SemGroup Championship moves to May

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 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,

we could talk to SemGroup and the LPGA about moving it to the spring on a permanent basis.

“If the trend is that way, it is something we'll definitely pursue.”

While current points leader Stacy Prammanasudh said it would be nice to have bigger galleries, she might lean toward keeping the event in the fall.

“I wouldn't mind it being in the fall. Cedar Ridge is a difficult course without the wind, and we all know that spring in Tulsa means wind,” said the former standout of the University of Tulsa. “Also, with the later date, it is nice to have an event in your backyard after being on the road all summer.”

Sjodin enters the 2007 SemGroup Championship as a first-time member of Team SemGroup, which is comprised of many stars of the LPGA battling in a seasonlong points race to earn $25,000 for their chosen charity.

Sjodin is joined by Prammanasudh, tournament defending champ Kerr, rising star Natalie Gulbis, Helen Alfredsson, Christina Kim and Karin Koch, who are all in the event's field.

“It's great to be a part of it,” Sjodin said. “It's made up of accomplished players, and it's great to be among those names this early in my career.”

In last fall's event, Sjodin was briefly atop the leaderboard after completing her second round, and she said she credits that round as her main confidence booster going into this year's SemGroup Championship.

“It feels good,” Sjodin said. “It was nice to be there, but now I need to stay there.

“For me, it's about winning the tournament. The money is the bonus. Obviously, it would be nice to earn the money, but for me it would be great to win my first tournament in front of my friends.”

For Sjodin to win, she will have to outlast a field that is slated to include Kerr -- who shot a course-record 61 to help her win the event last year - standings leader Prammanasudh.

“Well, it is really nice to be at the top, but it is very difficult to stay there, so if I am still there in October then I will be ecstatic,” said Prammanasudh about her early lead. “I am playing well and am looking forward to the Tulsa event.

“It always a little tougher playing at home, but the support from all the fans is great. It

FAN FACTS

2007 SEMGROUP CHAMPIONSHIP

Cedar Ridge Country Club 10302 S. Garnett Rd. Broken Arrow, OK 74012 P Pa ar r: : 71 Y Ya ar rd da ag ge e: : Will play between 6,600 and 6,300 yards daily P Pa ar rk ki in ng g: : Complimentary parking with continuous shuttle to the course at 91st and Garnett.

SCHEDULE

M Mo on nd da ay y: : Practice round; open to public T Tu ue es sd da ay y: : Practice round W We ed dn ne es sd da ay y: : Pro-Am T Th hu ur rs sd da ay y: : Pro-Am F Fr ri id da ay y: : Day 1 of SemGroup Championship; Windstream customers receive complimentary tickets by presenting bill; TV: 2-4 p.m. ESPN2 S Sa at tu ur rd da ay y: : Day 2 of SemGroup Championship; junior clinic at the driving range at 4 p.m.; TV: 2-4 p.m. ESPN2 S Su un nd da ay y: : Final round of SemGroup Championship; TV: 2-4 p.m. ESPN2

R Re es st tr ri ic ct ti io on ns s: : No cameras, cell phones or food & beverages during the tournament. Tickets are available at all area Reasor’s as well as online at www.semgroupchampionship.com.

South Lakes

9253 S. Elwood Jenks, America 918-746-3760

www.SouthLakesGolf.com

Since 1989

Tee times: www.PlayTulsa.com

5501 S. Yale Ave., Tulsa, Okla. 918 596-8627

www.LaFortuneParkGolf.com

Since 1960