IOA Championship presented by Morongo Casino Resort & Spa Preview
The fourth stop on the 2020 “Road to the LPGA” takes the Symetra Tour to Morongo Golf Club at Tukwet Canyon in the Golden State for the fifth annual IOA Championship presented by Morongo Casino Resort & Spa from Aug. 21-23.
“IOA has been a driving force in creating a coast to coast impact and reach for the Symetra Tour,” said Mike Nichols, the Chief Business Officer of the Symetra Tour. “They are at the helm for events in Florida and California, leading the way once again when it comes to vision from a title sponsor. All of us with the Symetra Tour—from players to staff—are grateful for the lengths that IOA goes to instill positive, lasting effects on the communities we travel to and careers they make a difference in.”
Greeting the 132-player field in Riverside County is a total purse of $125,000. Individuals are set to compete in a 54-hole stroke play format with a cut to the low 60 players and ties after 36 holes. The winner’s share for the event is $18,750.
“Hosting this championship tournament and working with the Morongo Band of Mission Indians to help showcase the next wave of LPGA Tour talent is really special for our whole organization,” said Insurance Office of America (IOA) Chairman and CEO Heath Ritenour. “We are very excited to welcome all of the competitors to Beaumont, California, and provide a first-class experience they won’t forget. It is going to be a great week to open the first of three IOA events on the Symetra Tour calendar in 2020.”
Defending champion Jillian Hollis (Rocky River, Ohio) is not among the competitors, as she was a 2019 Symetra Tour graduate. The win in Southern California was the first of two victories last season for the University of Georgia alumna and helped her finish at No. 5 in the Volvik Race for the Card.
“I couldn’t be more thankful to IOA for providing such an outstanding opportunity to further my career in professional golf,” Hollis said. “As the main sponsor for three Symetra Tour events and also presenting sponsor of the Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions on the LPGA, all that IOA does to grow the women’s game is incredible and truly changes lives. Thanks to their generosity, as well as the support of Morongo Casino Resort & Spa, I’m now able to live out my dream as a LPGA Tour player.”
Action gets underway at 7:00 a.m. PT in the first and second round with play starting off No. 1 and No. 10 tees all three days. Meanwhile, the final round will start at 8:00 a.m. with a trophy presentation to follow on No. 18 green.
