LPGA Championship Tees Off At Ko Olina Golf Club Next Week

Golfers from around the world are coming to Ko Olina this week for the 2014 LPGA LOTTE Championship, which runs April 13-19 at Ko Olina Golf Club.

The championship pits leading women golfers against one another for a share of a $1.7 million in prize money. Players scheduled to attend include Inbe Park, Lydia Ko, So Yeon Ryu and Suzann Pettersen, last year’s champion.

Presented by J Golf, the championship is in its third year, kicking off Sunday with a qualifying tournament, followed by professional practice rounds and a golf clinic April 14, and an official pro-am April 15. Admission is free April 13-15.

The tournament runs April 16-19, when daily admission is $10, and tickets are available at the main gate. A season ticket, which allows admission for the whole week, costs $25. Children 16 and under get in free with when accompanied by an adult. Free parking and a shuttle for spectators also is available.

For more information, call Ko Olina Golf Club at 676-5300 or visit koolina.com.

And for area residents’ chance to get in on the golf fun, check out the 13th annual St. Francis Golf Healthy Challenge May 8 at Hawaii Prince Golf Club in Ewa Beach. The event currently seeks participants in three-person teams. All proceeds from the Challenge go toward renovations to the St. Francis Liliha campus.

Prizes will be awarded to the 13 teams that earn the lowest team scores. Events include a putting contest, hole-in-one contests and a shoot-out. Participants will have the chance to win a brand new Acura, along with drawings and door prizes. The event also includes an awards dinner and other refreshments.

Sponsorships are available starting from $1,250. Donations also are welcome.

Check-in begins at 9:30 a.m., with a shotgun start at 11:30.

For more information and to reserve a spot, email Gisele at gkaahanui@stfrancishawaii.org.