Lexi Thompson watches her shot after hitting from the fourth tee during the final round of the Women’s PGA Championship golf tournament at Sahalee Country Club, Sunday, June 23 in Sammamish, Wash. (AP Photo | Gerald Herbert)
SYLVANIA — The LPGA Tour’s Dana Open returns to Highland Meadows Golf Club in Sylvania next week, with tournament play set for July 18-21.
The Dana Open is the second-longest running tournament on the LPGA Tour outside of the major championships, behind only the Portland Classic. This year will be the 40th playing of the event, which has raised $14 million dollars so far for children’s charities in the area.
Eleven-time LPGA Tour winner Lexi Thompson announced in May that 2024 will be her last season playing full time on the LPGA Tour.
To celebrate her retirement and her contributions to the game of golf, the Dana Open will be hosting ‘Lexi Thompson Day’ on Friday, July 19 featuring a “pink-out” of fans, players and tournament staff wearing Thompson’s favorite color, giveaways of hats and pins for fans in attendance, and a surprise ahead of Thompson’s afternoon tee-time on Friday.
With Olympic Women’s Golf scheduled for August 7-10, several players will be using the Dana Open to prepare for the international competition. Currently, there are 18 Olympians in the Dana Open field representing 14 different countries.
Dana Open defending champion Linn Grant (Sweden) and past champion Gaby Lopez (Mexico) will be representing their countries in the Olympics come August.
There are five native Ohioans in the Dana Open field including amateur sponsor invite Mia Hammond, 2024 Solheim Cup captain Stacy Lewis, LPGA Tour mom Lindsey Weaver-Wright, 2023 LPGA Professionals National Championship winner Allie White, and Marissa Steen. Michigan natives Jennifer Song and Kris Tamulis are also in the field.
Six patient champions will be in attendance at the Dana Open as part of the tournaments Champions for Children initiative.
On Wednesday, July 17 the patient champions will walk and interact with LPGA Tour pros as they play in the pro-am. On Thursday, July 18, one patient champion will be selected to hit the ceremonial first tee shot to begin tournament play.
