BARRINGTON, R.I. – Three teams sit atop the leader board after Monday’s first round of the 14th annual CVS Caremark Charity Classic, played on a spectacular summer day at one of the OceanState’s most cherished courses – Rhode Island Country Club, offering postcard-perfect ocean views and Tour-quality putting surfaces.
Combing for a best ball 9-under-par are tournament co-hosts Billy Andrade and Brad Faxon, who are playing together for the first time since 2003, and first-time partners Morgan Pressel and Jay Haas, who are making their fourth and sixth appearances, and local favorite Dana Quigley, who is partnering with World Golf Hall of Famer Juli Inkster.
“I had a blast out there today playing with Dana and we were able to put together a nice first-day score,” saidInkster, who turns 51 on June 24, and holds 31 career wins on the LPGA Tour. “The field has a mix of top women players like Annika (Sorenstam), Yani (Tseng), Lorenna (Ochoa) and one the LPGA’s future stars, 17-year old Lexi Thompson. You can tell the fans recognize the top talent playing here and appreciate watching them in action with the men’s Tour players. I wish we had more of these events.
Hot on their heels are Lexi Thompson and Corey Pavin at 8-under-par, followed by four teams at 7-under-par. At 17, Thompson stands a very healthy-looking 6’ 2” and is a fan favorite, posing with and signing autographs throughout the day. She is the youngest player to win on the LPGA Tour, breaking the record at the 2011 Navistar LPGA Classic at age 16. Her driving average is an impressive 280-yards, unparalleled by any definition of a woman swinging a Cobra S2 driver with 8.5 degree loft. She hits it long!
The field this year includes Jay Haas, John Cook, Fred Funk, Corey Pavin, Jeff Sluman, Mark Calcavecchia, Peter Jacobsen and Dana & Brett Quigley. My reason for hiking down to the toney, seaside community ofBarringtonwas to see the hottest golfer on the planet – 23-year old superstar Yani Tseng.
How hot is Yani Tseng? In 2008, Tseng captured rookie of the year honors and was awarded player of the year in 2011, winning seven LPGA events and becoming the youngest player ever, male or female, to win five major championships.
“I enjoy playing in this tournament with the men and put it on my calendar three months ago when Billy and Brad invited me,” said Tseng competing for the first time back inRhode Islandsince the Women’s U.S. Open at Newport Country Club in 2006. “My schedule is focused around the majors and with the women’s U.S. Open in two weeks, I have been working on my game five hours a day on the course and two hours in the gym. I have given some thought to playing in a men’s PGA Tour event but now is not the time. It could be a distraction and I am more comfortable competing against the best women players.”
Is the CVS Caremark Charity Classic a tournament, an exhibition or exposition? Whatever you want to call it, the second-tier golf stars have been coming out to Rhode Island CC for 14 years to pick up a hefty paycheck. And from the looks of things with the sold out Sunday pro-am, multiple corporate boxes lining the 18th fairway and the decent-sized galleries, the future looks bright for many more years. For more information go the website: www.cvscaremarkcharityclassic.com
Classic Skins Competition
Two Classic Skins were won today by the teams of Juli Inkster and Dana Quigley and Lorena Ochoa and Mark Calcavecchia, with eagles on holes 4 and 8, respectively. Each team was awarded $12,500 for their feat.
Closest to the Pin
Adding an exciting element to the tournament’s charitable component, Monday’s Closest to the Pin contest was won by Corey Pavin with 2’ 3” on hole 17, and earned $25,000 for Youth Price, Inc., the tournament’s charity partner with which he was paired.
