Top lady golfers play April 27-30
SPONSORS of the tournament at Wilshire Country Club, Walter and Shirley Wang.
Tournament is held at Wilshire Country Club
As the Chronicle’s May issue is delivered throughout neighborhoods, the world’s top female golfers are walking the historic course at Wilshire Country Club (WCC). And readers may join them in the galleries!
The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) tournament — which has 17 of the current top 20 women players in the world — takes place Thurs., April 27, through Sun., April 30.
The winner and other top players will share a whopping $3 million purse — one of the largest for an LPGA event outside of the majors.
While the LPGA Tour has staged its signature Los Angeles event at Wilshire Country Club since 2018, this is the LPGA’s inaugural JM Eagle LA Championship presented by Plastpro.
Walter and Shirley Wang
Los Angeles residents and Taiwan natives Walter and Shirley Wang are sponsoring the tournament through their companies. Walter is CEO of JM Eagle, the world’s largest plastic pipe manufacturer. His wife, Shirley, is founder of Plastro, a leading manufacturer of fiberglass entry doors.
At the October 2022 announcement of their sponsorship of the tournament and the increased prize purse for the players, the Wangs said, “We are incredibly honored to partner with the LPGA Tour as title and presenting sponsors.” They added, “We are excited to work with the LPGA Tour in enhancing this world-class tournament at Wilshire Country Club, and we look forward to supporting and empowering these incredible athletes with our elevated purse of $3 million.”
Walter and Shirley Wang are heavily involved in philanthropic initiatives throughout the world through their companies and through the Walter and Shirley Wang Foundation. As just one example, the Wangs were the first and major sponsors of the Emmy-nominated PBS documentary “Becoming American: The Chinese Experience,” a Bill Moyers special.
Top Players
In all, the 72-hole tournament will feature 144 women golfers from every corner of the globe said David Tucker, vice president of Outlyr, the LPGA tournament operator. Top players include: No. 2 Nelly Korda, No. 3 Jin Young Ko, No. 4 Atthaya Thitikul and No. 5 Minjee Lee.
No. 10 Georgia Hall and Southern California natives (and past LPGA Tour winners) Danielle Kang and Lilia Vu headline the latest commitments to the tournament.
Added viewing areas
New at the tournament this year, spectators and guests will get an even better, up close look with added viewing areas as golfers play on the historic course that opened in 1919. Upgraded food and beverage hospitality also is featured.
Single day and weekly grounds passes, as well as upgraded hospitality ticket options, are available when purchased in advance. Tickets can also be purchased at Will Call this weekend, pending availability.
Outlyr and the LPGA have partnered with the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank and will offer free admission on Thurs., April 27, to all guests who donate three or more nonperishable, un-expired food cans at the admissions tent (accessed from Rosewood Avenue at Lillian Way).
Visit lpga.com for tickets and more information.
Category: News