The Symetra Tour, Road to the LPGA, announced Friday the addition of the W.B. Mason Championship at Thorny Lea Golf Club to the 2015 schedule. The event will take place the week of August 10-16. The three round, 54-hole stroke play format, will begin on Friday, August 14 and conclude on Sunday, August 16.
“Three years ago as W.B. Mason Co. crossed the $1 billion mark, we were forced to make a decision,” said W.B. Mason President and CEO Leo Meehan. “Shall we relocate our corporate headquarters or renovate our historic building? After exploring all options, we decided that W.B. Mason Co. was to permanently remain in Brockton and maintain the 117-year legacy we have built with the city. We’re thrilled to further our partnership with Brockton by collaborating with Thorny Lea golf club and the Symetra Tour to bring professional golf to the city for the first time in over 30 years.”
The 144-player field will consist of the top up-and-coming women’s professional golfers from all over the world. They will compete for their share of the $110,000 tournament purse with the winner earning $16,500 and taking a significant step towards an LPGA Tour card for the 2016 season. The top 10 on the year-end Volvik Race for the Card money list earn LPGA Tour membership for 2016.
“I’m thrilled that W.B. Mason has stepped up to bring women’s professional golf to Brockton and the greater Boston area,” said Chief Business Officer of the Symetra Tour, Mike Nichols. “We’re excited to showcase the next wave of LPGA stars at a respected venue like Thorny Lea Golf Club.”
In 2014, one of the top players on the Symetra Tour was Shrewsbury native Brittany Altomare, who won the Massachusetts Women’s Open and finished 15th on the Volvik Race for the Card money list. Symetra Tour member Caroline Powers won medalist honors and set the course record at the 2014 U.S. Women’s Open qualifier held at Thorny Lea Golf Club.
“Since its founding in 1900, Thorny Lea has developed one of the deepest golf histories and tradition in Massachusetts,” said Thorny Lea President Ray Cronin. “We look forward to adding to our legacy by hosting top-notch professionals and championship golf on our great Wayne Stiles course. We are thrilled how this ties our club together with women’s golf, Brockton’s great sports history and the foresight of W.B. Mason. It will be a great week.”
Current Volvik Race for the Card money list leader Haley Italia, who finished second at the Gateway Classic at Longbow Golf Club, was on hand to help make the announcement.
“The Symetra Tour continues to provide me the opportunity to chase my dream of playing full-time on the LPGA Tour and I’m excited that we’ll be coming to a top notch golf course,” said Italia. “It’s fantastic that respected companies like W.B. Mason see the value in supporting women’s golf and I look forward to competing in Brockton.”
The W.B. Mason Championship will be the first Symetra Tour event in the state of Massachusetts since 1993, when the Tour held an event at Shakers Farm Country Club in Westfield.
In addition to the W.B. Mason Championship, which begins on Friday, the early part of the week at Thorny Lea will feature the Women’s Golf Association of Massachusetts’ (WGAM) Amateur Championship and Presidents Cup, the most prestigious event of the year. The winner of the amateur championship will earn a spot in the W.B. Mason Championship field.
For more information on the W.B. Mason Championship, contact Robby Thompson at rtmarketingtlgc@gmail.com.
About the Symetra Tour: The Symetra Tour, the official Road to the LPGA, will begin its 35th competitive season in 2015. With the support of its umbrella sponsor, Symetra, the Tour’s mission is to prepare the world’s best young women professional golfers for a successful career on the LPGA Tour. The top-10 money winners each season earn memberships on the LPGA Tour for the following season. With more than 600 alumnae moving on to the LPGA including 2014 RICOH Women’s British Open champion Mo Martin and current Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings No. 1 Inbee Park, former Symetra Tour players have won a total of 382 LPGA titles, including 45 major championships. Symetra Tour events have contributed more than $5 million to charitable organizations throughout the nation since 1989. Follow the Symetra Tour on the web at www.SymetraTour.com, Facebook.com/RoadtotheLPGA, Twitter.com/Road2LPGA, and YouTube.com/Road2LPGA.
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