Tulllymore, the wonderful Jim Engh golf course on the west side of Michigan, will host a new Symetra Tour tournament July Friday July 3 through Sunday, July 5, 2014. A total of 144 women’s golf professionals will compete for a purse of $100,000.
The Symetra Tour is the LPGA’s developmental tour—the equivalent of the PGA Tour’s Web.Com circuit.
In addition to the purse, players earn points on the Volvik Race For The Card money list. The top ten players at the end of the 2015 season are awarded LPGA Membership for 2016.
The Chief Business Officer of the Symetra Tour, Mike Nichols, is a former resident of Grand Rapids, which is a sort drive from Tullymore:
“As someone who lived in Grand Rapids for five years and always enjoyed the short trip to stay and play at Tullymore, I’m excited to bring a Symetra Tour tournament to one of my favorite resorts. Grand Rapids, Battle Creek and the Upper Peninsula communities are already passionate fans of the LPGA Tour and the Symetra Tour so this event was a natural addition.”
After a long absence, professional golf is returning to Michigan, a state which none other than Gary Player has called “the home of golf in America.”
Last year, Blythefield Country Club in Grand Rapids hosted the Meijer LPGA Classic Presented by Kraft for the first time. That same season, the Symetra Tour played the Firekeepers Casino Hotel Championship in Battle Creek, and the Island Resort Championshiop in Harris.
Having attended several LPGA events, I have been impressed with the quality of the golf, the welcoming nature of the players and the family-friendly atmosphere.
Full press release follows:
SYMETRA TOUR ANNOUNCES 2015 TULLYMORE CLASSIC
Fourth new event for 2015 headed to Tullymore Golf Resort
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., December 18, 2014 – The Symetra Tour, the Road to the LPGA, is excited to unveil the newest tournament added to the 2015 schedule: the Tullymore Classic at Tullymore Golf Resort in Canadian Lakes, Michigan, from June 29th through July 5th.
The 54-hole, stroke-play format will begin on Friday, July 3rd, and conclude on Sunday, July 5th. The top 144 up-and-coming professionals in women’s golf will compete for a total tournament purse of $100,000. The winner will earn $15,000 and have an opportunity to move into the top 10 on the Volvik Race for the Card money list.
The top 10 on the year-end Symetra Tour money list earn LPGA Tour membership for the 2016 season.
Mike Nichols, current Chief Business Officer of the Symetra Tour and former Executive Director of the Champions Tour’s Farmers Charity Classic in Grand Rapids from 1998-2002, is proud to be bringing this event to Tullymore.
“As someone who lived in Grand Rapids for five years and always enjoyed the short trip to stay and play at Tullymore, I’m excited to bring a Symetra Tour tournament to one of my favorite resorts,” said Nichols. “Grand Rapids, Battle Creek and the Upper Peninsula communities are already passionate fans of the LPGA Tour and the Symetra Tour so this event was a natural addition.”
The Tullymore Classic is the fourth new event added to the 2015 schedule. New events have already been announced in Sioux Falls, South Dakota (GreatLIFE Sioux Falls Challenge), Rochester, New York (Toyota Danielle Downey Classic) and El Dorado, Arkansas (Murphy USA El Dorado Shootout). The 2015 schedule, which will be released in full by mid-January, is expected to feature the most events in 27 years.
“Tullymore Golf Resort is honored to have been picked as a tournament site on the 2015 Symetra Tour for the Road to the LPGA,” stated Tullymore’s CEO Terry Schieber. “Our staff members are eager to host the players and spectators and provide everyone an exceptional experience. The highly acclaimed golf course of our Tullymore Golf Club will be ready to offer its unique challenge throughout the Tullymore Classic.”
The LPGA Tour and the Symetra Tour are both no strangers to the state of Michigan. In 2014, the Symetra Tour held two events in the state. The FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship took place in Battle Creek while the Island Resort Championship was contested in Harris. Blythefield Country Club in Grand Rapids hosted the Meijer LPGA Classic Presented by Kraft for the first time in 2014.
“I grew up playing junior golf in Michigan and college golf at Michigan State so it gives me great pride to see another women’s professional golf event in the state,” said Symetra Tour professional, Laura Kueny, who has one win and four career top 10 finishes. “The Symetra Tour continues to provide me an opportunity to hone my skills and realize a dream of playing on the LPGA Tour.”
For more information about the Tullymore Classic including sponsorship opportunities, playing spots in the pro-am and volunteering information, contact CEO Terry Schieber, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), 231.660.3562 or Scot Cucksey, Tullymore’s Head PGA Golf Professional, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), 231.972.4837, ext. 252.
Media Contact
Bret Lasky, Coordinator, Symetra Tour Media, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), 386-679-1292
