Memorial Day signals the unofficial start of the summer, and the LPGA kicks off their summer schedule with the celebration of the 25th edition of the ShopRite LPGA Classic presented by Acer Info.

Afetr spending a soak week down in the Bahamas, the LPGA moves to South Jersey for “A Shore Tradition.” The ShopRite LPGA Classic, originally known as the Atlantic City LPGA Classic, is played through only three rounds and starts this Friday May 31st and concludes with the crowning of a champion on Sunday, June 2.

It’s played on the Bay Course at Stockton Seaview Hotel and Golf Club in Galloway, NJ. The Bay Course, covering nearly 6,300 wind swept yards, is the best known of the two courses on the resort. It played host to the 1942 PGA Championship where Sam Snead won his first major championship.

The par-71 layout measures 6,155 yards, short by LPGA standards. But don’t be fooled, it’s a ball-striker’s course and the wind often whips off Reeds Bay making club selection difficult. The tournament is usually won by a big name player and the field of 144 is a stellar one; includes the Rolex Rankings top 10 players in the world along with 95 out of the top 100 players on the LPGA’s money list, six past champions and 22 major winners.

Some fan favorites in the field include Lexi Thompson, Michelle Wie, Christina Kim and Natalie Gulbis, as well as Hall of Famers Julie Inkster (51), Karrie Webb (38) and Se Ri Pak (35). Inkster missed the cut at the 2011 Classic but traditionally plays well at Seaview, winning the tournament in 1986 and 1988, while Pak won in 1999.

They will all be playing for the top prize of $225,000 in a $1.5 million purse for the 54-hole event. This is also the final event before the second major of the year, the Wegmans LPGA Championship, so every player’s game will be in high gear as they get ready for next week.

The LPGA keeps raising the bar in the quality of the events and the competition the players bring week-in and week-out is outstanding. One thing to look for this week is another spectacular finish. In the past month we’ve had two tournaments go extra holes, one decided on the last hole and last week we had to wait until the last player finished to make sure the clubhouse leader would hold the slim lead for the win.

Stacy Lewis, No. 2 in the world, is the defending champion. Last year, she was either leading or co-leading in the first two rounds and managed to take a six-shot lead heading into Sunday’s final round, ending with a four-stroke victory over Katherine Hull-Kirk and Lexi Thompson.

World’s No. 1, Inbee Park, was forced to withdraw with an injury to her right hand three weeks ago in Japan and then last week finished well back in the Bahamas. She has not played well when she has played here and she better display the form that took her to No. 1 if she is to contend this weekend.

The world’s two players have been going at it for the past year and are always among the favorites to win every time they tee it off. This year, the two have combined to win five of the 10 LPGA events played—Park with three victories and Lewis with two.

Lewis was No. 1 earlier this year before Park passed her. Last year, Lewis won the Player of the Year award, but Park finished No. 1 on the money list.

But they better watch out for Suzann Pettersen who may be the hottest player coming into the tournament. She has finished inside the top three in four of her last five starts. She finished fourth in this event two years ago and given the way she’s been playing lately, she is one to watch closely on Sunday.

If you are looking for someone outside the Top 10, take a look at Anna Nordqvist. She has been playing red-hot golf lately and has played this event well in the past few years. Nordqvist has been inside the top ten in four of her last six starts this season and has been fifth in her last two starts in this event.

The big winners this weekend will be the local charities as a beneficiary of the tournament’s charity ticket program. The Classic, in coordination with title sponsor ShopRite, will contribute 100 percent of all advance ticket sales to charity partners.

Key Hole

No. 2 – Players can get in trouble early at the Bay Course. The second hole is the course’s signature hole. The 432-yard par-4 plays directly toward the Atlantic Ocean. Dramatically influenced by the winds blowing off of the Atlantic, the hole can play much longer, or shorter than the actual yardage.

Out of bounds guards wayward tee shots to the right and two large fairway bunkers guard the left side of the fairway. Second shot must be precisely struck, as there is trouble to the left, right and behind the green.

The left side is protected by a natural lateral water hazard, while native marsh grasses guard the right side. Behind the green is the most spectacular view of the Atlantic City skyline from any shore point. This is a hole where players make par and take a deep breath of relief.

Tee Times (all times ET)

Players will tee it off from holes No. 1 and 10 in threesomes starting at 7:15 am through 9:16 am on the morning session. The second session of threesome groups starts at 12:15 pm and runs through 2:16 pm.

Some of the notable threesomes and their tee times for the first two rounds:

Tournament Schedule

Thursday, May 30

• 7:00 a.m. - Official ShopRite Pro-Am Sponsored by Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City, Day Two (All Day – open to the public)
• 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. The Phillie Phanatic will visit the ShopRite LPGA Classic Presented by Acer

Friday, May 31

• 7:00 a.m. - Round one (All Day)
• 7:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. -- Greater Atlantic City Chamber Invitational Golf Classic Presented by Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey (Stockton Seaview Hotel and Golf Club, Pines Course)
• 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm -- Live Coverage on Golf Channel

Saturday, June 1

• 7:00 a.m. - Round two (All Day)
• Cut to low 70 players plus ties
• 2:30 - 3:30 p.m. -- Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey Junior Golf Show Presented by South Jersey Industries (Stockton Seaview Hotel and Golf Club, Driving Range)
• 2:30 pm - 6:00 pm -- Live Coverage on Golf Channel

Sunday, June 2

• 9:00 a.m. Final round (All Day)
• 2:00 pm - 6:00 pm -- Live Coverage on Golf Channel
• Award ceremony immediately following play

(All times subject to change)