Field of 144 Players to Compete at Wilshire Country Club, the Start of Back-to-Back LPGA Tour Events in Los Angeles for the First Time in History
(LOS ANGELES) – Entries are now closed for the 2022 DIO Implant LA Open, with the event hosting one of the strongest fields in tournament history that features 17 of the top 25 in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings, major champions, and several former standout players hailing from UCLA and the University of Southern California. The DIO Implant LA Open will take place April 21-24 at historic Wilshire Country Club in Los Angeles.
The 144-player field will be headlined by World No. 1 Jin Young Ko, who recently set an all-time LPGA Tour record with 34 consecutive rounds under par. She has recorded six wins in her last 12 starts dating back to last July, with her most recent win coming at the HSBC Women’s World Championship in Singapore in early March.
Joining Ko in headlining the field are seventeen of the top-25 players in the world, including 2019 champion Minjee Lee (4), Atthaya Thitikul (5), Inbee Park (6), Danielle Kang (7), Sei Young Kim (9), defending champion Brooke Henderson (10), Nasa Hataoka (11), Yuka Saso (12), Patty Tavatanakit (14), Jessica Korda (15), Chevron Championship winner Jennifer Kupcho (16), Celine Boutier (17), Nanna Koerstz Madsen (18), Ayaka Furue (20), Leona Maguire (21) and Georgia Hall (25).
Tournament officials also announced today three sponsor exemptions for the DIO Implant LA Open: Murrieta resident and UCLA alumnus Sydnee Michaels, South Korea’s Youngin Chun and former Duke All-American Gina Kim.
A former All-American at UCLA and Epson Tour Rookie of the Year in 2011, Michaels will make her first LPGA Tour start in 2022 at the DIO Implant LA Open. She returned to LPGA Tour competition in 2021, competing in eight events highlighted by a T5 finish at the ISPS Handa World Invitational. Away from the golf course, Michaels is the founder of ISLA Sport, a women’s clothing line collection designed for golf, tennis and lifestyle that is named after her daughter. She also is the founder of the Sydnee Michaels Foundation, advocating for girls in sports and empowering women to pursue their dreams. Michaels competed in the inaugural DIO Implant LA Open in 2018, finishing T39.
Kim, a three-time All-American from Duke University who led Duke to the 2019 NCAA Women’s Golf Championship and the 2021 ACC Championship, turned professional in January of 2022 after finishing T35 at the LPGA Q-Series in December 2021. A two-time participant in the Augusta National Women’s Amateur (2019 and 2021), Kim had a decorated amateur career before turning professional, climbing as high as 8th in the World Amateur Golf Rankings.
Chun, a decorated junior golfer who was a member of the Ping Junior Solheim Cup Team and a four-time Rolex Junior All-American, turned professional in 2018. She competed full-time on the Epson Tour in 2018 with two top-10 finishes and 14 cuts made in 21 events. She earned her LPGA Tour card for the 2019 season and made eight cuts in 18 starts, highlighted by a T-11 finish at the Dana Open presented by Marathon. She is returning to competition in 2022 on the Epson Tour and will be making her first LPGA Tour start of the year.
Also entered in the field are eight USC and seven UCLA alumni:
USC: Jennifer Chang, Allisen Corpuz, Muni He, Annie Park, Sophia Popov, Robyn Ree, Lizette Salas and Jennifer Song.
UCLA: Bronte Law, Alison Lee, Sydnee Michaels, Ryann O’Toole, Patty Tavatanakit, Mariajo Uribe and Lilia Vu.
Kicking off the first of back-to-back LPGA Tour events in Los Angeles, the DIO Implant LA Open will feature a field of 144 of the world’s best female professional golfers competing for a share of a $1.5 million purse.
The final four spots in the field will be determined on Monday via the Monday Qualifier at Wood Ranch Golf Club (two spots), along with two players who finish in the top-10 at this week’s LOTTE Championship, if not already eligible. For a complete list of tournament entries, click Here.
The DIO Implant LA Open also will welcome the return of spectators to the championship for the first time since 2019. Tickets are on-sale for the DIO Implant LA Open exclusively online at www.la-open.com. A variety of ticket packages are available, including exclusive hospitality and general admissions tickets offering a wide degree of entertainment and access.
In addition, all service personnel, including military (active, retired, reserve and veteran), fire, police, and EMS and their immediate family (up to four tickets) will receive complimentary admission to the DIO Implant LA Open. Admission also will include access to the Hero Outpost, located adjacent to the 18th green and sponsored by SERVPRO, Deterra and the DEA Educational Foundation. The complimentary Hero Outpost tickets must be downloaded in advance from www.la-open.com and proper ID is required at the main entrance. Children under 18 also will be admitted free into the tournament with a paid adult.
The DIO Implant LA Open made its debut in 2018, marking the LPGA Tour’s return to Los Angeles in more than a decade. Brooke Henderson captured her 10th LPGA Tour win at 16-under par at the 2021 edition of the championship. Wilshire Country Club, which opened in 1919, is one of a select few venues to host events on the LPGA, PGA TOUR and PGA TOUR Champions.
The DIO Implant LA Open is owned and operated by Outlyr, a global event management, sponsorship consulting and activation agency.
For more information on the DIO Implant LA Open, visit www.la-open.com, and follow the tournament’s social media handles: @lpga_la on Twitter, @lpga_la on Instagram and @la.lpga on Facebook.
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