Kia Classic Presented by J Golf
Encyclopedia
The Kia Classic is a women's professional golf tournament on the LPGA Tour
. It was played for the first time in 2010 at the La Costa Resort and Spa in Carlsbad, California
. In 2011, the tournament moved to the Industry Hills Golf Club at Pacific Palms in City of Industry, California.
The title sponsor of the tournament is Kia Motors
, a South Korean-based automobile manufacturer.
The winner of the inaugural tournament was Hee Kyung Seo, a member of the LPGA of Korea Tour
(KLPGA). She became the 19th non-LPGA member in LPGA Tour history to win an LPGA Tournament and the first player to win as a sponsor exemption since Jin Joo Hong
won the KOLON-Hana Bank Championship
in October 2006. With the win, Seo became immediately eligible for LPGA membership and is a rookie on the LPGA Tour in 2011.
In 2011, the tournament was decided by the final pairing on the final green. With both players tied at 15-under, Sandra Gal
hit a wedge to within two feet (0.6 m) of the hole and Jiyai Shin was four feet (1.2 m) out. Shin missed her slippery putt but Gal made hers for birdie to win her first LPGA event by a stroke.
LPGA
The LPGA, in full the Ladies Professional Golf Association, is an American organization for female professional golfers. The organization, whose headquarters is in Daytona Beach, Florida, is best known for running the LPGA Tour, a series of weekly golf tournaments for elite female golfers from...
. It was played for the first time in 2010 at the La Costa Resort and Spa in Carlsbad, California
Carlsbad, California
-2010:The 2010 United States Census reported that Carlsbad had a population of 105,328. The population density was 2,693.1 people per square mile . The racial makeup of Carlsbad was 87,205 White, 1,379 African American, 514 Native American, 7,460 Asian, 198 Pacific Islander, 4,189 from other...
. In 2011, the tournament moved to the Industry Hills Golf Club at Pacific Palms in City of Industry, California.
The title sponsor of the tournament is Kia Motors
Kia Motors
Kia Motors , headquartered in Seoul, is South Korea's second-largest automobile manufacturer, following the Hyundai Motor Company, with sales of over 1.4 million vehicles in 2010...
, a South Korean-based automobile manufacturer.
The winner of the inaugural tournament was Hee Kyung Seo, a member of the LPGA of Korea Tour
LPGA of Korea Tour
The LPGA of Korea Tour is a South Korean professional golf tour for women. LPGA stands for Ladies Professional Golf Association; it is the independent LPGA of Korea which runs this tour, not the American LPGA...
(KLPGA). She became the 19th non-LPGA member in LPGA Tour history to win an LPGA Tournament and the first player to win as a sponsor exemption since Jin Joo Hong
Jin Joo Hong
Jin-Joo Hong is a South Korean professional golfer who plays on the LPGA Tour.Born in Seoul, Hong began to play golf when she was 11 years old. After playing on the LPGA of Korea Tour from 2004 to 2006, she won the 2006 KOLON-Hana Bank Championship, an event co-sanctioned by the LPGA Tour, to earn...
won the KOLON-Hana Bank Championship
KOLON-Hana Bank Championship
The LPGA Hana Bank Championship presented by SK telecom is a women's golf tournament in Korea, co-sanction by the LPGA of Korea Tour and the LPGA Tour....
in October 2006. With the win, Seo became immediately eligible for LPGA membership and is a rookie on the LPGA Tour in 2011.
In 2011, the tournament was decided by the final pairing on the final green. With both players tied at 15-under, Sandra Gal
Sandra Gal
Sandra Gal is a German professional golfer who currently plays on the United States–based LPGA Tour.-Childhood, college and amateur career:...
hit a wedge to within two feet (0.6 m) of the hole and Jiyai Shin was four feet (1.2 m) out. Shin missed her slippery putt but Gal made hers for birdie to win her first LPGA event by a stroke.
Winners
| Year | Dates | Champion | Country | Winning score | To par | Margin of victory |
Tournament Location |
Purse ($ United States dollar The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies.... ) |
Winner's share ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 2011 LPGA Tour The 2011 LPGA Tour was a series of weekly golf tournaments for elite female golfers from around the world that began in Thailand on February 17, 2011 and had its last official event end on November 20, 2011 in Florida... |
Mar 24-27 | Sandra Gal Sandra Gal Sandra Gal is a German professional golfer who currently plays on the United States–based LPGA Tour.-Childhood, college and amateur career:... |
67-68-70-71=276 | -16 | 1 stroke | Industry Hills Golf Club | 1,700,000 | 255,000 | |
| 2010 2010 LPGA Tour The 2010 LPGA Tour was a series of weekly golf tournaments for elite female golfers from around the world that began in Thailand on February 13, 2010 and ended in Florida on December 5, 2010... |
Mar 25-28 | Hee Kyung Seo | 70-67-69-70=276 | -12 | 6 strokes | La Costa Resort and Spa | 1,700,000 | 255,000 |
Tournament records
| Year | Player | Score | Round | Course |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Inbee Park Inbee Park Inbee Park, also known as In-Bee Park, is a South Korean professional golfer.-Early life and amateur career:Park was born in Seoul. She began playing golf at the age of 10. After moving to the United States, she won nine events on the American Junior Golf Association circuit and was a five-time... |
65 (-7) | 4th round | La Costa Resort and Spa |
| 2011 | Jiyai Shin | 64 (-9) | 2nd round | Industry Hills Golf Club |
External links
- LPGA.com - official tournament microsite
- Industry Hills Golf Club - course site