ALBANY, N.Y. — The 16th stop on the 2019 “Road to the LPGA” takes the Epson Tour to Capital Hills at Albany in the Empire State for the first edition of The CDPHP Open from July 26-28. Previously known as the Fuccillo Kia Classic of NY, new title sponsor Capital District Physicians’ Health Plan, Inc. (CDPHP) takes over to keep women’s professional golf in the Capital Region for a 35th consecutive year.
“There is a new, fresh feel to this tournament with the addition of title sponsor CDPHP, and then CDPHP The Foundation as the benefitting charity,” said Mike Nichols, the Chief Business Officer of the Epson Tour. “We are excited to see what is in store with the changes and anticipate another great week in an awesome Eastern New York golf community.”
From 1984-1998, the event was contested at Town of Colonie Golf Course in Schenectady before a one-year hiatus. Then it spent two years each at Western Turnpike Golf Course and Orchard Creek Golf Club, before settling in at Capital Hills at Albany Golf Course for good in 2004.
Greeting the 144-player field in the capital of New York is a total purse of $125,000. Individuals are set to compete in a 54-hole stroke play format with a cut to the low 60 players and ties after 36 holes. The winner’s share for the event is $18,750.
“Bringing back the Epson Tour to Capital Hills for a 16th year was a major goal in 2019 and I am very excited to team with CDPHP,” said Jim Miller, the Tournament Director for The CDPHP Open. “They are a leader in providing quality health care in the Capital Region and support for our tournament since it was brought to Albany in 2004. Hosting professional golfers here from all over the world for well over a decade now has allowed us to showcase some of the best golf this area has ever seen. I am extremely proud of what we have accomplished and look forward to continuing this great tradition we created.”
Defending champion Kendall Dye (Edmond, Oklahoma) is not among the competitors, as she was a 2018 Epson Tour graduate. The victory in Albany was the first of two for the University of Oklahoma alumna last season and helped her finish at No. 7 in the Volvik Race for the Card.
“I’m so grateful that CDPHP came in strong with the title sponsorship to continue the Epson Tour’s long run in Albany,” Dye said. “The Capital Region loves their golf and has been a huge supporter of the women’s game for 35 years now. I am sad I won’t be able to defend this year and have my favorite local caddie in coach Paul Bearup on the bag, but I’ll keep a close eye on the leaderboard.”
Action gets underway at 7:30 a.m. ET all three days with play starting off No. 1 and No. 10 tees in the first and second round. Meanwhile, all groups will head off No. 1 tee in twosomes for the final round with a trophy presentation to follow on No. 18 green.
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