Nelly Korda, Lydia Ko to Heading Field of the LPGA Founders Cup

On February 7, 2025By Littum

Sarasota – as a brotherhood promise that recited the founders of his house, Hollis Stacy also did with the 13 founders of Ladies Professional Golf Association.

Helen Dettweiler, Sally Sessions, Marlene Hagge, Alice Bauer, Babe Zaharias, Marilynn Smith, Patty Berg, Betty Jameson, Helen Hicks, Shirley Spork, Opal Hill, Betty Danoff. World Golf Hall of Fame inductor 2012 torn through the names as a picture-perfect drive from TEE.

Louise Suggs was Stacy’s only yip.

“Oh, yes,” said the 70-year-old, a four-time winner of the US Women’s Open, as well as 18 LPGA Tour events. “Georgia Gal.” SUGGS, who died in 2015 in Sarasota at the age of 91, is fourth all the time on the LPGA Tour Victory List with 61.

Marking of the 75th anniversary of the formation of LPGA, the event set up to honor its 13 founders, the Founders Cup, presented by US Virgin Islands, starts the season’s first full-field event 6-9 February at the Bradenton Country Club.

The event was held for the first time in 2011 and had cognizant, an American multinational technology company, as its title sponsor from 2021-2024. But when the company stepped away in October, it forced a step from its Clifton home, NJ, and into a place on the LPGA calendar that was occupied last year by the operation of the event. In recent weeks, the US Virgin Islands entered the void to become a title sponsor.

A springboard for Korda’s memorable season

The event was held at Bradenton CC, which includes Stacy as a member, and proved memorable when Bradenton resident Nelly Korda defeated Lydia Ko in a two-hole end game. It was the first of seven tour wins of them continuously for the 26-year-old LPGA Tour Player of the Year.

Like last year, Stacy will act as a connection between the players and the club members. “I’m kind of the unspoken host,” she said. “I’m a member of the club, which is great. I remain in close contact with the players and the trip. “

Stacy is looking forward to this year’s Founders Cup, but will always remember last year’s drive and how it served as a catapult for Korda’s season that was once in a lifetime.

“The event was just phenomenal,” she said. “The members came all together, the golf course was in good shape, and a little knew someone it would trigger Nelly in a historic race. We also had Lydia to try to get into the Hall of Fame. It was just a classic match. What (Korda) did was something that I am sure she will never forget. Wins in front of his family. “

Hurricanes left damage to Bradenton CC

Stacy said fans who were familiar with the layout of Bradenton CC may notice a handful of differences because of hurricanes Helene and Milton. “We were hurt,” she said. “We lost a large part of our fences and lost a lot of trees. But the course will certainly quit. What makes the golf course, what it is the green ones. The green ones are extremely fast.

“You have to run the ball as well, and then you have to hit your iron with precision,” Stacy said. “Put the ball in the right place. Donald Ross was known for his treacherous greens. Not mean Greener. Treacherous. Try to keep the ball on the green. But I think the course will play a little longer. Last year it was a little fast. “

Her time on the tour let Stacy know many of LPGA’s 13 founders. During the 1920s and 1930s, several professional tournaments were staged for women. But it wasn’t until the 1940s when efforts began to seriously form a pro golfedganization for women.

In 1944, Women’s Professional Golf Association (WPGA) was formed, and players such as Berg, Suggs, Jameson and Zaharias stood out. WPGA lasted only until 1949, but it opened the door for the formation of LPGA, founded on September 13, 1950 at the Rolling Hills Country Club in Wichita, Kansas. The first tournament was the 1950 Tampa Open, held at Palma Ceia Golf and Country Club.

The founders wanted to establish a Pro League for female golfers, create opportunities for them and legitimize pro status for women’s golf. But during the early year of LPGA, with plays the purses a fraction of what they are today, its founders were forced to prepare the various courses for games, including performing maintenance and string of the gallery’s rope.

“They made the rules, they made the constitution, they had great foresight,” Stacy said. “They were very strong women, and I can’t thank them enough for what they did for women’s golf. We are the greatest woman’s sports organization in the world. They would form an association and start their own tour that the men had started. They said, ‘Why can’t we do it?’ And then they did. “

LPGA grew under Volpes leadership

According to Stacy, it was only before Ray Volpe, a marketing guru, took over as LPGA commissioner in the mid -1970s that Women’s Golf experienced a huge explosion. The arrival of Nancy Lopez and her extraordinary early success rocked the sport even higher.

“We started to see big crowds,” Stacy said. “We got a lot of eyeballs and a lot of attention. We saw some great growth. “

As for the upcoming Founders Cup, Stacy believes that KO’s second place last year at The Drive On Event will cause her to get out of blood. I think the course is better at her (this year), ”she said. Still, standing in her way will be Korda, as Stacy said, has practiced in the bitter cold weather wearing a parka.

“Who is training in these things right now?” She asked. “Like all of them, she works hard. (Last year) she won five in a row, on five different golf courses, in five different climates. She’s tough. Hard as nails. She has a beautiful turn. She has a great club head rate and she has a good head on her shoulders.

“She gets a good year. She may not win what she won (last year). She may not win as many tournaments. But at any time you can run it 280 (yards) and hit the fairway 99% of the time, I think your chances are pretty good. “

Block Party Starts Founders Cup Week

Tournament Week starts with a Founders Cup Block Party on February 2nd at Bradenton’s Historic Old Main Street for an afternoon of entertainment, family fun, local food. Block Party runs from 1 p.m. 13 to 7 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. Parking will be available in Manatee County Public Parking Garage, located at Manatee Ave. West and 10. St. West.

Away from the action

The Expo village, located on the lawn behind the Bradenton Country Club Club House, will be the hub of fans looking for a break from the trial. The LPGA Pro Shop includes the latest LPGA gear including hats, polos, mid-layer and accessories. A custom hatbar allows fans to choose a hat and choose from a variety of patches, with a personal design created right on site. Browse the full selection of LPGA -Gear online by visiting Lpgaproshop.com.

The Pacira lesson zone will offer fans the unique opportunity to receive a free 10-minute lesson from an LPGA teaching professional. Visit their stand, which is located by the LPGA Pro Shop, to sign up for a lesson. Entertainment for children will include games with corn hole, combat chip and inflatable spoon-ball. Adults can visit Titos trailer and try several signature cocktails, while a number of non-alcoholic settings will also be available. For more information about all events happening at the Founders Cup, you can visit Thefounderlpga.com.

Are you interested in going?

Tickets can be purchased at Seatgeek.com. Daily tickets Start at $ 39 for general admission, with Weekly passports Starting at $ 129. Champions Club Hospitality Tickets Start at $ 329 for 18. Recording. The Champions Club provides premium access to an outdoor structure of the 18th green and includes a shared food and beverage services, including barbes, as well as free parking outside the place. A special Inside-the-Ropes experience is available for $ 3,000. This unique option allows two guests to enter the ropes with a highlighted group during a competition. The experience also includes access to Champions Club and free off-site parking.

Children aged 17 and under will receive free access to the purchase of an adult ticket. For more information about junior tickets, visit Seatgeek.com. To honor men and women in the armed forces of the United States, both current and former members of all branches, together with their accompanying spouse/partner or dependent, will receive free ground tickets.