By David Weinberg
The ShopRite LPGA Classic, easily the area’s top sports event, brings the world’s top female golfers back to the area for the 36th edition of the tournament.
It is impressive for several reasons, for its longevity and popularity with both fans and players.
Once again, thousands of fans are expected to watch standouts such as defending champion Ashleigh Buhai and World Golf Hall of Famer Karrie Webb in action on Seaview Hotel and Golf Club’s Bay Course Friday through Sunday.
“We are excited to once again to attract the world’s best professional golfers and legends of the game back to Seaview,” tournament media director Jeremy Freidman said.
Buhai (2023) and Webb (2013) are among nine past ShopRite Classic champions in the 144-player field, along with Brooke Henderson (2022), Annie Park (2018), In Kyung Kim (2017), Anna Nordqvist (2015, ’16), Stacy Lewis (2012, ’14), Brittany Lincicome (2011) and Angela Stanford (2003).
Nordqvist and Lewis will be vying to join Annika Sorenstam (1998, 2002, ’05) and Betsy King (1987, ’95, ’01) as three-time winners. Nordqvist is the only player to win in back-to-back years.
Webb, one of the best players in LPGA history, is playing in a LPGA event for the first time since she played in the ShopRite Classic in 2022.
The field includes 13 of the top 50 players, led by No. 5 Hannah Green and No. 7 Jin Young Koo.
“Winning last year was a huge accomplishment for me,” Buhai said last week. “Seaview is a course I’ve always felt comfortable playing. It kind of has that ‘linksy’ feel.”
The action actually starts two days before the actual tournament, when the Pro-Am takes place Wednesday and Thursday at three courses: Seaview Bay, Seaview Pines and Galloway National. It’s by far the largest pro-am on any professional golf tour, with approximately 300 groups of five players – four amateurs and a pro – teeing it up.
The pro-am is so popular that organizers recruit current and former Symetra Tour players and various other personalities to serve as “pros.” Afterward, participants are treated to an awesome after-party at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City.
I’ve been fortunate to play in the pro-am four times and each round was memorable for a variety of reasons. For instance, my first pro-am experience was in 2017, when I was paired with former “The Big Break” contestant Elena Robles on Seaview’s Pines Course. Every hole had a Tito’s Vodka station, plus soft pretzels and various other snacks. By the time we made the turn, I had trouble seeing the ball on the tee, let alone making contact.
Probably my favorite pro-am stint was in 2019, when I played with former LPGA veteran Julieta Granada and her mother/caddie Rosa. I had first met them in 2005, when Julieta was an 18-year-old high school senior playing the tournament on a sponsor’s exemption. During the round, we shared bratwursts and anecdotes while managing to finish 10-under par as a team.
The most impressive part of the tournament, however, is its longevity.
Larry and Ruth Harrison were the driving forces behind starting the tournament – once known as the Atlantic City Classic – in 1986.
The event thrived for 11 years during stints at both Seaview and Greate Bay Country Club in Somers Point until a conflict with former LPGA officials over dates caused a three-year hiatus from 2007-09 before it was revived by Tim Erensen, Bill Hansen and others.
Here’s hoping its back for another 36 years.
LaManna goes for title at Bally’s
In addition to the ShopRite Classic, the weekend also features a top professional boxing card Saturday night at Bally’s Atlantic City.
Millville middleweight contender Thomas LaManna (37-5-1, 16 KOs), will face Dominican Republic’s Juan Carlos Abreu (26-7-1, 24 KOs) for the World Boxing Association’s Gold title.
LaManna, who is ranked third in the WBA’s world rankings, will be fighting for the 23rd time in Atlantic City. The streak began in 2011, when he made his pro debut at Bally’s during his senior year at Millville High School.
The following week, boxing returns to Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall with a card being promoted by former WBA super-lightweight champ Danny Garcia.
The undercard will feature the pro debut of Bruce Seldon Jr., son of former WBA heavyweight champion Bruce Seldon and brother of former middleweight boxing Isiah Seldon.
Seldon Jr., an Absegami High School graduate, is being trained at the Pleasantville Rec Center by Pleasantville’s Julio Sanchez.
David is a nationally recognized sports columnist who has covered Philadelphia and local sports for over 40 years. After 35 years with The Press, he has served as a columnist for 973ESPN.com and created his own Facebook page, Dave Weinberg Extra Points.
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