Michigan Golf Journal June 2019

Four of the first five winners of the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give are slated to return to Blythefield Country Club, just north of Grand Rapids for the 6th annual LPGA Tour event, June 12- 16: defending champion So Yeon Ryu, 2107 winner Brooke Henderson, ’15 champion Lexi Thompson, and the inaugural-year winner Mirim Lee. Other notable players to have verbally committed are: Cristie Kerr, Inbee Park, Morgan Pressel and Gaby Lopez. Ryu, who also won the 2011 U.S. Women’s Open, made an unprecedented move last year when she gave back $100,000 of her winner’s check to the Simply Give cause, which provides funding to local food pantries throughout Michigan and the Midwest. The Simply Give program has generated over $48 million since its inception, with $4.2 million of that coming from the golf tournament proceeds. “I think an LPGA golfer can be an inspiration around the world,” Ryu said. “As LPGA golfers we wish we can help out to make the whole world a better place to live. This is such a special place to me, even though I’ve never lived here. I’m not from here but it feels like home here. Everybody is so friendly; everybody is so kind. And last time the Simply Give program was my motivation to win the tournament. I hope to have the same motivation this year and hope I can defend my title.” The tournament’s $4.2 million for Simply Give translates to more than 40 million meals for people in need. Tournament officials have a goal this year of matching or exceeding the $1 million raised each of the past two years. Four Meijer LPGA Classic Champions Returning By Tom Lang Goal: raise $1 million for Simply Give charity Michigan Golf Journal LPGA Tour in Grand Rapids