The LPGA State Farm Classic was a women's professional golf tournament on the LPGA Tour. It was played annually from 1976 to 2011 in the Springfield, Illinois metropolitan area. From 1976 through 2006, the tournament was held at The Rail Golf Course. In 2007 it moved to Panther Creek Country Club.

LPGA State Farm Classic
Tournament information
LocationSpringfield, Illinois, U.S.
Established1976
Course(s)Panther Creek Country Club
(2007-2011)
Par72
Length6,746 yards (6,169 m)
Tour(s)LPGA Tour
FormatStroke play - 72 holes
Prize fund$1,700,000
Final year2011
Tournament record score
Aggregate264 Cristie Kerr (2004)
To par–24 Cristie Kerr (2004)
Final champion
Taiwan Yani Tseng

Originally known as the Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Golf Classic, the tournament was underwritten solely by the owners of The Rail Golf Course for its first two years. A community-based not-for-profit organization took over the tournament in 1978. State Farm Insurance became the title sponsor in 1993. From 1980 until cancellation in 2011, over $2.5 million was contributed from tournament proceeds to medical and children's charities.

On December 9, 2011, it was announced the tournament was being cancelled due to organizers failing to find a new sponsor.[1] It had been announced earlier in the year that State Farm would be dropping its sponsorship after 2011.[2]

Tournament names through the years:

  • 1976: Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Classic
  • 1977: Rail Muscular Dystrophy Classic
  • 1978–1992: Rail Charity (Golf) Classic
  • 1993–2000: State Farm Rail Classic
  • 2001–2006: State Farm Classic
  • 2007–2011: LPGA State Farm Classic

Winners

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Year Dates Champion Country Score Tournament
Location
Purse ($) Winner's
share ($)
2011 Jun 9–12 Yani Tseng   Taiwan 267 (−21) Panther Creek Country Club 1,700,000 255,000
2010 Jun 10–14 Cristie Kerr (2)   United States 266 (−22) Panther Creek Country Club 1,700,000 255,000
2009 Jun 4–7 In-Kyung Kim   South Korea 271 (−17) Panther Creek Country Club 1,700,000 255,000
2008 Jul 17–20 Ji Young Oh   South Korea 270 (−18)* Panther Creek Country Club 1,700,000 255,000
2007 Aug 30 – Sep 2 Sherri Steinhauer   United States 271 (−17) Panther Creek Country Club 1,300,000 195,000
2006 Aug 31 – Sep 3 Annika Sörenstam   Sweden 269 (−19) The Rail Golf Course 1,300,000 195,000
2005 Sep 1–4 Pat Hurst   United States 271 (−17) The Rail Golf Course 1,300,000 195,000
2004 Sep 2–5 Cristie Kerr   United States 264 (−24) The Rail Golf Course 1,200,000 180,000
2003 Aug 28–31 Candie Kung   Taiwan 202 (−14) The Rail Golf Course 1,200,000 180,000
2002 Aug 29 – Sep 1 Patricia Meunier-Lebouc   France 270 (−18) The Rail Golf Course 1,100,000 165,000
2001 Aug 30 – Sep 2 Kate Golden   United States 267 (−21) The Rail Golf Course 1,000,000 150,000
2000 Sep 1–3 Laurel Kean   United States 198 (−19) The Rail Golf Course 900,000 135,000
1999 Sep 4–6 Mi Hyun Kim   South Korea 204 (−12) The Rail Golf Course 775,000 116,500
1998 Aug 28–30 Pearl Sinn   United States 200 (−16) The Rail Golf Course 775,000 116,500
1997 Aug 30 – Sep 1 Cindy Figg-Currier   United States 200 (−16)* The Rail Golf Course 600,000 90,000
1996 Aug 31 – Sep 2 Michelle McGann   United States 202 (−14)* The Rail Golf Course 575,000 86,250
1995 Sep 2–4 Mary Beth Zimmerman   United States 206 (−10)* The Rail Golf Course 550,000 82,500
1994 Sep 3–5 Barb Mucha   United States 203 (−13) The Rail Golf Course 525,000 78,750
1993 Sep 4–6 Helen Dobson   England 203 (−13)* The Rail Golf Course 500,000 82,500
1992 Sep 5–7 Nancy Lopez (2)   United States 199 (−17)* The Rail Golf Course 450,000 67,500
1991 Pat Bradley (2)   United States 197 (−19) The Rail Golf Course 400,000 60,000
1990 Beth Daniel (2)   United States 203 (−13) The Rail Golf Course 300,000 45,000
1989 Beth Daniel   United States 203 (−13) The Rail Golf Course 250,000 41,250
1988 Betsy King (3)   United States 207 (−9) The Rail Golf Course 500,000 33,750
1987 Rosie Jones   United States 208 (−8) The Rail Golf Course 200,000 30,000
1986 Betsy King   United States 205 (−11)* The Rail Golf Course 200,000 30,000
1985 Betsy King   United States 205 (−11) The Rail Golf Course 185,000 27,750
1984 Cindy Hill   United States 207 (−9) The Rail Golf Course 175,000 26,250
1983 Lauri Peterson   United States 210 (−6) The Rail Golf Course 150,000 22,500
1982 JoAnne Carner (2)   United States 202 (−14) The Rail Golf Course 125,000 18,750
1981 JoAnne Carner   United States 205 (−11) The Rail Golf Course 125,000 18,750
1980 Nancy Lopez   United States 275 (−13) The Rail Golf Course 125,000 18,750
1979 Jo Ann Washam   United States 275 (−13) The Rail Golf Course 100,000 15,000
1978 Sep 1–4 Pat Bradley   United States 276 (−12) The Rail Golf Course 100,000 15,000
1977 Hollis Stacy   United States 271 (−17) The Rail Golf Course 100,000 15,000
1976 Sep 3–5[3] Sandra Palmer   United States 213 (−3)* The Rail Golf Course 100,000 15,000

* Championship won in sudden-death playoff.

  • 1976 and 1981–2000 — 54-hole tournament
  • 1977–1980 and 2001–2011 — 72-hole tournament, although the tournament in 2003 was shortened to 54 holes due to rain.

Tournament records

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Year Player Score Round Course
1991 Laura Davies 62 (−10) 1st The Rail Golf Course
1997 Kathryn Marshall 62 (−10) 2nd The Rail Golf Course
2004 Christina Kim 62 (−10) 1st The Rail Golf Course
2006 Annika Sörenstam 62 (−10) 4th The Rail Golf Course
2008 Hee-Won Han 61 (−11) 3rd Panther Creek Country Club

References

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  1. ^ No sponsor, no LPGA in Springfield
  2. ^ State Farm dropping event sponsorship
  3. ^ Kane, Dave (June 6, 2010). "State Farm Classic marks 35 years". The State Journal-Register. Retrieved 2010-06-11.
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39°43′44″N 89°42′41″W / 39.7288°N 89.7115°W / 39.7288; -89.7115