ShopRite LPGA Classic Announces Two Exemption Players

The Southeastern Conference (SEC) Golfer of the Year and a former Voorhees, NJ resident were extended exemption status for the 2012 ShopRite LPGA Classic on Wednesday, the Classic announced.

Marina Alex and Meghan Stasi will join this year’s field of 144 at the 54-hole, $1.5 million tournament on the Bay Course at the Stockton College , June 1-3, on the Golf Channel.

Alex, a senior at Vanderbilt University, was the SEC Player of the Year in 2010 and 2011. Stasi, who has family living in Haddonfield, is ranked #3 by Golfweek/Amateurgolf.com.

“Marina and Meghan have both performed at an incredible level over the past year and we are thrilled to be able to give them both the opportunity to see how their games measure up against some of the best players in the world” Tournament Executive Director Tim Erensen said. “Given recent performances, incredible enthusiasm and some hometown support I wouldn’t be surprised to see either one of them in the mix come Sunday afternoon.”

Alex, a graduate of Wayne High School in Wayne, NJ, finished second in the SEC Championships this year, one of four top-five finishes this season. She won the Vanderbilt/Texas Dual, finished fourth at the Stanford Intercollegiate and fifth at the LSU Golf Classic.

“This past year has been awesome and I believe momentum is on my side,” Alex said. "The timing is right for me to make my pro debut at the ShopRite LPGA Classic.”

Stasi grew up Meghan Bolger, and graduated from Tulane University in 2000. At the age of 23, she was named Women’s Golf Coach at the University of Mississippi, a position she held from 2000-2007. She won the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur in 2006, 2007 and 2010. She won seven consecutive Philadelphia Amateur Championships, from 1999-2005.

She was a member of the victorious 2008 USA Curtis Cup team at St. Andrews in Scotland, won the 2012 Jones/Doherty Championship in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, and played in six U.S. Women’s Amateurs.

“It will be a thrill to play in front of a large gallery at the ShopRite LPGA Classic,” said Stasi. “And it gives two of my most devoted fans the opportunity to see me play, my parents who are from Haddonfield, NJ.”

They join the following already announced competitors in this year’s tournament:

Kyeong Bae

Karlin Beck

Minea Blomqvist

Amanda Blumenherst

Heather Bowie Young

Dori Carter

Nicole Castrale

Silvia Cavalleri

Sandra Changkija

Irene Cho

Chella Choi

Na Yeon Choi

Cydney Clanton

Taylor Coutu

Paula Creamer

Diana D’Alessio

Laura Davies

Tanya Dergal

Laura Diaz

Wendy Doolan

Meredith Duncan

Moira Dunn

Kathleen Ekey

Jodi Ewart

Shanshan Feng

Lisa Ferrero

Meaghan Francella

Katie Futcher

Sandra Gal

Julieta Granada

Natalie Gulbis

Numa Gulyanamitta

Sophie Gustafson

Hee-Won Han

Mina Harigae

Marcy Hart

Caroline Hedwall

Maria Hernandez

Katherine Hull

Amy Hung

Mi Jung Hur

Pat Hurst

Vicky Hurst

Karine Icher

Jeong Jang

Eun-Hee Ji

Tiffany Joh

Jennifer Johnson

Lorie Kane

Ayaka Kaneko

Haeji Kang

Jimin Kang

Sarah Kemp

Cristie Kerr

Christina Kim

I.K. Kim

Mindy Kim

Song-Hee Kim

Stephanie Kono

Jessica Korda

Candie Kung

Cindy LaCrosse

Brittany Lang

Maude-Aimee Leblanc

Ilhee Lee

Jee Young Lee

Jennie Lee

Meena Lee

Seon Hwa-Lee

Rebecca Lee-Bentham

Stacy Lewis

Brittany Lincicome

Pernilla Lindberg

Leta Lindley

Stephanie Louden

Paige MacKenzie

Mo Martin

Catriona Matthew

Kristy McPherson

Sydnee Michaels

Na On Min

Ai Miyazato

Mika Miyazato

Janice Moodie

Becky Morgan

Belen Mozo

Azahara Munoz

Haru Nomura

Anna Nordqvist

Ryann O’Toole

Angela Oh

Ji Young Oh

Jin Young Pak

Grace Park

Hee Young Park

Inbee Park

Jane Park

Suzann Pettersen

Pornanong Phatlum

Gerina Piller

Stacy Prammansudh

Morgan Pressel

Jane Rah

Reilley Rankin

Beatriz Recari

So Yeon Ryu

Lizette Salas

Hee Kyung Seo

Giulia Sergas

Elisa Serramia

Alena Sharp

Stephanie Sherlock

Jenny Shin

Jiyai Shin

Karin Sjodin

Sarah Jane Smith

Christine Song

Jennifer Song

Angela Stanford

Karen Stupples

Kris Tamulis

Victoria Tanco

Lexi Thompson

Yani Tseng

Momoko Ueda

Mariajo Uribe

Alison Walshe

Wendy Ward

Karrie Webb

Michelle Wie

Amy Yang

Eunjung Yi

Sun Young Yoo

Hannah Yun

For a complete list of tournament events, updates and ticket information visit www.ShopRiteLPGAClassic.com or call 609.798.0222.