NEW JERSEY — Two of the Philippines’ finest female golfers continue their hunt for their first LPGA Tour victory. But standing in their way are among the toughest in the world as well.
Dottie Ardina and Bianca Pagdanganan will fight their way against a field that includes 15 major champions when the 2023 ShopRite LPGA Classic Presented by Acer blasts off Friday (Saturday in Manila) in Galloway, New Jersey.
Past champions joining the fray are defending champion Brooke Henderson (2022), Mel Reid (2020), Annie Park (2018), In Kyung Kim (2017), two-time winners Anna Nordqvist (2015, 2016) and Stacy Lewis (2012, 2014), and Angela Stanford (2003).
World No. 1 Jin young Ko, Georgia Hall and Hyun Joo Kim will also be making their own campaigns in one of the Tour’s longest-running events.
Tournament officials also announced that Epson Tour professional Sierra Brooks has accepted the final sponsor exemption into the championship.
It will be a stacked 144-player field that will also feature Ladies European winner and 17-year-old Chiara Noja and University of Florida rising senior Maisie Filler.
LPGA Tour winner and Philadelphia Cricket Club teaching professional Meaghan Francella advanced into the field via her LPGA priority status, thus opening up one additional sponsor exemption.
For three decades, golf fans from across the northeast have converged upon Atlantic City and the Jersey Shore to watch the top female golfers in the world compete on the famed waterfront course.
