2001 – 2005: LPGA Futures Tournament Held At Lake Forest Golf Club

2001 – 2005: LPGA Futures Tournament Held At Lake Forest Golf Club

This week, the LPGA’s developmental tour returns to Ann Arbor for the first time since 2004. The inaugural Ann Arbor’s Road to the LPGA powered by the A2 Sports Commission tournament (tournament link) will be played at Travis Pointe Country Club June 16 – 18, 2022.

Ann Arbor hosted Epson Tour tournaments when the circuit was known as the Futures Tour. In 1998, a Futures Tour event was held at Washtenaw Golf Club. From 2001 – 2004, the Ann Arbor Futures Classic was held at Lake Forest Golf Club.

Ann Arbor Futures Classic: May 24 – 26, 2001

The 2001 Futures Classic was won by Mayumi Nakajima with a 67-71-72. The second-round leader, she held on to win her first SBC Futures Golf Tour tournament.

The tournament was bothered by hail and lightning on Friday, so the second round was completed Saturday. Nakajima finished on Saturday morning and then headed back out for the win.

First place was $7,000.

Of note among the top finishers was amateur Christina Kim, who shot a 70-75-68.

Ann Arbor Futures Classic: June 27 – 30, 2002

The 2002 edition featured a duel between future LPGA stars Lorena Ochoa and Christina Kim. Heading into the final round, Kim had a one shot lead over Ochoa.

Ochoa’s final round 68, however, closed the gap. The future LPGA Hall of Famer sealed the deal with a 15-foot birdie putt on the eighteenth.

The win was Ochoa’s second of the season.

Morgan Pressel was in the field as an amateur.

For her efforts, Ochoa won $8,400

Bank of Ann Arbor Futures Classic: June 20 – 22, 2003

In 2003, Ju (Birdie) Kim came from six shots back to top Stacy Prammanasudh.

Kim carded five bridies on the front nine enroute to a six under 66. She topped Lisa Hall in the end by one stroke.

Kim banked $8,400 for the win. At that point in the year, she was the leading money winner in eleven tournaments on the Futures Tour with $34,174.

The course played at 6, 200 yards for a par 72.

Bank of Ann Arbor Futures Classic: June 4 – 6, 2024

In the 2004 edition of the Bank of Ann Arbor Futures Classic, Linsey Wright shot a final round 72 for the win. Jimin Kang and Kathryn Cusick were one shot behind.

Wright was an Aulbury, Australia native, emphasizing the truly global reach of the LPGA and Futures Tour.

Wright’s share of the purse was $8,400.

The course played at 6, 212 yards and par 72.

Bank of Ann Arbor Futures Classic: June 23 – 25, 2005

In the final edition of the Bank of Ann Arbor Futures Classic, Christina Baena of Columbia rolled in a 25-foot birdie on the last hole for the win.

First place won $9,100 on a purse of $65,000

Julieta Granada finished second in her pro debut.