Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give to Welcome Back All Three Defending Champions

Playing field for the 2017 tournament continues to grow stronger

News provided by

Apr 26, 2017, 14:00 ET

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., April 26, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The playing field for the 2017 Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give continues to grow stronger with commitments from its three defending champions – Sei Young Kim, Lexi Thompson and Mirim Lee – who will return June 13-18 to Blythefield Country Club.

"Each year, we strive to ensure the Meijer LPGA Classic is a high-caliber tournament for the community, but also for these incredible athletes who make Grand Rapids their home," said Cathy Cooper, Director of the Meijer LPGA Classic. "When our past champions commit, we know that they recognize and appreciate just how much the community supports them year after year."

Sei Young Kim – 2016 Champion
The Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give Defending Champion Sei Young Kim is still relatively new to the Tour but has made great strides. Kim captured three victories in her rookie season, and in 2015, won both the Kia Most Compelling Performance Award and the Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year honors. She also became a Rolex First-Time Winner in 2015 at the Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic, competed in the 2016 Rio Olympics, and has had five overall career wins. To view her full bio, please visit: http://www.lpga.com/players/sei-young-kim/98371/bio

Lexi Thompson – 2015 Champion
In her amateur career, Lexi Thompson became the youngest person to qualify for the U.S. Women's Open in 2007 when she was just 12 years old. Thompson ranked No. 1 in the Women's Amateur and Girl's Junior Amateur by Golfweek in 2009 before turning professional in 2010. In 2011, she not only became the youngest professional to win on the Ladies European Tour, but also the youngest winner in LPGA Tour history after winning the Navistar LPGA Classic at 16 years, 7 months, and 8 days old. To date, she has competed in two Solheim Cups and UL International Crowns, along with the 2016 Rio Olympics, finished 45 times in the Top 10, and achieved seven LPGA Tour victories and one major. To view her full bio, please visit: http://www.lpga.com/players/lexi-thompson/98184/bio.

Mirim Lee – 2014 Champion
Mirim Lee began playing golf at the age of 11. She began her professional career in 2009 and played on the KLPGA's developmental tour. Lee won her first KLPGA victory at the S-OIL Champions in 2012. In 2013, she broke the tournament scoring record, with a 61 in the third round, of the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament to earn Priority List Category for the 2014 season. In her rookie season, Lee became a Rolex First-Time Winner with her playoff win at the 2014 Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give. This season, Lee won her third win on tour with her victory at the 2017 Kia Classic in March. To view her full bio, please visit: http://www.lpga.com/players/mirim-lee/98054/bio

The 2017 Meijer LPGA Classic will host a full field of 144 of the best women golfers for 72 holes of stroke play over four days of competition. Proceeds from the tournament – and each of the week's festivities – will once again benefit the Meijer Simply Give program that restocks the shelves of food pantries across the Midwest. To date, the Meijer LPGA Classic has generated more than $2.1 million for food pantries in the communities it serves.

For more information on the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give or to volunteer, please visit meijerLPGAclassic.com.

A video featuring the 2016 Meijer LPGA Classic is available at https://youtu.be/WlNXmv64-vE.

About Meijer: Meijer is a Grand Rapids, Mich.-based retailer that operates 230 supercenters and grocery stores throughout Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and Wisconsin. A privately-owned and family-operated company since 1934, Meijer has a fundamental philosophy aimed at strengthening the communities it serves and proudly donates more than 6 percent of its net profit each year to charities throughout the Midwest. With hunger as a corporate philanthropic focus, Meijer partners with hundreds of food banks and pantries through its Simply Give and food rescue programs. Meijer also supports education, disaster relief, and health and wellness initiatives. For additional information on Meijer philanthropy, please visit www.meijercommunity.com. Follow Meijer on Twitter @twitter.com/Meijer and @twitter.com/MeijerPR or become a fan at www.facebook.com/meijer.

About Blythefield Country Club: Located just north of Grand Rapids, Blythefield has been providing families the best golf and social experience in West Michigan since 1928. With the Rogue River flowing through, Blythefield boasts one of the most beautiful championship layouts in Michigan. Previously, Blythefield has hosted the 1953 Western Amateur, the 1961 Western Open, won by Arnold Palmer, and the 2005 Western Junior won by Rickie Fowler. Beginning in 2014, Blythefield is honored to host the Meijer LPGA Classic. Learn more about Blythefield Country Club at www.blythefieldcc.org.