SMU's Lauren Miller, June Song and Ellie Szeryk Accept Sponsor Exemptions into The 2023 Ascendant LPGA benefiting Volunteers of American
Sadena Parks and Katherine Muzi Round out Field via Monday Qualifier
15 Texans Entered into the Field, One of the Largest in Tournament History
Tickets on Sale at www.AscendantLPGA.com
THE COLONY, Texas, Oct. 4, 2023 – The tournament field for The 2023 Ascendant LPGA benefiting Volunteers of America was finalized today following an 18-hole Monday qualifier and the final three sponsor exemptions accepting invitations to compete in the championship, taking place Thursday-Sunday, Oct. 5-8 at Golf Clubs at The Tribute (Old American Golf Club).
SMU’s June Song, Ellie Szeryk and Lauren Miller each have entered the field as tournament sponsor exemptions. Song won SMU’s internal tournament last week to earn a spot in the championship. Szeryk and Miller, who both advanced to compete in the Monday Qualifier at Old American Golf Club, were extended the final two sponsor invitations on Monday afternoon.
“The last couple of weeks our coaches have been mentioning this tournament, so it is such a nice surprise to be able to share this with my sister again,” said Szeryk at her pre-tournament press conference today at Old American Golf Club. “The fact that we had this surprise exemption into this tournament is so cool for the both of us because it was like a trial run for hopefully when we are on the LPGA one day.”
“It is a tremendous honor for us to have SMU so largely represented at The Ascendant LPGA benefiting Volunteers of America, our hometown LPGA Tour event,” said SMU women’s golf coach Lauren Mason. “This will be an amazing stepping-stone and learning experience for Lauren, June and Ellie in walking inside the ropes with the game’s best players and soaking in the experience.”
Sponsor Exemptions:
- Lauren Miller. SMU graduate in the summer of 2023. Member of the SMU women’s golf team during the 2022-23 season as a fifth-year senior, helping to lead SMU to six tournament victories.
- June Song. SMU sophomore and member of the women’s golf team. Won SMU’s internal tournament to Sophomore at SMU. Winner of internal SMU tournament to earn a sponsor exemption. Will be making her LPGA Tour debut.
- Ellie Szeryk. SMU senior and member of the women’s golf team. Runner-up at the internal SMU tournament to earn a sponsor exemption. Will be competing alongside sister Maddie Szeryk. This will be her second LPGA Tour event.
Rounding out the field are two Monday qualifiers, Katherine Munzi and Sadena Parks. Munzi turned in a 2-under 69 to win the Monday qualifier. Parks advanced from a sudden-death playoff on Tuesday morning.
They will join a 130-player field that features major champions, multiple past champions and Solheim Cup participants, several of the world’s top-ranked players and fan favorites all competing for a share of the $1.8 million purse. The tournament also will feature 15 players residing in the state of Texas, one of the largest local contingents of players in tournament history.
Previously announced sponsor exemptions competing in The Ascendant LPGA benefiting Volunteers of America include Maelynn Kim, winner of The 2023 Ascendant LPGA benefiting Volunteers of America Girls Championship; and high-school junior Natalie Yen, winner of the 2023 Kathy Whitworth Invitational.
For a complete list of tournament entries, click HERE.
The field also will feature:
10 players who participated in the recent Solheim Cup in Spain.
17 Major Champions.
7 winners on the 2023 LPGA Tour season.
11 players attending/attended college in Texas.
Three former No. 1 in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings.
Tickets remain on sale, including all-new “BITE by the Lake”: Tickets remain on sale for The 2023 Ascendant LPGA benefiting Volunteers of America, including daily and weekly general admission tickets offering a wide degree of entertainment and access. New for 2023, BITE by the Lake will be an upgraded culinary experience featuring complimentary food and drink samplings. BITE by the Lake will showcase a variety of local chefs, restaurants, and brands for patrons to sample. Daily tickets to BITE by the Lake start at $50 per day. Limited tickets are available for purchase exclusively at www.AscendantLPGA.com/tickets/. All tickets will be digital and will be emailed after purchase. Tickets can be viewed on either a mobile device or printed out where they will be scanned at the main gate.
2023 Ascendant LPGA Ticket Options: Early ticket offerings include two options for fans interested in attending the tournament:
BITE by the Lake New for 2023, BITE by the Lake is an upgraded culinary experience featuring complimentary food and beverages from local chefs and restaurants.
- Daily BITE by the Lake: $50. Valid for one day, Friday-Sunday
- BITE VIP is an Upgraded Hospitality ticket option that includes access to a hospitality suite with greenside views of Old American Golf Club’s signature 18th hole along with complimentary signature cocktails from Mijenta Tequila and catering from Dee Lincoln Prime Steakhouse.
