South Central Golf - April/May 2007

LPGA SEMGROUP CHAMPIONSHIP

New spring in their steps

Photos by Mel Root/Illustration by James Royal

SemGroup Championship defending champ Cristie Kerr hoists the tournament trophy after winning the 2006 event. (Top L to R) Annika Sorenstam is looking to regain the title, while Stacy Prammansudh, Karin Sjodin and Paula Creamer (yet to committ) will be among the top contenders for 2007 crown at Cedar Ridge Country Club.

A switch to May could prove popular and permanent for the SemGroup Championship

By TIM LANDES When the LPGA returns to Broken Arrow, many things will be different from the previous years.

While the tournament will be held at Cedar Ridge Country Club, the event has moved from August to May 4-6, the name 14

has changed to the SemGroup Championship presented by John Q. Hammons, the purse has increased to $1.4 million and the defending champion is Cristie Kerr.

Due to the 2007 PGA Championship being played at Southern Hills in August, tournament officials decided to move the SemGroup Championship to the spring, which could also create a larger gallery.

“The part I'm looking forward to is there should be more people,” said second-year tour player Karin Sjodin, who graduated from Oklahoma State. “There is no college football to contend with, which is big in Oklahoma.

“I know I will have more of my friends there, which will be nice.”

In an attempt to draw larger crowds, the tournament is being promoted on billboards in the Tulsa area, and tickets are being sold at area Reasor's as well as online at www.semgroupchampionship.com. Until April 17, 2-for-1 weekly ground badges will be available at Reasor's for $50.

Tournament director Doug Eibling said future dates for the event could be determined by attendance numbers, which he said he expects could be higher than in the past.

“It could be very big for us,” Eibling said.

“If we knock it out of the park, so to speak, SOUTH CENTRAL GOLF