Top 50 On LPGA Money List to Visit Phoenix
Safeway International Field is Impressive

The strength of the field for the 2006 edition of the Safeway International, presented by Coca-Cola looks very impressive. According to Tom Maletis, President of Tournament Golf Foundation, the event owners and organizers, "We are pleased that at this point we have the top 50 active players from the 2005 LPGA money list committed to playing in Phoenix."

The list includes two-time defending champion Annika Sorenstam, Paula Creamer, Juli Inkster, Grace Park, Lorena Ochoa, Jennifer Rosales, Natalie Gulbis, Cristie Kerr and former winners Se Ri Pak, Karrie Webb, Danielle Ammaccapane, Laura Davies, Rachel Hetherington and Patty Sheehan.

In addition, the tournament will feature two impressive newcomers to the LPGA Tour. Morgan Pressel, the 2005 US Amateur Champion, who recently turned pro, and Ai Miyazato, the winner of Q School this year will be in the field. Pressel made her LPGA debut at the SBS Open last week in Hawaii with a tie for eighth. The 20-year old Miyazato is a multiple winner on the Japanese tour and is considered a media sensation in her home country.

Two impressive amateurs will also be part of the field, joining the tournament through sponsor's exemptions earned in the Safeway International Amateur Open on Feb 9th. Esther Choe of Scottsdale, AZ, currently the #6 ranked junior in the US and Angela Park, from Torrance, CA, the #3 woman amateur in the country will be part of the 144 player field.

"The strength of the field for the Safeway International is a tribute to our long association with the LPGA in Phoenix, and the ongoing support that Safeway is showing for the tour," said Maletis. "We are extremely excited that we are going to have one of the strongest LPGA fields of the year for the great golf fans in Arizona." Safeway also is the title sponsor for the Safeway Classic, held in Oregon in August.

The 2006 edition of the Safeway International will be held at Superstition Mountain Golf and Country Club March 13-19. The 2005 tournament drew record crowds of over 105,000 to the new venue. The tournament features a purse of $1.4 million and all four rounds on March 16-19 will be shown nationally on the Golf Channel.

Proceeds from the event benefit local Arizona charities through the Safeway Foundation. Since 1983, the tournament has raised over $10 million for local charities, primarily cancer research programs through Banner Health Foundation, with $825,000 coming from the 2005 event alone.

Promotional tickets for the event are available at the customer services desk of any Arizona Safeway store. Two daily tickets for the price of one…only $20. A weekly pass is $50.

For more information on the Safeway International and a complete tournament field list, visit www.safewaygolf.com