DECATUR, Ill. — The 11th stop on the 2019 “Road to the LPGA” takes the Epson Tour to Hickory Point Golf Club in the Land of Lincoln for the 35th annual Forsyth Classic presented by Decatur Park District from June 14-16, also the final installment of the tournament.
“So much of what we know now as the Epson Tour did not even exist in 1985, and to see how great the outreach for this event has become is truly spectacular,” said Mike Nichols, the Chief Business Officer of the Epson Tour. “The motto ‘Act Like a Founder’ is painted upon the walls of LPGA Tour headquarters, serving as a daily reminder to staff and players to leave the LPGA better than you found it. I can’t think of a better message that summarizes what Decatur has meant to the Epson Tour. The community here welcomed us back at a time when not many places would.”
Greeting the 144-player field in Decatur, Ill. is a total purse of $200,000. 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 $30,000.
“For everyone involved, the 35th Forsyth Classic will be bittersweet,” said tournament director Cindy Deadrick-Wolfer. “Although we will have the largest purse in tournament history, we know come June 16 that it will be a goodbye to a great event. We hope for nice weather, great golf and a historic finish.”
Defending champion Isi Gabsa (Munich, Germany) is not among the competitors, as she was a 2018 Epson Tour graduate. One of seven top-15 performances for Gabsa on the season, the win helped land her at No. 9 in the Volvik Race for the Card.
“Of course winning is always special and we fight for that special feeling every week,” Gabsa said. “At the end of last season, my victory in Decatur was part of a yearlong grind and it really gave me the push I needed to secure a spot on the LPGA Tour. It is difficult to maintain a steady mix of high energy and consistent play at every stop of a long road, but the community and outcome made it very well worth it. I wish everyone a great tournament and can’t wait to play with the graduates next year on the LPGA.”
Action gets underway at 7:30 a.m. CT 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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