The Kingsmill Championship is also excited to announce our first sponsor’s exemption that will join the field for this year’s event: Natalie Gulbis.
Natalie is a current resident of Las Vegas and a 17 year LPGA Tour veteran. She also is a three-time Solheim Cup Team Member (2005, 2007, 2009) and winner of the 2007 Evian Championship. Natalie is excited to be an ambassador for the Kingsmill Championship and will be involved in many events during Tournament week.
The one reason In Gee hasn't faired better this year is the most important stat of all; putting average. She is 29.58 and ranks No. 34. She needs to average 29.00 to be competitive because she isn't long enough to get two putt birdies on par 5's.
Her scoring average would be 69.42 instead of 70.00 if she averages 29.00; which would move her from No. 7 to No. 2.
Her driving distance is the culprit, not her putting stroke. She averages 251.13 yards, ranks No. 104; a drop from previous two years. Her proximity to the hole are longer because of longer shots into the greens which is why she doesn't have good putting average.
“We had 87 of the top 100 players in the world last year,” Hilker said. “I would anticipate having an equally strong field this year.”
“We haven’t narrowed any fairways,” he said, “but we’re definitely encouraged where the golf course is right now. It’s probably further along than I’ve ever seen it this time of year, particularly with the cold winter. I think from the standpoint of rough, it’s going to be very healthy this year. They want the week to start at about three-and-a-half inches, which is pretty good. And they’ll probably only mow it once during the week. …
“Greens, we actually asked (LPGA officials) to let us raise the speed a little bit because we know we can get them faster than what they would normally ask for on the tour. So the greens are going to be very fast.”
Last month, a sponsor invite was given to amateur Elsa Diaz, who just completed her senior season at the U. of Richmond, where she had a career scoring average of 78.29. I hope she chooses NOT to burn her parents' net worth by turning pro. She has a few interesting IG postings: