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Plenty of former college stars have won at Palos Verdes, site of this week’s new LPGA event

Beth Ann Nichols
·4 min read
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It’s not often that a new LPGA event is hosted at a course that has a long history in the women’s game. The inaugural Palos Verdes Championship presented by Bank of America takes place on a venue that has hosted the Northrop Grumman Regional Challenge collegiate event for the past 25 years.

Past champions include Lorena Ochoa (2002), Natalie Gulbis (2001), Jennifer Rosales (1999) and a host of current LPGA players. The up-and-down course places a premium on accuracy and ocean views. Palos Verdes Golf Club opened in 1924 and was designed by the renowned team of George C. Thomas and William P. “Billy” Bell, who also designed Riviera Country Club, Bel Air Country Club and Los Angeles Country Club North.

This is the second consecutive week the LPGA is hosting an event in the Los Angeles area. Here are past winners of the Northrop Grumman who are in the field this week:

2022 - Rachel Kuehn, Wake Forest

2022 Augusta National Women's Amateur
2022 Augusta National Women's Amateur

Rachel Kuehn during the final round of the 2022 Augusta National Women’s Amateur at Augusta National Golf Club. (Photo: Augusta National Women’s Amateur)

Wake Forest junior picked up her fourth collegiate title at this year’s Northrop Grumman Regional Challenge and earned a sponsor exemption into the LPGA event at Palos Verdes in the process. Currently No. 8 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking.

2019 – Andrea Lee, Stanford

WEST CALDWELL, NJ – OCTOBER 08: Andrea Lee on the 12th tee during the second round of the Cognizant Founders Cup on October 8, 2021 at Mountain Ridge Country Club in West Caldwell, NJ. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire) (Icon Sportswire via AP Images)

The 2019 Northrop Grumman champ got into the field this week on a sponsor exemption. The 23-year-old won a record nine times at Stanford and recently captured her first victory on the Epson Tour at the Casino Del Sol Golf Classic.

2018 - Lilia Vu, UCLA

Lilia Vu tees off the second hole during the final round of the 2022 DIO Implant LA Open at Wilshire Country Club in Los Angeles. (Photo: Michael Owens/Getty Images)

Picked up her second top 10 of the season last week at the DIO Implant LA Open. Won eight times as a Bruin. Currently 51st on the LPGA money list.

2017 - Leona Maguire, Duke

Leona Maguire won the 2022 LPGA Drive On Championship at Crown Colony Golf & Country Club in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo: USA TODAY Network)

Two-time ANNIKA Award winner at Duke, Maguire holds the record for most weeks at No. 1 in the WAGR at 135. Became the first Irish player to win on the LPGA earlier this season. Currently No. 22 in the Rolex Rankings.

2015 - Bronte Law, UCLA

Gainbridge LPGA At Boca Rio
Gainbridge LPGA At Boca Rio

Bronte Law plays the 17th hole during the second round of the LPGA Gainbridge at Boca Rio in Boca Raton, Florida. (Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Won seven times at UCLA and was voted 2016 ANNIKA Award winner. Represented Europe in stirring 2019 Solheim Cup victory. Maiden win on the LPGA came at the 2019 Pure Silk Championship.

2014 - Annie Park, USC

2022 Chevron Championship
2022 Chevron Championship

Annie Park lines up her tee shot on the 9th hole during the second round of the 2022 Chevron Championship at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, California. (Photo: Andy Abeyta/The Desert Sun)

As a freshman at USC in 2013, Park made waves when she swept the postseason, winning the conference, regional and NCAA titles. Topped the Epson Tour money list in 2015 to earn her LPGA card. First and lone LPGA title came in 2018 at the ShopRite LPGA Classic.

2011 - Carlota Ciganda, Arizona State

2019 CP Women's Open
2019 CP Women's Open

Carlota Ciganda tees off on the second hole in the final round of the 2019 CP Womens Open. (Photo: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports)

Back-to-back winner of the Pac-12 Championship in 2009 and 2010, a conference first, while at Arizona State. Both of Ciganda’s LPGA titles came in 2016. Fiery Spaniard has represented Europe in five Solheim Cups.

2003 - Katherine Kirk, Pepperdine

Katherine Kirk walks to the 16th green during the final round of the 2017 Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic in Oneida, Wisconsin. (Photo: Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

Won eight times at Pepperdine and was named the 2003 NCAA Player of the Year. A three-time winner on the LPGA, 40-year-old Kirk’s last title came in 2017 at the Thornberry Creek Classic.

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