College athletes awarded sponsor exemptions from Meijer to enter into the professional field
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., 2014-7-31 — /EPR Retail News/ — Lindsey McPherson, of Michigan State University, and Grace Choi, of the University of Michigan, will compete alongside the best female golfers in the world.
“We are pleased to invite Lindsey and Grace to play in their first LPGA Tour event,” Meijer President J.K. Symancyk said. “We hope that by providing this opportunity, we’re helping them to grow in their careers if they choose to join the professional ranks. As a company focused on our community, we are also very excited to bring local talent to the field of professionals.”
McPherson, a Flushing, Mich. native, started playing golf competitively at age 15, and is entering her senior year at MSU after competing in a career-high seven tournaments this past season. She recently tied a career-best ninth at the Big Ten Championships to help lead the Spartans to their third Big Ten title in four years.
“When my coach, Stacy Slobodnik-Stoll, first started telling me about the Meijer LPGA Classic in Grand Rapids, I thought she was asking to see if I wanted to go help out or go watch the tournament, because it would be a great event,” McPherson said. “When she said I was actually going to be playing in the field as a sponsor exemption from Meijer, it was unbelievable. I’m incredibly excited and want to thank everyone at Meijer for this amazing opportunity to be able to represent Michigan State and my family at a professional tournament playing the game that I love.”
Choi, who will be a sophomore at U-M in the fall, had a stellar performance on the golf team this past year. She was presented the team award for low scoring average and was also named Big Ten Golfer of the Week this past March. She ended the season averaging 75.64 strokes per round, which was a U-M freshman record.
“I’m so thankful for the wonderful opportunity Meijer has given me with their generous exemption into their event,” said Choi, of Dallas, Texas. “It has been a dream of mine since I was little to play on the LPGA and compete with the best players in the world. I’m really looking forward to learning from the best and proudly representing the University of Michigan.”
To learn more about the players and the significance of this honor, view a video that features McPherson and Choi on the course. In addition, please visit the Meijer Newsroom for more information on the Meijer LPGA Classic presented by Kraft, including sharable photos.
Each title sponsor of an LPGA event is able to award sponsor exemptions into the tournament. Meijer awarded McPherson and Choi last week with certificates into the field of professionals. The $1.5 million Meijer LPGA Classic presented by Kraft will host a full-field of 144 players playing 72 holes of stroke play over four days of competition.
“We know these ladies have great careers ahead of them – both on and off the field – and we’re thrilled to have them play in the tournament this year,” Tournament Director Lesley Baker said. “Giving these local amateurs a chance to prove themselves on the biggest stage is great, not only for the players, but also for the fans and the community.”
Fans can cheer these hometown favorites on in the Meijer LPGA Classic presented by Kraft. Tickets are still available via the website www.MeijerLPGAClassic.com. The event will offer a family-friendly atmosphere with events for everyone in addition to world-class golf.
About Meijer Simply Give
Meijer is a family-owned retailer based in Grand Rapids, Mich. with a fundamental philosophy aimed at strengthening the communities it serves. Meijer operates 210 supercenters and grocery stores throughout Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky, and proudly donates more than 6 percent of its net profit each year to charities throughout the Midwest. With hunger as a corporate philanthropic focus, Meijer partners with hundreds of food banks and pantries through its Simply Give and food rescue programs. Meijer also supports education, disaster relief, and health and wellness initiatives. For additional information on Meijer philanthropy, please visit www.meijer.com. Follow Meijer on Twitter @twitter.com/Meijer and @twitter.com/MeijerPR or become a fan at www.facebook.com/meijer.
About Blythefield Country Club
Located just north of Grand Rapids, Blythefield has been providing families the best golf and social experience in West Michigan since 1928. With the Rogue River flowing through, Blythefield boasts one of the most beautiful championship layouts in Michigan. Previously, Blythefield has hosted the 1953 Western Amateur, the 1961 Western Open, won by Arnold Palmer, and the 2005 Western Junior won by Rickie Fowler. Beginning in 2014 Blythefield is honored to host the Meijer LPGA Classic. Learn more about Blythefield Country Club at www.blythefieldcc.org.
About the LPGA (Ladies Professional Golf Association)
The LPGA is the world’s leading professional golf organization for women. Founded in 1950, the association celebrates a diverse and storied membership with more than 2,300 members representing more than 30 different countries. With a Vision to inspire, empower, educate and entertain by showcasing the very best of women’s golf, LPGA Tour Professionals compete across the globe, while dedicated LPGA Teaching and Club Professionals (T&CP) directly impact the game through teaching, coaching and management. The Symetra Tour consistently produces a pipeline of talent ready for the world stage. The LPGA is headquartered in Daytona Beach, Florida. Follow the LPGA on its television home, Golf Channel, and on the web via: www.LPGA.com, www.facebook.com/lpga.official,www.twitter.com/lpg, and www.youtube.com/lpgavideo.
About Octagon Global Events
Octagon Global Events is a division of Octagon, the world’s largest sports and entertainment representation and marketing agency. Octagon Global Events focuses on premium event/property management, providing strategic corporate solutions. The division currently manages two Champions Tour events, two LPGA Tour events and the Toyota Texas Bass Classic. For more information, visit http://www.octagonglobalevents.com.
Contacts: Lesley Baker, Tournament Director, Octagon, 616-426-6225, Lesley.Baker@octagon.com; Christina Fecher, Community Relations Specialist, Meijer, 616-735-7968, Christina.Fecher@meijer.com
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