Former Lakewood Ranch High School golfer to play in Epson Tour event

DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA, March 19, 2014 – The Epson Tour, the official Qualifying Tour for the LPGA, heads to Sarasota the week of April 21 for the Guardian Retirement Championship at Sara Bay. The three-day stroke play event will begin on Friday, April 25 and conclude on Sunday, April 27.

The 144-player field will be competing for their share of the $100,000 purse. The winner will take home $15,000 and move one step closer towards an LPGA Tour card for the 2015 season.

Guardian Retirement, the title sponsor of the event, handed out two sponsor exemptions to Ericka Schneider, who was born and raised in Bradenton and Katerina Luttner, a former golfer at Ole Miss and Port Saint Lucie resident.

“As the title sponsor for the 2014 Guardian Retirement Championship, we are delighted to give these young women a sponsor exemption for the upcoming event,” said Michael Cefole, Senior Vice President and Head of Retirement Solutions at The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America. “We look forward to cheering them on in the tournament.”

Schneider, who went to Lakewood Ranch High School, is a fifth-year senior at Ole Miss. The Guardian Retirement Championship at Sara Bay will be her first event as a professional.

“I was on the phone with my dad when I got the confirmation that I got in the field and I literally screamed,” said Schneider. “I guess on a scale of one to ten, my excitement level was an 11.”

Schneider grew up ten minutes from Sara Bay and played high school and junior tournaments at the course where she will make her professional debut.

While in high school, Schneider won the Donald Ross Invitational at Sara Bay.

“It’s always exciting when you get a chance to play in your hometown because people that have always wanted to come watch me play in a tournament can come now,” said Schneider. “This one is in my hometown and it’s on a weekend, so it’s a win-win.”

In 2008, she won the Central Florida Junior Golf Tour. Schneider also won the Sarasota Junior Championship in 2008.

Schneider started her collegiate career at Daytona State College where she was a two-time NJCAA All-American. She helped lead Daytona State to back-to-back team NJCAA National Championships and placed second in the individual portion in 2011.

Following the 2011 season, Schneider transferred to Ole Miss to play for the Rebels. In 2012-13, she had three top-20 finishes including a T15 at the Landfall Tradition and the Golfweek Conference Challenge.

“It’s exciting to play in my first professional tournament in my hometown,” said Schneider. “It’s special in that aspect.”

Luttner played high school golf at Fox Chapel and was named the 2011 Fox Chapel High School Female Athlete of the Year.

Luttner finished fourth at the 2011 PIAA State Championship.

The 19-year-old will be playing in her first Epson Tour event.

Practice rounds at Sara Bay begin on Tuesday, April 22. Pro-Am tournaments are scheduled for Wednesday, April 23 and Thursday, April 24.

For further tournament information visit GuardianRetirementChampionship.com.

For sponsorship and Pro-Am opportunities contact Tournament Director Ryan Ronk at 386-274-6296.

Bradenton native Schneider to Play in Guardian Retirement Championship at Sara Bay

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