(BOSTON – August 3, 2021) – The LPGA Legends Tour, showcasing the talents of LPGA Tour players aged 45 and older, returns to the New England area for the fourth installment of the BJ’s Charity Championship presented by P&G on Friday, September 10, 2021. The unique one-day, 18-hole team event features some of the greatest names in the history of women’s golf, including Hall of Fame members Annika Sorenstam, Nancy Lopez, Dame Laura Davies, Juli Inkster, Pat Bradley, Hollis Stacy and Jan Stephenson, pairing up to tee it up in a team competition at The Ridge Club in Sandwich, Mass.
“We are thrilled to return to The Ridge Club on Cape Cod once again this fall and feature an elite lineup of LPGA Legends,” said Jane Blalock, a New Hampshire native who won 27 times on the LPGA Tour and is one of The Legends Tour’s founding members. “The BJ’s Charity Championship is a special event we all look forward to every year as it provides the opportunity to show off our shot-making skills – along with booming tee shots – to all New England fans. The spirit and camaraderie among longtime friends and rivals will be on full display during this 18-hole, ultra-competitive tournament.”
Sorenstam, winner of the 3rd U.S. Senior Women’s Open on Sunday at Brooklawn Country Club in Fairfield, Conn., is a 72-time champion on the LPGA Tour, including 10 major championship titles. Sorenstam will team up with Suzy Whaley, Honorary President of the PGA of America, who became the first woman to qualify for a PGA Tour event since 1945 by winning the 2002 Connecticut PGA Championship.
Nancy Lopez, one of the most decorated players in women’s golf, won 48 times on the LPGA Tour, nine of them coming in her first full year on Tour, leading to an appearance on the cover of Sports Illustrated, Rookie of the Year honors and the first of three Vare Trophies, which is awarded to the player with the lowest season scoring average. Lopez will team up with Val Skinner, a 6-time LPGA Tour champion who has also served as an on-course analyst and commentator for Golf Channel.
England’s Dame Laura Davies teamed up with Trish Johnson, a London native, to win the BJ’s Charity Championship in 2018. Davies has 87 professional wins worldwide, including the 2018 U.S. Senior Women’s Open and 2018 Senior LPGA Championship. Johnson is a 4-time winner on The Legends Tour with two senior women’s major titles. Set for their second appearance in this spirited team contest, Davies and Johnson missed the event in 2019, and the tournament was not played in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Returning to defend at the BJ’s Charity Championship will be Rosie Jones, a 13-time LPGA Tour winner who has also won eight times on the Legends Tour, and Michele Redman, a past LPGA Tour champion and 4-time Legends Tour winner. The pair won the event in 2019 by two shots.
“We’re thrilled to once again host the BJ’s Charity Championship at The Ridge Club and to welcome this amazing group of LPGA Legends to showcase their incredible talent,” said Bill Werner, executive director, BJ’s Charitable Foundation. “We’re also grateful for our sponsors who have generously supported this tournament, which benefits the BJ’s Charitable Foundation and helps our neighbors in need across the Eastern United States access basic essentials.”
Proceeds from the BJ’s Charity Championship benefit the BJ’s Charitable Foundation, which is dedicated to nourishing communities and helping families thrive. Thanks to the generous support of sponsors, admission to the tournament on Friday is free.
“We are excited and honored to host the 4th annual BJ’s Charity Championship,” said Matt Trombetta, General Manager of The Ridge Club. “Our members and staff are enthusiastic about giving back to our community and are happy to participate in events that allow us to do so. We look forward to a great event and can’t wait to see the players and the fans on site.”
Gates open at 8:00 a.m. on Friday, September 10. Parking is free to the public on a first come, first served basis at Holly Ridge Golf Club located next door and includes complimentary shuttle service to and from the tournament admissions gate from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Masks are required on the shuttle ride for all patrons, regardless of vaccination status.
Tee times will commence between 9:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. and there will be an awards ceremony for the champions on the 18th green following play. Clubhouse parking and access is for V.I.P.’s and Legends only; public concessions and restrooms will be available near the tournament entrance. For more information on the BJ’s Charity Championship, please visit http://www.thelegendstour.com.
The Legends Tour and the BJ’s Charity Championship continue to closely monitor public health guidelines for the health and safety of players, attendees and the local community. The event will follow the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and local and state officials and encourage those who are not fully vaccinated to wear masks.
Here is the full field for the BJ’s Charity Championship:
Jane Blalock, Cambridge, Mass. / Patricia Meunier-Lebouc, W. Palm Beach, Fla.
Pat Bradley, West Hyannisport, Mass. / Wendy Ward, Spokane, Wash.
Michelle McGann, West Palm Beach, Fla. / Laurie Rinker, Stuart, Fla.
Elaine Crosby, Jackson, Mich. / Nancy Scranton, St. Augustine, Fla.
Laura Davies, Surrey, England / Trish Johnson, London, England
Liselotte Neumann, Rancho Mirage, Calif. / Alicia Dibos, Greenwich, Conn.
Nancy Lopez, Palm City, Fla. / Val Skinner, Bay Head, N.J.
Juli Inkster, Los Altos, Calif. / Pat Hurst, Danville, Calif.
Hollis Stacy, Holmes Beach, Fla. / Jane Geddes, Tampa, Fla.
Rosie Jones, Hilton Head, S.C. / Michele Redman, Plymouth, Minn.
Jan Stephenson, Sydney, Australia / Lorie Kane, Prince Edward Island, Canada
Annika Sorenstam, Orlando, Fla. / Suzy Whaley, Ponte Vedra, Fla.
