Volvik Championship Sponsor Exemptions: Kim, Phokan, Booth

U-M Freshman Ashley Kim, Volvik Brand Ambassadors Parinda Phokan and Carly Booth  Receive Volvik Championship Sponsor Exemptions

ANN ARBOR–Ashley Kim, a member of the University of Michigan women’s golf team and the Southern California PGA College Showcase Champion in 2016, is one of three players to obtain an exemption to play in the 72-hole LPGA Volvik Championship at Travis Pointe Country Club. Volvik Brand Ambassadors Parinda Phokan and Carly Booth will also receive sponsor exemptions.

This past season as a freshman, Kim, from Redondo Beach, Calif., tied the second lowest round in U-M program history with a 66 (-6) in the second round of the Ruth’s Chris Invitational (Oct. 13-15). She joins her sister, Megan, as the only two Wolverines to score a 66 in a U-M varsity event and they are the only Wolverine siblings to gain exemptions on the LPGA Tour. Megan, who played four years for the Wolverines and was three-time Women’s Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) All-American Scholar, earned an exemption to play in the LPGA event in Grand Rapids in 2017. Megan, who finished her career at U-M in May, will be Ashley’s caddie for the tournament.

Phokan, a native of Khon Kaen, Thailand, turned professional in 2016 after playing one season at Iowa State. She is a four-time winner on the Thai LPGA Tour and has one win on the China LPGA Tour. Two of her four wins on the Thai LPGA Tour were back-to-back wins in July 2017. At Iowa State, her 74.12 scoring average ranks seventh on ISU’s single-season record book.

Booth, from Comrie, Scotland, became the youngest-ever Scot to qualify for the Ladies European Tour in 2009 at the age of 17.  She competed in her first professional event at the age of 14, the 2006 Ladies Scottish Open, and finished 13th. She has also been rated the number one junior in Europe after winning the European Junior Masters in 2007. Booth has won two tournaments on the Ladies European Tour. She turned professional in 2009.

 About the LPGA Volvik Championship

More than 30,000 spectators are anticipated to attend the third annual LPGA Volvik Championship, May 21-27 at Ann Arbor’s Travis Pointe Country Club. The 72-hole championship tournament (May 24-27) will attract the best female golfers in the world. The LPGA tour players represent over 30 countries with international television exposure in 170 different countries. Ariya Jutanugarn (2016) and Shanshan Feng (2017) captured the first two LPGA Volvik Championship titles. For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit www.volviklpga.com or call 734.707.0789.