SOUTH BEND, Ind., June 15, 2016 - The Epson Tour, Road to the LPGA, returns to South Bend for the 5th annual Four Winds Invitational at Blackthorn Golf Club. The first-round begins on Friday, June 17 and the final-round is scheduled for Sunday, June 19. This is the 10th event of the 2016 season, which will conclude Oct. 13-16 with the Epson Tour Championship in Daytona Beach, Fla.

The field of 144 players from the United States and 26 countries around the globe will compete for a $150,000 purse and the winner will earn $22,500 and likely move into or near the top 10 on the Volvik Race for the Card money list.

The top 10 at the end of the season will earn LPGA Tour membership for 2017.

EPSON TOUR PROFESSIONALS VISIT MEMORIAL CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL
Memorial Children’s Hospital is the official beneficiary of the Four Winds Invitational. Over the last four years, the event has raised over $267,000 for the hospital. On Wednesday, four Tour professionals visited the hospital to interact with the kids and Tour the facility.

Epson Tour professionals Kristi Cardwell, Ericka Schneider, Jordan Britt and Emma de Groot spent time with the kids putting and playing basketball and also visited the NICU.

“It was eye-opening and it really makes you realize how tough some of them have it and what they have to go through everyday,” said Cardwell, who said she plans on going on more hospital visits throughout the year. “It made me realize how blessed we are to be out here playing. It puts in perspective how important this tournament is to help raise funds to help the kids.”

Money raised this year will help fund the purchase of a portable ultrasound for the hospital’s MedFlight

Helicopter Program and goggles allowing children to watch a movie or TV show during an MRI.

FISHERS NATIVE READY FOR EVENT

Krisiti O’Brien of Fishers, Indiana is ready for her second Four Winds Invitational. She missed the cut in 2014 and did not play in 2015.

“It feels like I am home this week,” said O’Brien. “I still see people in the pro-am that I know since the golf industry is so small. I worked for Callaway through college so I know quite a few people from the Indiana area.”

O’Brien said she will have family members and friends watching and her husband will be on the bag.

“My niece is here just hanging out with me and it is just so nice to have my support system here with me this week,” said O’Brien. “I love the golf course too.”

O’Brien’s dad is the head golf coach at Bishop Luers High School. Kristi played for her father, Tom, during her senior year of high school.

O’Brien won a high school golf tournament at Blackthorn Golf Club.

Four Winds Invitational Wednesday Pre-tournament Notes

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