Ready to compete

Final field announced for Manulife LPGA Classic

NORTH DUMFRIES — The world’s No. 1-ranked golfer, Olympic silver medallist Lydia Ko, will be among the 29 Olympians set to compete at the Manulife LPGA Classic next week.

Tournament organizers on Thursday announced the New Zealander was among the final field of 150 participants at the five-year-old $1.6-million U.S. event.

Other confirmed players at the Whistle Bear Golf Club include the world’s No. 2 and No. 3 players, Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugam, and Brooke Henderson, of Smiths Falls, Ont., respectively.

In fact, 85 of the world’s top tour money winners will be in attendance for the event, one of two Canadian tour stops. It kicks off Wednesday and runs until Sept. 4.

Fellow Olympians Alena Sharp of Hamilton, Stacy Lewis, Sandra Gal, Charley Hull, Azahara Munoz, Minjee Lee, Mariajo Uribe, Sei Young Kim and defending Manulife Classic champ Suzann Petterson, of Norway, will also compete at Whistle Bear.

“These golfers made history less than 10 days ago when they represented their sport and their countries at the Olympics,” tournament director Milaina Wright said in a release.

“They captured our attention on television and we’re thrilled to welcome them to Whistle Bear next week.”

Crowd favourites Paula Creamer and Michelle Wie, both of the U.S., will make their first appearances at Whistle Bear, while the 2012 Manulife Classic champ, Texan Brittany Lang, will be joined by Morgan Pressel, Brittany Lincicome, Cristie Kerr and Cheyenne Woods.

The field also includes a sizeable Canadian contingent.

In addition to Henderson and Sharp, Canadian golf legend Lorie Kane along with Selina Costabile, Maddie Szeryk, Josee Doyon, Jennifer Kirby, Jennifer Ha, Maude-Aimee Leblanc, Samantha Richdale and Anne Catherine Tanguay will also take part.

Through its history, the tournament has donated more than $1.2 million toward a regional cardiac care unit at St. Mary’s General Hospital.