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Handa Cup moves to New
England area |
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(PORTSMOUTH,
NH) - After four
years in St. Augustine, Florida, the Handa Cup is travelling
north to Portsmouth, NH. This international match play
competition featuring U.S. born vs. internationally born LPGA
Legends will storm the east coast Labor Day weekend 2010, hosted
by an Old New England style club called
Wentworth by the Sea. Formerly
played at the Slammer & Squire course at the World Golf
Hall of Fame, the Handa Cup will bring fresh challenges to
competitors in 2010 with this venue change. |
Wentworth by the Sea CC
Rye, NH |
"We are very
excited to showcase our players in this new arena," says Jane
Blalock, CEO of The Legends Tour, the Official Senior Tour of
the LPGA. A Portsmouth native, Blalock is quite familiar with
the course and the community. "Everyone will rally around this
event," she adds. "It will be great for the players, the fans,
area businesses and especially
The First Tee of New Hampshire
(the event's charity partner)." All ticket proceeds will
support this charity.
The
Handa Cup
has a rich four year history beginning in 2006 with the U.S.
Team defeating the World Team, 27-11. The U.S. went on to
dominate play for the next three years, retaining the Cup in
2007, 2008 and 2009. The 2007 competition was the most strongly
contested, ending in a 26-22 win for the Americans. The U.S.
Team's consistent showing is due in large part to their line-up;
they typically boast a half a dozen LPGA and World Golf Hall of
Famers who've combined for hundreds of wins on Tour. But a
change of scenery might be just what the World needs to finally
shake things up.
Etched out
of the New England landscape, the genuine Scottish links style
course provides some of the most magnificent ocean views on the
NH seacoast. Originally designed by the "father of New England
golf", George Wright in 1897, the course was later improved by
notable golf course architect Donald Ross in 1921, and expanded
to 18 holes under Geoffrey Cornish's direction in 1964.
"I think
it will be a great opportunity during the Handa Cup team and
singles matches to challenge the players in new ways," notes
Blalock. "Wentworth is set up quite a but differently and it
sort of brings the whole event back to a 0-0 start." The 2010
field is yet to be announced, but rumor has it
U.S. Team Captain
Kathy Whitworth and
World Team Captain Cathy Panton Lewis will
be back at the helm for their respective teams come September.
Tournament
week will kick off with a Wentworth by the Sea member reception
on Wednesday, September 1. The
Official Handa Cup Pro-Am will
follow the next day, Thursday, September 2 with a 1:00 p.m.
shotgun. The Opening Ceremonies will be held that Thursday
evening. Clinics and practice rounds are scheduled for Friday,
September 3 with the Handa Cup team matches beginning Saturday
morning, September 4. Singles matches will start at 9:00 a.m.
Sunday, September 5 and the Closing Ceremony and trophy
presentation will immediately follow play once a winner is
determined.
Click here for more information
on the Handa Cup.
Click here to learn more about
Wentworth by the Sea Country Club. |
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