Nigerian golfer earns exemptions to compete in the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give June 13-16 at Blythefield Country Club in Grand Rapids and the Dow Championship June 27-30 in Midland
GRAND RAPIDS and MIDLAND, MICHIGAN (June 5, 2024) – Georgia Oboh, a 23-year-old professional golfer from Manchester, England, has earned exemptions to compete in two LPGA tournaments – the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give and the Dow Championship – after winning THE JOHN SHIPPEN Women’s Invitational at Blythefield Country Club in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Oboh will tee it up alongside the world’s best female golfers at the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give starting Thursday, June 13, after shooting 69-70—139 on the same course Tuesday and Wednesday to earn a three-stroke victory at the SHIPPEN event. Oboh and her chosen partner will also compete in the Dow Championship starting Thursday, June 27, in Midland, Michigan.
THE JOHN SHIPPEN Women’s Invitational is a series of competitions created to provide playing opportunities on the LPGA Tour and PGA TOUR for the nation’s top Black amateur and professional women and men golfers. The series includes THE JOHN SHIPPEN Cognizant Cup, THE JOHN SHIPPEN Women’s Invitational and THE JOHN SHIPPEN Men’s Invitational. The events are named after John Shippen, Jr., who was both the first American-born golf professional and the country’s first Black golf professional.
“I’m looking forward to the opportunity to compete in the LPGA and get one step closer to becoming a full member,” Oboh said. “We don’t have almost any Black professional female golfers on the top stage. It is really important to showcase ourselves here at an LPGA host venue. THE JOHN SHIPPEN has gotten bigger and bigger every year. Now with the addition of prize money, it’s just a great opportunity as a tournament along with its exemptions.”
For the first time since its 2021 debut, THE JOHN SHIPPEN Women’s Invitational features prize purses for all three of its 2024 events. A $60,000 total purse will be distributed across three events: THE JOHN SHIPPEN Cognizant Cup, THE JOHN SHIPPEN Women’s Invitational and THE JOHN SHIPPEN Men’s Invitational.
Oboh played steady golf throughout her second round, going bogey-free until the final hole. She birdied the first, fourth and 17th holes, giving her just enough cushion over her competitors. Texas natives Lakareber Abe (142) and Anita Uwadia (144) placed second and tied for third respectively, while former THE JOHN SHIPPEN Cognizant Cup champion Ashley Shaw (144) shared the second runner position with Uwadia.
Intersport, a leading Chicago-based sports marketing and media agency, partnered with Woods & Watts Effect in 2021 to create THE JOHN SHIPPEN – a series of competitions created to provide playing opportunities on the LPGA Tour and PGA TOUR for the nation’s top Black women and men golfers. THE JOHN SHIPPEN Sports Business Summit will also be held for the fourth year to create awareness about employment opportunities within the business of sports.
THE JOHN SHIPPEN was created to identify historical barriers, expand Black representation in golf, and address the lack of Black representation in business and leadership roles within the golf and larger sports industry for people of color.
Since 2021, 90 of the nation’s best Black men and women golfers have competed in THE JOHN SHIPPEN. THE JOHN SHIPPEN has awarded 16 playing opportunities on the PGA TOUR and LPGA Tour, and donated $340,000 to local charities, scholarships and fellowships. SHIPPEN alumni continue to see success beyond the National Invitational through player-earned memberships on the PGA TOUR Champions, PGA TOUR Americas and Ladies European Tours.
Next up is the 36-hole JOHN SHIPPEN Men’s Invitational on June 22-23 at Detroit Golf Club.
For updated information on THE JOHN SHIPPEN, please visit www.TheJohnShippen.com and follow us on Facebook and Instagram (@TheJohnShippen) and Twitter (@TheJShippen). For information about sponsorship opportunities or how to get involved, please email us at THEJOHNSHIPPEN@intersportnet.com.
