Hinako Shibuno, Natalie Gulbis and Brynn Walker have accepted sponsor exemptions to play in this year’s ShopRite LPGA Classic Presented by Acer. The tournament will be held Oct. 1–4, 2020, at Seaview, A Dolce Hotel.
Shibuno is currently ranked 14th in the Rolex Women's World Golf Rankings. She won last year’s AIG Women’s Open in her international debut, having never played a tournament outside of her native Japan. Shibuno is only the second Japanese player to win an LPGA major.
Gulbis will play in the tournament for the 15th time in her career. She previously announced that this will be her final year on tour, capping off a career that began in 2001. Gulbis is one of the most popular players on tour and has been a proud supporter of the tournament and its many charitable efforts.
Walker is a standout senior on the golf team at Univ. of North Carolina – Chapel Hill. She has competed in the qualifier six times dating to her senior year at Radnor High School outside of Philadelphia, advancing twice to compete in the ShopRite LPGA Classic Presented by Acer.
“We are excited that Hinako, Natalie and Brynn have accepted our sponsor exemptions,” said Bill Hansen, Tournament Director of the ShopRite LPGA Classic Presented by Acer. “Hinako burst onto the scene last year at the AIG Women’s Open and we are thrilled to have another major champion join our field. Natalie has been a tournament favorite for nearly 20 years and we are delighted to have her back at Seaview. Finally, Brynn has been taking part in our qualifiers since she was in high school and proved she can compete at the highest level, so it was our pleasure to make her road a little easier this year.”
Tournament officials previously announced that Megha Ganne, a 16-year-old attending high school in Holmdel, New Jersey, will also play on a sponsor exemption. Ganne, the 2019 New Jersey State Golf Association Junior Girls champion, also competed in the 2019 U.S. Women’s Open, the 2019 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship and the 2019 Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals at Augusta National.