The Donald Ross Classic at French Lick Resort
Due to the global outbreak and continued impact of COVID-19, the fourth annual Donald Ross Classic, originally scheduled for July 9-11, has been canceled. The tournament will return for the 2021 Symetra Tour season.
“We continue working toward our primary goal of providing as many safe playing opportunities for all Symetra Tour professionals when the time comes,” said Mike Nichols, the Chief Business Officer of the Symetra Tour. “French Lick Resort is a tremendous supporter of the LPGA Tour’s legends and future stars. We are disappointed that the Donald Ross Classic won’t be taking place this year, but look forward to returning in 2021. The team at French Lick Resort cares a great deal about the event and hosting at its highest potential. For players, sponsors and volunteers, it will be back even stronger.”
The Donald Ross Classic features a 144-player field competing in southern Indiana for a $225,000 total purse and a winner’s share of $33,750. Defending champion Patty Tavatanakit (Bangkok, Thailand) went on to finish in the top 10 in the Volvik Race for the Card and earned an LPGA Tour membership as a 2019 Symetra Tour graduate.
“These are challenging and unique times we are all facing,” said Dave Harner, Director of Golf at French Lick Resort and tournament director. “This is the right decision as we look out for the health and safety of all involved. It is disappointing that the Symetra Tour won’t be swinging through French Lick this year, but the celebration for the event will be bigger and better than ever come next summer.”
2019 Tournament Recap
Less than two months after turning pro, Patty Tavatanakit has a Symetra Tour title under her belt. Tavatanakit sizzled with a 7-under-par 64 in the final round to overtake 36-hole leader Ssu-Chia Cheng for a three-stroke victory in the third annual Donald Ross Classic.
Tavatanakit finished 13 under par and also notched the best winning mark in the tournament’s three-year history. Cheng was the runner-up at 10-under, Perrine Delacour (-9) finished third, and four golfers shared fourth place at 8-under: Esther Lee, Min Seo Kwak, Michelle Piyapattra and Yujeong Son.
This was the second straight year a former UCLA golfer seized the Donald Ross Classic title, following Stephanie Kono’s victory in 2018. Tavatanakit, a native of Thailand and a Thousand Oaks, Calif., resident, earned a winner’s share of 33,750 in just her third career Symetra Tour start. She earned first-team All-American honors in both seasons at UCLA before opting to turn pro after her sophomore year.
“When I was deciding to turn pro, I told myself to just commit,” Tavatanakit said. “So far, so good and I have no regrets. I like my job and love this sport more every day. I like the feeling of getting something when you have to work hard for it. I’ll be doing this for a long time and am glad to have finally made the decision to turn pro, stick to it. That is what helped me play so solid lately.”
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