NEWS

This week's pro golf events March 23-29, 2015

By The Associated Press
Published on
PGA TOUR
VALERO TEXAS OPEN
 
Site: San Antonio.
Schedule: Thursday-Sunday.
Course: TPC San Antonio, Oaks Course (7,435 yards, par 72).
Purse: $6.2 million. Winner's share: $1,116,000.
 
Last year: Steven Bowditch won his first PGA Tour title. The Australian closed with a 4-over 76 in windy conditions for a one-stroke victory.
 
Last week: Matt Every won the Arnold Palmer Invitational for the second straight year. He made an 18-foot birdie putt on the final hole for a one-stroke victory over Henrik Stenson.
 
Notes: Phil Mickelson is in the field along with Jordan Spieth, Dustin Johnson, Billy Horschel, Martin Kaymer, Graeme McDowell and area resident Jimmy Walker. Mickelson is winless since the 2013 British Open. ... In 2013, Martin Laird matched the course record with a 63 to beat Rory McIlroy by two strokes. ... The Houston Open is next week, followed by the Masters. ... The top 50 in the world ranking after the tournament will earn spots in the Masters.
 
 
LPGA TOUR
KIA CLASSIC
 
Site: Carlsbad, California.
Schedule: Thursday-Sunday.
Course: Aviara Golf Club (6,593 yards, par 72).
Purse: $1.7 million. Winner's share: $255,000.
 
Last year: Anna Nordqvist won the second of her two 2014 titles. The Swede closed with her second straight 5-under 67 for a one-stroke victory over Lizette Salas.
 
Last week: Hyo Joo Kim won the Founders Cup in Phoenix for her second LPGA Tour victory in 13 career starts. The 19-year-old South Korean player beat Stacy Lewis by three strokes.
 
Notes: The ANA Inspiration, the first major of the year, is next week in Rancho Mirage. ... Top-ranked Lydia Ko has two worldwide victories this year, winning the tour's Women's Australian Open and the Ladies European Tour's New Zealand Women's Open in consecutive weeks. The 17-year-old New Zealander has 10 straight top-10 finishes and has broken par in her last 24 LPGA Tour rounds and 27 worldwide. She has six LPGA Tour victories and 10 worldwide wins in pro events. ... Yani Tseng won the 2012 tournament for the last of her 15 tour titles.
 
CHAMPIONS TOUR
MISSISSIPPI GULF RESORT CLASSIC
 
Site: Saucier, Mississippi.
Schedule: Friday-Sunday.
Course: Fallen Oak Country Club (7,119 yards, par 72).
Purse: $1.6 million. Winner's share: $240,000.
 
Last year Jeff Maggert became the 17th player to win in his tour debut. He beat Billy Andrade by two strokes.
 
Last week: Marco Dawson won the Tucson Conquistadores Classic for his first Champions Tour's title. Bart Bryant was second, two strokes back.
 
Notes: Miguel Angel Jimenez is in the field. The Spaniard won the season-opening event in Hawaii in January for his second victory in three career Champions Tour starts. ... Fred Couples won the 2012 tournament. ... The tour is off the next three weeks. Play will resume April 17-19 with the Greater Gwinnett Championship in Georgia.
 
EUROPEAN TOUR
HASSAN II TROPHY
 
Site: Agadir, Morocco.
Schedule: Thursday-Sunday.
Course: Golf du Palais Royal (7,041 yards, par 72).
Purse: $1.63 million. Winner's share: $271,510.
 
Last year: Spain's Alejandro Canizares led wire-to-wire for a five-stroke victory.
 
Last week: The Madeira Islands Open was canceled because of rain and high wind.
 
Notes: The Robert Trent Jones Sr.-designed course sits inside the walls of the Royal Palace of Agadir. Other than the tournament, the course is used only by King Mohammed VI and his guests. ... The tournament is in its sixth season as a European Tour event.
 
WEB.COM TOUR
CHITAMACHA LOUISIANA OPEN
 
Site: Broussard, Louisiana.
Schedule: Thursday-Sunday.
Course: Le Triomphe Golf and Country Club (7,006 yards, par 71).
Purse: $550,000. Winner's share: $99,000.
 
Last year: Kris Blanks beat Brett Stegmaier with a 10-foot birdie putt on the third hole of a playoff. Blanks closed with a 9-under 62.
 
Last week: South Africa's Dawie van der Walt won the Chile Classic for his first Web.com Tour title. He closed with a 6-under 65 for a two-stroke victory.
 
Notes: The tournament, in its 24th year at Robert Trent Jones Jr.-designed Le Triomphe, is the sixth event of the season and first in the United States. ... The tour is off the next three weeks. Play will resume April 16-19 with the El Bosque Mexico Championship.
 
OTHER TOURNAMENTS
 
MEN
 
PGA TOUR LATINOAMERICA: Mazatlan Open, Thursday-Sunday, Estrella del Mar Golf and Beach Club, Mazatlan, Mexico. Online: //www.pgatourla.com
 
WOMEN
 
SYMETRA TOUR: Florida's Natural Charity Classic, Friday-Sunday, Lake Wales Country Club, Lake Wales, Florida.
 
LADIES EUROPEAN TOUR: Lalla Meryem Cup, Thursday-Sunday, Golf de L'Ocean, Agadir, Morocco.
 
JAPAN LPGA TOUR: AXA Ladies, Friday-Sunday, UMK Country Club, Miyazaki, Japan.
 
Copyright (2015) Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
 
This article was written by The Associated Press from The Associated Press and was legally licensed through the NewsCred publisher network.