Choe and Park Win Spots in Safeway International Field

Feb. 9, 2006 Phoenix, Arizona

Angela Park of Torrance, California and Esther Choe of Scottsdale, Arizona, won automatic berths in next month's Safeway International LPGA tournament. Park and Choe were the two low players in a field of 21 at Superstition Mountain Golf and Country Club, the site of the LPGA event. Park fired a 4-under 68 while Choe was at 3-under 69.

Taylore Karle of Scottsdale and Spaniard Azahara Munoz, a freshman at Arizona State both posted rounds of 70. They will have the opportunity to play on tournament exemptions in the Monday qualifier on March 13th for LPGA players. The two low rounds in that event will also participate in the Safeway International.

Park, the #3 ranked amateur golfer in the US and Choe, the #6 ranked US Junior will join a field of 142 of the LPGA's best for the 72-hole event that begins March 16th.

This is the second you that the Safeway International has held an amateur open. Any woman with a handicap of 2.0 or less was eligible to participate. Last year Arizona State golfer Louise Stahle beat Karle in a three-hole playoff. Stahle will the part of the field at the tournament proper, having qualified at Q school this winter.

The Safeway International has been a feature event on the LPGA tour since 1983. The event has now given over $10 million to local charities, with cancer research programs at Banner Health Foundation being the primary beneficiary.

The 2006 edition of the Safeway International, presented by Coca-Cola will be held at Superstition Mountain Golf and Country Club March 13-19. The purse for the event this year will be $1.4 million and it will be broadcast on the Golf Channel.

Annika Sorenstam is the two-time defending champion of the event and will return to defend her title.

For more information on the Safeway International and Tournament Golf Foundation, visit their website: www. safewaygolf.com.