First Union Betsy King field stronger
BY Bruce Young | LPGA Tour | 2002 First Union Betsy King Classic | Preview | 18 Aug 2002
A win by a relative outsider, as was the case last year when Heather Daly-Donfrio posted her maiden tour win here, may not be quite so easy in 2002. A substantial (50%) increase in prizemoney to $US1,200,000, has ensured that many of the tour’s leading players will be in Pennsylvania for the event.
Karrie Webb, Se Ri Pak, Myi Hyun Kim, Rachel Teske, Grace Park, Gloria Park, Hee Won Han and Laura Diaz will all be there returning the event to its days of former glory. Two time winner Annika Sorenstam and Julie Inkster are again absent from the LPGA Tour but there is plenty to make the organisers smile
Daly-Donofrio has had two top tens this year but they were early in the season and her latest form suggests that it will be a tough ask for her to defend her title.
A couple of former winners are given a chance this week in Rachel Teske and Michelle Redman. Redman is coming off an good showing this past week in Canada and Teske is a far more credentialled player than when she won for the first time on tour here back in 1998, beating Annika Sorenstam in a playoff in the process.
Other Australians lining up include Jane Crafter, Tamie Durdin, Fiona Pike, Shani Waugh and Wendy Doolan with Marni McGuire flying the New Zealand flag.
