NW Arkansas Championship
Courtesy Photo
Some of the best female golfers in the world will descend on the Northwest Arkansas area next week for the 8th annual NW Arkansas Championship LPGA event.
The three-day tournament, which features 144 top female golfers competing for the $2 million purse, will take place on Friday, June 26 and run through the weekend.
UA Alum Stacy Lewis, winner of the 2014 NW Arkansas Championship
Courtesy
In addition to the main event, however, activities around the tournament have grown over the years to make the week transcend a regular sporting event atmosphere.
A concert by pop singer Colbie Caillat, a Pro-Am tournament, two food festival-type events, a 5K run, and other events have been added to the tournament to make it feel more like a full-fledged festival.
The week’s festivities kick off at Pinnacle Country Club at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, June 23, with publicly-open practice for the professionals coming to play the tournament. Spectators can watch as the top golfers get to know the course for the weekend’s tournament. Golfers expected to participate in this year’s tournament include Cristie Kerr, Stacy Lewis, Michelle Wie, Lydia Ko, Morgan Pressel, and others.
On Wednesday, June 24, the Pro-Am begins, with an opportunity for amateur players to be paired up with one of the pros in town for the tournament for 18 holes.
The Pro-Am continues on Thursday, followed by the first ever Taste of NW Arkansas food festival at the AMP. The food festival will be co-hosted by celebrity Chef Carla Hall of the hit TV show, The Chew, and Tyson Executive Chef Mario Valdovinos, and will include Southern-comfort-inspired dishes from several area restaurants.
On Friday, June 26, gates will open for the main event LPGA Tournament at 7 a.m. That evening, the second food festival event will begin at 6 p.m. at the AMP. NW Arkansas Beer & Burger Fest will include signature burgers from local restaurants pairs with local craft beer from the area.
In addition to the tournament on Saturday, June 27, festivities include a 5K run at 6:30 a.m. at the AMP, followed by the Colbie Caillat concert at the AMP at 6 p.m.
The tournament’s final round is set for Sunday, June 28.
Tickets to the tournament are $15 per day, or $25 for the entire week, and kids 17 and under get in free.
For more information about the event, visit NWAChampionship.com.
