The LPGA Tour makes its way across the country to New Jersey this week for the 28th edition of the LPGA Classic. It’s the fourth longest-running, non-major event on the Tour’s schedule and while there will be some notable names missing from this week’s field, there will still be an impressive list of competitors contending for the top prize.
The notable names we’re referring to are Lydia Ko and Ariya Jutanugarn. For the last year or so, New Zealand’s Ko has been the most dominant player on the Tour. Whenever she’s participating in an event, she’s the favorite, which is why her absence here is notable. But Jutanugarn is also a notable absence right now as she’s the hottest woman on the Tour right now. She’s won three straight events and has been very honed in. That’s why with her and Ko out, it really opens up the field for someone else to step up.
Event Details
Event: ShopRite LPGA Classic
Category: LPGA
Date: June 3-5
Location: Seaview Marriott Resort & Spa, Galloway, New Jersey
Rookie sensation Ariya Jutanugarn has put on an absolute clinic over the past few weeks with three straight wins including a dominant performance at the Volvik Championship last week. Jutanugarn will finally take a week off and her absence as well as the notable absence of world No. 1 Lydia Ko should open the door wide open for this week’s list of contenders.
Past Five Winners
2015: Anna Nordquist
2014: Stacy Lewis
2013: Karrie Webb
2012: Stacy Lewis
2011: Brittany Lincicome
What To Know About The Course
Anna Nordquist’s dominance at this event a year ago proved that Driving Accuracy and Putting are the two main statistics to watch out for this week. Nordquist recorded her best finish on the LPGA Tour thanks to her accuracy and there is no doubt that will be an important factor this week. Despite Jutanugarn’s dominance on the LPGA Tour we will also consider familiarity and experience as a key to victory this week with a number of veteran players seemingly poised to break through with strong performances.
The Field
Two-time LPGA Classic winner Stacy Lewis enters this week as the outright betting favorite to win this event at +650 odds with Gerina Piller tied with her at +650 odds. Brooke Mackenzie Henderson will draw some consideration after her strong performance last week and she is listed at +850 odds to finally capture that elusive victory she has been chasing. The Canadian has been a consistent threat on the LPGA Tour this season and should be in the mix with the leaders on Sunday here too. The defending champion Nordquist is listed at +1200 odds while 2013 winner Karrie Webb is considered a +4000 long shot and might be worth putting some money on this week.
A Good Matchup To Bet: Gerina Piller over Ne Yeon Choi
Choi certainly impressed with a third place finish at the Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic and a fifth place finish at the Volunteers of America Texas Shootout but she struggled at the Kingsmill Championship last week and we like Piller in this head-to-head betting matchup. Piller is coming off a T-3rd at the Kingsmill Championship last week and hasn’t finished outside of the top-10 since a 13th place finish at the JTBC Founders Cup back in mid-March so look for her to continue her strong play this week and edge out Choi in this betting matchup.
Top-Five Pick: Stacy Lewis
It certainly doesn’t make sense to bet against history when it comes to Lewis, who is a two-time winner at this event with a very good shot at making it three wins here thanks to the notable absences of Jutanugarn and Ko. Lewis has struggled to find her groove of late with only one top-10 finish in her last six events, so she is overdue for a breakout performance this week at an event she has dominated in the past. She has a clear path to win here and her course history can’t be ignored, but by taking her in our Top Five prop, we’re protecting ourselves a little bit in case her slump continues.
Top 10 Odds To Win LPGA Classic
Stacy Lewis +650
Gerina Piller +650
Shanshan Feng +850
Brooke M Henderson +850
Anna Nordqvist +1050
Na Yeon Choi +1550
Charley Hull +2050
Jenny Shin +2050
Haru Nomura +2250
Hee Young Park +2550
