Southern Utah hosts rising stars in women’s golf at 2nd Annual Copper Rock Championship – St George News
2021 Copper Rock Championship winner Bailey Tardy tees off on the 18th hole, Hurricane, Utah, April 24, 2021 | Photo courtesy of Copper Rock Golf Course, St. George News
CONTRIBUTED CONTENT — World-class golfers once again set their sights on southern Utah as the Epson Tour heads to Copper Rock Golf Course.
Local golf fans have the opportunity to watch the rising stars of the women’s game play during the second annual Copper Rock Championship April 21-23. The event will welcome a field of 120 players from 30 different countries.
Championship director David Viveiros said there is a lot to look forward to at this year’s event. The tournament expands viewing opportunities with general admission seating on the first tee and along the ninth and 18th holes, which have beautiful lakes. The new VIP reception area will extend halfway around the 18th green.
Tickets starting at $45 for access to the field on the three days of competition of the tournament. Champions Club tickets at $245 offer exclusive access to the private seating area of the 18th green as well as lunch, snacks and beverages. Military and police personnel receive a 15% discount.
About 2,500 fans attended throughout the week of the tournament in 2021, Viveiros said. This year, he expects a crowd of around 5,000 people. The event’s volunteer support staff also grew from 110 to 330.
“It’s always a good sign that the community loves professional golf,” he added. “It does great things for business, for the community and for people who love golf and what it brings to the region.”
This year again, the tournament will be televised on the Golf Channel as a one-hour special showcasing the stunning natural beauty of the course and the talent of the players. Viveiros said more than 200,000 golf fans tuned in to the latest episode.
“We work very hard behind the scenes to not only make this a great experience, but to showcase Southern Utah as a golf destination.”
The Copper Rock Championship is a sanctioned event on the Epson Tour, the official development tour of the LPGA. The tournament allows fans to get up close to the action as up-and-coming golfers compete for a $200,000 purse amid vast desert dunes and stunning mountain views.
Although Southern Utah has long been popular among golfers, last year’s Copper Rock Championship was the first women’s professional tournament ever held in the region. American Bailey Tardy lifted the trophy after shooting a dazzling 206 (-10) and eclipsed the field by a three-stroke margin.
The Copper Rock Championship is one of 21 stops on the Epson Tour’s new ‘Road to the LPGA’. With Epson as title sponsor, players will compete for the biggest cash prizes, biggest average cash prize and biggest single-event prize in tour history. This year’s tour will visit 13 states and have a total prize pool of $4.41 million, opening new doors for golfers pursuing their dream of one day playing in the LPGA.
The top 10 money earners at the end of the Epson Tour season become members of the LPGA Tour. Since the Development Tour’s inception in 1981, 440 LPGA titles have been won by Tour graduates, including Lorena Ochoa, Inbee Park, Gerina Piller, Mo Martin, Madelene Sagström and Nelly Korda. Former Epson Tour players have won 11 major titles over the past nine years.
“They are top notch players,” Viveiros said. “Southern Utah will eventually see a player who comes through Copper Rock either win on the LPGA Tour or win a major tournament.”
Nestled in Hurricane Valley, Copper Rock Golf Course opened its doors to the public in February 2020. The adventurous 6,901-yard course winds through native sagebrush-studded dunes against a backdrop of rustic sandstone formations. At every hole, players are treated to majestic views of the Pine Valley Mountains, Hurricane Cliffs, Zion National Park and beyond.
“Copper Rock offers a new experience and perspective,” said Marketing Director Jason Timpson. “Our biggest difference is the level of innovation we strive to bring to the golf culture of Southern Utah.”
Written by ALEXA MORGAN for St. George News.
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Event details
- What: 2022 Copper Rock Championship.
- When: Thursday to Saturday, April 21 to 23, all day.
- Where: Copper Rock Golf Course, 1567 W. Copper Rock Parkway, Hurricane.
- Tickets: $45 to $245.
- Resources: Website.
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