LPGA's Top 10 Players to Compete in ShopRite LPGA Classic Presented by Acer

The top 10 players in the world and 97 of the top 100 will pursue the title of ShopRite LPGA Classic Presented by Acer champion when the tournament commences on Friday, May 31 on the Bay Course at the Stockton Seaview Hotel and Golf Resort.

The field will include defending champion and No. 2 in the world, Stacy Lewis, as well as Inbee Park, the world's No. 1 player. Lewis spent time as the world's top player for four weeks earlier this year.

LPGA golfers have until May 28, 5 p.m., to officially commit to the 54-hole, $1.5 million tournament. A total of 144 players will participate, including 22 Major winners, including Cristie Kerr, Brittany Lincicome, Na Yeon Choi and Jiyai Shin.

Other players who have officially registered to play in the tournament include: Lexi Thompson, Michelle Wie, Paula Creamer, Natalie Gulbis, Yani Tseng, Suzann Pettersenm Ai Miyazato, 2012 Rookie of the Year So Yeon Ryu and Hall of Famers Juli Inkster, Karrie Webb and Se Ri Pak.

The two sponsor exemptions announced at this point are LPGA rookie Marina Alex and LPGA veteran Christina Kim. Alex received a sponsor exemption in the tournament last year, and Kim will play in the tournament for ninth time, this year.

"After Marina's performance both on and off the golf course last year, we were delighted to give her another chance to compete in her home state," Tournament Executive Director Tim Erensen said. "Christina is always one of the first LPGA players to step up and help out an event sponsor or fellow player. When it was determined she needed an invitation to come back to Seaview, it made both our selections very easy."

Alex, of Wayne, made her LPGA debut at last year's ShopRite LPGA Classic Presented by Acer. She played in seven events on the Symetra Tour, finishing in the top 10 twice and third at the Challenge at Musket Ridge. She was named SEC Player of the Year twice while playing at Vanderbilt. She won the SEC Championship as a sophomore in 2010 and finished second in the SEC tournament as a senior in 2012. She is a two-time all-American.

Kim debuted in 2002, and has won two LPGA tournaments in her career: the 2004 Longs Drugs Challenge and the 2005 Mitchell Company Tournament of Champions Presented by Kathy Ireland Worldwide.

She has 42 top 10 finishes and $4.1 million in career earnings.

"We are thrilled to have early commitments from so many of the best players in the world," Erensen said. "It speaks to the quality of this tournament, the spectacular course and supportive fans."

All three rounds of the tournament will be televised live on The Golf Channel.