Golf’s rulemakers Tuesday banned anchored putting strokes, a technique that has been used by players to win four of the past six major professional tournaments and drawn both support and opposition throughout the sport.FORT WAYNE – The Mad Anthonys Charity Classic for Children has finalized the LPGA participants for its tournament Sunday and Monday at Sycamore Hills Golf Club.
Jessica Korda, Belen Mozo, Azahara Munoz and Beatriz Recari – a group that has won more than $2 million since 2010 – was added to the 12-player golf field.
The LPGA players will play for a $300,000 purse in the tournament’s new format. The tournament has taken place since 1957.
The Mad Anthonys are composed of business leaders and professionals from northeast Indiana and the tournament raises funds for the Mad Anthonys Children’s Hope House, which provides nearby lodging and support services for the families of children undergoing pediatric and neonatal treatment.
The tournament will be hosted by Amanda Blumenherst, an LPGA player who lived in Fort Wayne as a youngster. The tournament will also include Nancy Lopez, Angela Stanford, Stacy Lewis, Vicky Hurst, Laura Diaz, Christina Kim and Sarah Jane Smith.
“For anyone who follows the tour, it’s clear that players like Belen, Azahara, Jessica and Beatriz represent the future of women’s golf for all the right reasons,” Blumenherst said in a news release.
“I’ve had the good fortune of both playing with them and watching them up close, and their level of talent and skill will make for an exciting addition to this event.”
While this will be a Pro-Am, the LPGA stroke-play winner will get $50,000.
The participants have five victories between them this year, including wins by Lewis at the Mobile Bay LPGA Classic and the ShopRite LPGA Classic. She is second on the LPGA money list this year with $857,000.
Munoz won the Sybase Match Play Championship.
The headline player is Lopez, a member of the LPGA Hall of Fame with 45 tour victories, including three majors. Three times, she has been the LPGA’s leading money winner.
Stanford has $6.8 million in career earnings. Diaz has $5.1 million. And Kim has $4.1million.
The presenting sponsor of the event is the Heritage Food Service Group, whose president, Bruce Dye, came up with the new format along with Blumenherst in the summer of 2011.
Two-day passes for the Charity Classic for Children are available at Sycamore Hills, Fort Wayne Country Club, Bobick’s Golf Headquarters and online at www.madanthonys.org.
The passes cost $20, and there is no charge for children under 16 with the purchase of an adult pass.
Last year, the Mad Anthonys raised $115,000.
