LPGA: Kia Classic Returns to San Diego

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*The LPGA is back in San Diego, CA this week after a one-year absence. The Kia Classic will be held at La Costa Resort, which recently finished a $50 million renovation project. The renovation included redoing both of their 18 hole golf courses.  The Champions Course (which had formerly been known as the North Course) was completely renovated and the Legends Course (formerly the South Course) had holes 1, 9, 10 and 18 overhauled.  The resort also saw work done to its five hundred rooms and suites, an addition of a $12 million spa, a new clubhouse and a new ballroom.

The Kia Classic debuted in 2010 at La Costa before moving to Industry Hills Golf Club at Pacific Palms for the 2011 tournament while the resort underwent its changes. The tournament was received quite well in its temporary location last year just a little north in the City of Industry, which is located in Los Angeles County. As a San Diego native I have to admit I was a little nervous that the tour might decide to keep the tournament at the northern location. However with the renovation now complete and receiving great reviews,  hopefully San Diego will be a continuing venue for the LPGA to annually showcase their talents for many years to come.

*Yani Tseng continues to light up 2012 after she won her second tournament of the year last weekend at the RR Donnelley LPGA Founders Cup. Tseng fought through several rain delays last Sunday to win by one stroke over Ai Miyazato and Na Yeon Choi. This was Tseng’s 14th career LPGA victory. With unseasonably chilly and rainy weather plaguing the Phoenix area it appeared the tour might be heading for a Monday finish.  They were able to finish the round just as darkness was falling with Tseng shooting a back nine 31 to edge out her fellow competitors.

*For Miyazato the loss may have felt all too familiar as she lost by one stroke to Tseng only last month at the Honda LPGA Thailand. Yet the Japanese player is off to an incredible start so far this year. She has finished T-2 twice with a T-6 coming in Singapore. She currently leads the tour in scoring average and is currently ranked 7th in the Rolex World Golf Rankings. 

*The gap that Tseng is creating between herself and the rest of the field continues to grow weekly. After her win last weekend there are now over eight points separating her in the Rolex Rankings from No. 2 in the world Na Yeon Choi. She has also already made over $500,000 on the year, nearly double of her closest contender in Miyazato.

*The Kia Classic is the last tune up for the ladies before they move to Palm Springs and the first major championship of the year, the Kraft Nabisco Championship.

Television Schedule for The Kia Classic:

Mar 22 : GC 6:30-9:00 PM ET

Mar 23 : GC 6:30-9:00 PM ET

Mar 24 : GC 6:30-9:00 PM ET

Mar 25 : GC 7:00-9:00 PM ET

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