LEXINGTON – The Barbasol Championship kicked-off the festivities for Kentucky’s only PGA TOUR event this July with its Media Day on Monday and announced several of its sponsor exemptions as well as the tournament’s schedule of events.
Among the players competing in this year’s Barbasol Championship on July 19-22 at Champions at Keene Trace will be the LPGA’s Brittany Lincicome, Lexington-native Josh Teater and UK senior golfers Chip McDaniel and Cooper Musselman.
Lincicome, participating on a sponsor exemption from title sponsor Barbasol, will be the first woman to compete in a PGA TOUR event since Michelle Wie in 2008. Currently ranked 32nd in world rankings, Lincicome has eight wins on the LPGA tour including two major wins (ANA Inspiration in 2009 and 2015).
Teater, a former player at Henry Clay High School and Morehead State University, has won more than $4.6 million in total earnings on the PGA TOUR with a career-high rank of 73rd in FedExCup points. This season, he finished T-37 at the RSM Classic and most recently finished in a tie for second at the Web.com Tour’s Nashville Golf Open one week ago.
The University of Kentucky duo of Chip McDaniel and Cooper Musselman both announced their intentions to start professional careers at the Barbasol Championship. The two seniors led UK to one of the greatest seasons in school history. UK finished in a tie for 21st overall on the team leaderboard of the NCAA Championship after winning four regular season tournaments. The team only advanced from the regional when McDaniel holed out from 118 yards on the 18th hole of the final round the week before. McDaniel is the reigning Kentucky Amateur champ while Musselman is the reigning Kentucky Open champion.
Birdies for the Bluegrass presented by Lexus of Lexington launched
The Barbasol Championship announced its Birdies for the Bluegrass charitable initiative today. Managed by the Blue Grass Community Foundation, the campaign kicked-off its pledge program on June 1 where donors can commit to donate a specific amount for every birdie made in the tournament in support of any of the 166 charities in the state that registered in advance. The Barabsol Championship will then donate an additional 10% to each of those charities (up to the first $1.7 million in commitments).
“For more than 50 years, Blue Grass Community Foundation has focused on making our communities the most generous, vibrant and engaged they can be,” said Scott Fitzpatrick, Vice President of the Blue Grass Community Foundation. “We believe Birdies for the Bluegrass can be an impactful reflection of this mission, and we are thrilled to administer this initiative as the official philanthropic partner of the Barbasol Championship.”
All donors will be eligible to win a 2-year lease on a new Lexus ES 350, courtesy of presenting sponsor Lexus of Lexington, by guessing the total number of birdies in the tournament. Individuals also will have the opportunity to register for the Lexus lease at the tournament.
Pledges for the campaign can be placed now at www.birdiesforthebluegrass.com.
Schedule of special events announced
This year’s tournament week will include an impressive slate of special events as part of the Barbasol Championship including a charity concert, Executive Women’s Day and Heroes Day.
The Lexington Opera House will play host to the Barbasol Championship Acoustic Jam on Tuesday, July 17 featuring Billy Currington, Jordan Davis, David Lee Murphy, Chris Lane Travis Denning and Maddie & Tae. Tickets are on-sale now at www.lexingtonoperahouse.com and proceeds will directly benefit UK HealthCare’s Kentucky Children’s Hospital.
The tournament’s Executive Women’s Day presented by Merrill Lynch will be held on Tuesday, July 17 at Champions at Keene Trace. The day will bring together may local business leaders and provide opportunities for professional and personal development.
The tournament’s Heroes Day will be on Thursday, July 19. Active and retired military and first responders will receive free admission to that day’s first-round (pre-registration to verify status required). All military and first responders will also be entitled to receive a 20% discount on tournament tickets for the rest of the tournament. Full info can be found on www.barbasolchampionshipky.com.