- Daily BITE VIP: $150. Valid for one day, Friday-Sunday.
General Admissions Daily Grounds:
- $20. Valid any one day, Thursday-Sunday, Oct. 5-8.
Weekly Grounds:
- $45. Valid each day Thursday-Sunday, Oct. 5-8.
- All military (active, reserve, retired and Veterans) and first responders will receive complimentary admission to the 2023 Ascendant LPGA benefiting Volunteers of America by showing proper identification at Admissions in exchange for a daily grounds pass. Children 17-and-under will be admitted free with a ticketed adult.
For more information on The Ascendant LPGA benefiting Volunteers of America, please visit and follow the tournament’s social handles @AscendantLPGA on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
About The Ascendant LPGA benefiting Volunteers of America
The Ascendant LPGA benefiting Volunteers of America is Texas’ signature LPGA Tour event held annually at Old American Golf Club, a part of the Golf Clubs at The Tribute in The Colony, Texas, featuring the world’s best golfers competing for a $1.8 million purse. The tournament made its debut in 2013. The event is owned and operated by Outlyr, a global sports marketing and event management agency. In addition to managing professional golf tournaments, Outlyr also operates a number of other sporting and lifestyle events and manages the sponsorship portfolio for several blue-chip clients.
About Cypress Ascendant
Cypress Ascendant is a highly diversified, small market, boutique investment group. We have holdings across a range of Real Estate and Finance, Hospitality and Entertainment, as well as Consumer Goods. Relationships and connectivity are the cornerstones of our firm. We make and maintain personal relationships with leadership from each and every investment we make. With meaningful financial commitments from our Management team, we strive to generate strong, risk adjusted returns for our investors over the life of their investments with us. To learn more about Cypress Ascendant, please visit www.cypress-ascendant.com.
About Volunteers of America
Volunteers of America is a national nonprofit, faith-based organization dedicated to helping those in need live healthy, safe and productive lives. Since 1896, our ministry of service has supported and empowered those most in need, including veterans, seniors, people with disabilities, at-risk youth, men and women returning from prison, homeless individuals and families, those recovering from addictions and many others. Through hundreds of human service programs, including housing and health care, Volunteers of America helps more than 1.5 million people in over 400 communities. Learn more at www.voa.org.
About Golf Clubs at The Tribute
Each course set on this remote peninsula inside The Tribute community was specifically designed to take you back in time to experience the game of golf in its purest form. Old American Golf Club, designed by PGA TOUR winner Justin Leonard and Golf Course Architect Tripp Davis, pays homage to the “Golden Age” of golf course architecture in America, while Tribute Golf Links, also designed by Tripp Davis, allows you to immerse yourself in a true link-style course paying homage to the most famous holes in Scotland. To learn more about the Club or its courses, visit www.golfclubsatthetribute.com.
About The Colony, Texas
The City by the Lake offers unparalleled entertainment in the heart of North Texas. Known for strikingly beautiful views of Lewisville Lake, The Colony extends 23 miles along its eastern shoreline providing endless outdoor excursions. Inside Grandscape, the city’s sprawling entertainment district, refined dining, live music and the world’s largest and most unique retail experiences away. The Colony offers a tranquil getaway complemented by modern, urban luxuries. To find out more about The Colony, please visit www.visitthecolonytx.com.
About the LPGA
The LPGA is the world’s leading professional golf organization for women, with a goal to change the face of golf by making the sport more accessible and inclusive.
Created in 1950 by 13 Founders, the Association celebrates a diverse and storied history. The LPGA Tour competes across the globe, reaching television audiences in more than 220 countries. The Epson Tour, the LPGA’s official qualifying tour, consistently produces a pipeline of talent ready for the world stage. The LPGA also holds a joint-venture collaboration with the Ladies European Tour (LET), increasing playing opportunities for female golfers in Europe. Across the three Tours, the LPGA represents players in more than 60 countries.
Additionally, the LPGA Foundation has empowered and supported girls and women since 1991, most notably through LPGA*USGA Girls Golf, the only national program of its kind, which annually engages with nearly 100,000 girls. The LPGA Amateur Golf Association and LPGA Women’s Network provide virtual and in-person connections to female golfers around the world, while LPGA Professionals are educators, business leaders and game-changers dedicated to growing the game of golf for everyone.
Follow the LPGA on its U.S. television home, Golf Channel, online at www.LPGA.com and on its mobile apps. Join the social conversation on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
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