FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, June 13th, 2017

GOLF CHANNEL TOURNAMENT AIRTIMES & NOTES (JUNE 15-21): MEIJER LPGA CLASSIC; PGA PROFESSIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

LPGA Heads to Michigan for Meijer LPGA Classic with New No. 1

Coming Up… PGA of America in Oregon for 50th Annual PGA Professional
Championship, with 20 Spots in 2017 PGA Championship on the Line         

ORLANDO, Fla. (June 13, 2017) – The LPGA Tour returns to Grand Rapids this week for the fourth playing of the Meijer LPGA Classic, with the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship – the next women’s major – looming in two weeks. Meanwhile, the PGA of America next week will host the 50th PGA Professional Tournament, featuring a 312-player field that includes 14 past champions.

LPGA TOUR

Meijer LPGA Classic
Dates: June 15-18
Venue: Blythefield Country Club, Grand Rapids, Michigan 

Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern):
Thursday         4-7 p.m. (Live)
Friday              4-7 p.m. (Live)
Saturday          3-6 p.m. (Live)
Sunday            11 a.m.-3 p.m. (Live)

Broadcast Notes:
First start for new No. 1: Ariya Jutanugarn enters this week as the new world No. 1 following her playoff win last week in Canada. Jutanugarn takes over the spot previously held by Lydia Ko for 85 weeks, and becomes the first-ever player from Thailand to sit atop the rankings. She also holds the top spot in the current Race to the CME Globe.
Ko to return to competition: The former world No.1 heads to Michigan after taking three weeks off. In her previous two starts, Ko finished T-12 and T-4.
Park to be profiled in “Rookie Spotlight” on Friday: LPGA Tour rookie Sung Hyun Park will be profiled during Friday’s second round coverage as part of Golf Channel’s “Rookie Spotlight” feature. Park is currently leading the Rolex Rookie of the Year race.
Thompson returning to comfortable venue: Top-ranked American, Lexi Thompson, heads to Blythefield following a playoff loss to Jutanugarn last week. The venue has boded well for Thompson in the past, winning in 2015 after finishing T-4 in 2014. Before falling in a playoff last week, Thompson made a run at being the first player this season to capture two wins. The Tour is still looking for its first multiple winner this season.
Headlining the field: Ariya Jutanugarn, Lydio Ko, So Yeon Ryu, Lexi Thompson, In Gee Chun, Shanshan Feng, Inbee Park, Sei Young Kim, Cristie Kerr, Mirim Lee, Brooke Henderson, Stacy Lewis, Karrie Webb, and Laura Davies.

Golf Channel Broadcast Team:
Play by Play: Grant Boone
Analyst: Karen Stupples
Tower: Tom Abbott
On-Course: Jerry Foltz / Kay Cockerill

PGA OF AMERICA

50th PGA Professional Championship
Dates: June 18-21
Venue: Sunriver Resort (Meadows Course & Crosswater Club), Sunriver, Ore. 

Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern):
Sunday            5:30-8:30 p.m. (Live)
Monday           8-11 p.m. (Live) / 2-5 a.m. (Replay)
Tuesday           8-11 p.m. (Live) / 2-5 a.m. (Replay)
Wednesday     7-10 p.m. (Live) / 1:30-4:30 a.m. (Replay)

Broadcast Notes:
PGA Championship invite on the line: The top 20 finishers next Wednesday will earn a spot in the 2017 PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, NC. The field of 312 professionals teeing it up includes 14 past champions of the event.
Course rotation: Competitors in the field will play each course once during the first two rounds, and Crosswater Club will host players for the final two rounds.
Familiar venue: This is the fourth time since 2001 that Sunriver Resort will host the PGA Professional Championship, with the most recent being in 2013. Crosswater Club hosted the 2006 NCAA Division I Championship, won by Oklahoma State, who also claimed the individual champion, Jonathan Moore. The PGA TOUR Champions also staged the Regions Tradition at Crosswater Club from 2007-2010, with winners including Mark McNulty (2007), Fred Funk (2008, 2010) and Mike Reed (2009).
Berberian defends: Rich Berberian Jr. defeated Mark Brown and Omar Uresti in a playoff to capture the Walter Hagan trophy and earn a spot in the 2016 PGA Championship.
Headlining the field: Mike Small, Omar Uresti, Matt Dobyns, Stu Ingraham, Rich Berberian Jr. and Rob Perry.

Golf Channel Broadcast Team:
Play by Play: Dave Marr
Analyst: Michael Breed
Tower: Gary Christian
On-Course: Tripp Isenhour
Interviews: Scott Walker

-NBC Sports Group-