Top Stars to Compete at ShopRite LPGA Classic

Five of the LPGA’s biggest stars, including two top 10 players, will compete in the 2011 ShopRite LPGA Classic at the Seaview Golf Resort in Galloway, it was announced on Thursday.

The top 10 players that were announced on Thursday are Michelle Wie, the No. 9 player in the world according to the Rolex Rankings, and No. 10 Paula Creamer.

Natalie Gulbis, Morgan Pressel and Brittany Linicome were the other big names announced on Thursday.

The tournament week is May 30-June 5, and the 54-hole, $1.5 million purse event will be aired live nationally on the Golf Channel.

Creamer is the reigning U.S. Women’s Open champion. On the tour this year, she tied for second place at the RR Donnelly LPGA Founders Cup and fifth at the Honda LPGA Thailand.

Wie finished second at the Honda LPGA Thailand, and finished sixth at the Kraft Nabisco Championship.

Gulbis tied for 18^th at the Honda LPGA Thailand and tied for 24^th at the HSBC Women’s Championship.

Pressel was fifth at the HSBC Women’s Championship and was tied for third at the Kraft Nabisco Championship.

Linicome tied for second at the RR Donnelly LPGA Founder’s Cup and was tied for 14^th at ther HSBC Women’s Championship.

The ShopRite LPGA Classic is aiming to have 150 of the best female golfers in the world at its tournament this year. Previously announced to compete are:

• Ai Miyazato, the 2010 ShopRite LPGA Classic winner;
• Sandra Gal, the 2011 Kia Classic winner;
• Stacy Lewis, the 2011 Kraft Nabisco Championship winner;
• Karrie Webb, winner of both the 2011 HSBC Women’s Championship and the 2011 RR Donnelly LPGA Founder’s Cup;
• Hall of Famer Juli Inkster, winner of the 1996 and 1998 tournaments;
• Seon Hwa Lee, winner of the 2006 tournament;
• Janice Moodie, the 2000 ShopRite LPGA Classic champion;
• Hall of Famer Se Ri Pak, the 1999 tournament champion;
• Angela Stanford, the 2003 winner;
• Jiyai Shin, the No. 2 player in the world, according to the Rolex Rankings;

• Na Yeon Choi, the fourth-ranked player in the world;
• Suzann Pettersen, the No. 5 player in the world;
• I.K. Kim, the world’s No. 7;
• Azahara Munoz, the 2010 LPGA Rookie of the Year;
• Beatriz Recari;
• Laura Davies; and
• Anna Nordqvist.

 Ticket, sponsor, volunteer and tournament information, as well as updates, are all available at ShopRiteLPGAClassic.com. Player biographical information and photos are available at shopritelpgaclassic.com/players.php.