CONTRIBUTED CONTENT — Women’s professional golf in Southern Utah is evolving in a major way. In an unprecedented doubleheader, the fourth annual Copper Rock Championship will be held on May 16-18 and followed immediately by the LPGA Senior Championship on May 23-25.

As an event led by women, the Copper Rock Championship is committed to supporting and empowering the next generation of female golfers. This year’s tournament will award four sponsor exemptions to exceptional collegiate players who have been making their mark on the Mountain West region.

“Usually, exemptions are only open to pros,” event coordinator Penny James-Garcia said. “This is just another way that we’re setting our championship apart and creating opportunities for women in golf.”

Over 100 players from around the world will travel to Copper Rock to compete for their share of a $250,000 prize purse and ranking points on the Epson Tour, the official developmental tour of the LPGA. Playing alongside tour pros is a rare opportunity for collegiate golfers and an extraordinary developmental experience for young women who have dedicated much of their lives to the game.

Born and raised along Australia’s famed Gold Coast, Grace Williams is a senior at Utah Tech University whose passion for golf shines both on and off the course. She began her golf journey at 14, quickly falling in love with the game and setting her sights on playing at the highest level.

“Playing at Copper Rock is an exciting stepping stone for me,” Williams said. “It means so much not only to me but my family and my school. It’s good to see all the hard work I’ve put in over the years pay off and finally get me moving forward to the career that I eventually want to have.”

Williams is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in business marketing with a minor in sports communications. Her collegiate career has been marked by significant achievements, including back-to-back Academic All-WAC honors and a semifinal finish at the 2023 Women’s Utah State Amateur Championship. She plans to play golf professionally after graduating this spring, aiming to continue her growth both in the game and in her career.

A native of Montpellier, France, Anais Guibal is a junior at Southern Utah University majoring in business management and administration. She started playing golf at age 5 and has enjoyed an impressive and diverse European junior career that includes international competition and four tournament victories while still in high school.

Guibal’s stroke average has steadily decreased during her time at SUU. Highlighting her progress, she shot a career-low 68 in the opening round of the 2023 Timpanogos Collegiate Invitational. With a long-term goal of becoming a professional golfer, the opportunity to play in the Copper Rock Championship represents a significant step forward in her blossoming career.

“It means a lot,” she said. “Being able to play with other professionals and seeing how I can manage pressure will give me things to work on this summer and the year after.”

Student exemptions have also been awarded to Lila Galea’i from Brigham Young University and Thienna Huynh from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Galea’i, a senior at BYU, will return to the Copper Rock Championship after making a striking impact in her 2023 debut. She clinched a tie for 29th place with consistent score improvements and strategic plays, highlighting her potential in the professional golf landscape. A past winner of the Utah Women’s Open and Utah Women’s State Amateur Championship, Galea’i has recorded 16 top-25 finishes during her career with the Cougars.

Huynh, a sophomore at UNLV, led all freshmen in the Mountain West Conference in scoring average during her debut collegiate season. She has notched seven top-25 finishes so far and was named Mountain West Freshman of the Year for 2023 along with earning All-Conference Second Team honors. Huynh is also a past AJGA/Rolex Junior All-America honoree and winner of the U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball Championship.

While the Copper Rock Championship highlights ambitious young golfers chasing their dream of earning LPGA membership, the LPGA Senior Championship will showcase the enduring talents of legends of the game. An international field of approximately 75 players will compete for their share of a $400,000 purse, with $60,000 going to the winner.

Copper Rock will host a qualifying tournament on May 20, with the top two professionals and the top amateur receiving entry into the LPGA Senior Championship later that week. Nuny Kham-One Khamken, the winner of the 2023 Utah State Women’s Senior Amateur Championship, will also be eligible to play via an additional sponsor exemption.

Originally from Laos, Khamken took up golf at the age of 35. She has since scored three career holes-in-one and won the women’s league championship at her home course, Stonebridge Golf Club, seven times. She lives in West Jordan and travels to various states to play competitively at the amateur level.

For local golf fans, the double-header at Copper Rock presents a unique opportunity to watch both rising stars of the women’s game and players who have already made their mark on the pro tour. Tickets start at just $15 for general admission to both tournaments and are available to purchase at this link.

“This is an incredible opportunity,” James-Garcia said. “Our mission is to not only conduct top-notch professional golf tournaments but also to touch the lives of our community right here in Southern Utah.”

Written by ALEXA MORGAN for St. George News.

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