in the second round in 2001,[2] which stands as the record for the lowest scoring round ever shot for 18 holes in an LPGA Tour event. With thirteen birdies and no bogeys, she began the round with eight birdies, added four more over the next five holes, but managed only one over the final five.[2] Sörenstam won the event with 261 (–27), two strokes ahead of runner-up Se Ri Pak.[3]
The LPGA Tour returned to the Phoenix area in 2011 with the Founders Cup.
Tournament names
edit- 1980–1981: Sun City Classic
- 1982: American Express Sun City Classic
- 1983–1985: Samaritan Turquoise Classic
- 1986: Standard Register/Samaritan Turquoise Classic
- 1987–1990: Standard Register Turquoise Classic
- 1991–2001: Standard Register PING
- 2002: PING Banner Health
- 2003 Safeway PING Presented by Yoplait
- 2004–2008: Safeway International
- 2009: J Golf Phoenix LPGA International Presented by Mirassou Winery
Winners
edit| Year | Dates | Champion | Country | Score | Venue | Purse ($) | Winner's share ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Mar 26-29 | Karrie Webb (2) | Australia |
274 (−14) | Papago Golf Course | 1,500,000 | 220,000 |
| 2008 | Mar 27-30 | Lorena Ochoa (2) |  Mexico |
266 (−22) | Superstition Mountain Golf and Country Club | 1,500,000 | 220,000 |
| 2007 | Mar 22-25 | Lorena Ochoa | Mexico |
270 (−18) | Superstition Mountain Golf and Country Club | 1,500,000 | 220,000 |
| 2006 | Mar 16-19 | Juli Inkster |  United States |
273 (−15) | Superstition Mountain Golf and Country Club | 1,400,000 | 210,000 |
| 2005 | Mar 17-20 | Annika Sörenstam (3) |  Sweden |
277 (−11) | Superstition Mountain Golf and Country Club | 1,400,000 | 210,000 |
| 2004 | Mar 18-21 | Annika Sörenstam (2) | Sweden |
270 (−18) | Superstition Mountain Golf and Country Club | 1,200,000 | 180,000 |
| 2003 | Mar 20-23 | Se Ri Pak |  South Korea |
265 (−23) | Moon Valley Country Club | 1,000,000 | 150,000 |
| 2002 | Mar 14-17 | Rachel Teske | Australia |
281 (−7) | Moon Valley Country Club | 1,000,000 | 150,000 |
| 2001 | Mar 15-18 | Annika Sörenstam | Sweden |
261 (−27) | Moon Valley Country Club | 1,000,000 | 150,000 |
| 2000 | Mar 16-19 | Charlotta Sörenstam | Sweden |
276 (−12) | The Legacy Golf Resort | 850,000 | 127,500 |
| 1999 | Mar 18-21 | Karrie Webb | Australia |
274 (−14) | Moon Valley Country Club | 850,000 | 127,500 |
| 1998 | Mar 19-22 | Liselotte Neumann | Sweden |
279 (−13) | Moon Valley Country Club | 850,000 | 127,500 |
| 1997 | Mar 20-23 | Laura Davies (4) |  England |
277 (−15) | Moon Valley Country Club | 850,000 | 127,500 |
| 1996 | Mar 21-24 | Laura Davies (3) | England |
284 (−8) | Moon Valley Country Club | 700,000 | 105,000 |
| 1995 | Mar 16-19 | Laura Davies (2) | England |
280 (−12) | Moon Valley Country Club | 700,000 | 105,000 |
| 1994 | Mar 17-20 | Laura Davies | England |
277 (−15) | Moon Valley Country Club | 700,000 | 105,000 |
| 1993 | Mar 18-21 | Patty Sheehan | United States |
275 (−17) | Moon Valley Country Club | 700,000 | 105,000 |
| 1992 | Mar 19-22 | Danielle Ammaccapane (2) | United States |
279 (−13) | Moon Valley Country Club | 550,000 | 82,500 |
| 1991 | Mar 21-24 | Danielle Ammaccapane | United States |
283 (−9) | Moon Valley Country Club | 550,000 | 82,500 |
| 1990 | Mar 22-25 | Pat Bradley (2) | United States |
280 (−12) | Moon Valley Country Club | 500,000 | 75,000 |
| 1989 | Mar 23-26 | Allison Finney | United States |
282 (−6) | Moon Valley Country Club | 400,000 | 60,000 |
| 1988 | Mar 24-27 | Ok-Hee Ku | South Korea |
281 (−7) | Moon Valley Country Club | 350,000 | 52,500 |
| 1987 | Mar 26-29 | Pat Bradley | United States |
286 (−6) | Moon Valley Country Club | 300,000 | 45,000 |
| 1986 | Feb 20-23 | Mary Beth Zimmerman | United States |
278 (−10) | Arizona Biltmore Country Club | 250,000 | 37,500 |
| 1985 | Feb 28-Mar 3 | Betsy King | United States |
280 (−8) | Arizona Biltmore Country Club | 150,000 | 22,500 |
| 1984 | Mar 8-11 | Christa Johnson | United States |
276 (−12) | Arizona Biltmore Country Club | 150,000 | 22,500 |
| 1983 ^ | Mar 3-7 | Anne Marie Palli |  France |
205 (−14) | Arizona Biltmore Country Club | 150,000 | 22,500 |
| 1982 | Mar 4-7 | Beth Daniel | United States |
278 (−10) | Hillcrest Country Club | 100,000 | 15,000 |
| 1981 | Mar 12-15 | Patty Hayes | United States |
277 (−15) | Hillcrest Country Club | 100,000 | 15,000 |
| 1980 | Feb 28-Mar 2 | Jan Stephenson | Australia |
275 (−13) | Hillcrest Country Club | 100,000 | 15,000 |
^ The 1983 edition was shortened to 54 holes due to rain and concluded on Monday.[4]
Multiple winners
editSix players won the event more than once:
- 4 wins: Laura Davies (1994, 1995, 1996, 1997)
- 3 wins: Annika Sörenstam (2001, 2004, 2005)
- 2 wins: Pat Bradley (1987, 1990), Danielle Ammaccapane (1991, 1992), Lorena Ochoa (2007, 2008), Karrie Webb (1999, 2009)
Course records
edit| Year | Player | Score | Round | Course |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Annika Sörenstam | 59 (−13) | 2nd | Moon Valley Country Club[2] |
| 2008 | Angela Stanford | 62 (−10) | 1st | Superstition Mountain Golf and Country Club - Prospector Course |
| 2009 | Jiyai Shin | 66 (−6) | 3rd | Papago Golf Course |
References
edit- ^ "Sun City win ends drought for Stephenson". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). wire services. March 3, 1980. p. 5B.
- ^ a b c "Sorenstam shoots 59 for LPGA record". Wilmington Morning Star. (North Carolina). wire services. March 17, 2001. p. 3C.
- ^ "Scoreboard: LPGA Tour". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). March 19, 2001. p. 4E.
- ^ "Palli shoots 68, wins by seven". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). wire services. March 8, 1983. p. 2C.