Love

Though still considerably less than what their PGA counterparts enjoy, the total prize money offered at LPGA events has seen a significant increase over the past few years.

A tournament that typifies this dramatic change is the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, set to finish on Sunday at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minnesota.

When this same championship was held at Hazeltine a mere seven years ago, the total purse was just $3.85 million. This week, title sponsor KPMG has raised the total purse in the event to an amazing total of $13 million, making it the largest prize total in the history of women’s golf.

A decade ago, the total prize money for the entire LPGA season was just $63 million. This year, the total has risen to more than $134 million.

That’s great news for women’s golf. And well-deserved for the world-class athletes who compete on the LPGA Tour on a weekly basis.

The best players in the game will be at Hazeltine this weekend, vying for the 2026 Women’s PGA Championship title and a first-place check of $1.95 million.

American Nelly Korda will be one of those on hand, competing to win her third straight major championship.

Down River

Anthony DeGol and Sean Brannan defended their title from last year by capturing the 2026 Down River Invitational trophy last weekend in Everett.

DeGol and Brannan scored rounds of 66 and 63 to finish with a 36-hole total of 15-under par, four shots clear of three tea — Andrew Ferguson and Shaun Foor, AJ Corle and Brady Smith and Brady Goodling and Trey Heffelfinger.

I had the opportunity to play in the tournament and was thoroughly impressed by the condition of the course. The fairways, greens and tees were all in great shape, which made the entire weekend an enjoyable experience.

Raystown Resort

It’s been a little more than a year since Huntingdon’s Casey McGraw purchased the old Standing Stone golf course, renaming the club “Raystown Golf Resort.”

McGraw has done an amazing job of upgrading the clubhouse facilities along with the golf course itself. The entire facility is in nice condition and worth the trip to see it in person.

With that said, the club has recently announced they will be hosting a two-ball invitational tournament scheduled for mid-July (Standing Stone held a popular two-ball event during this same timeframe in years past).

The first annual Raystown Golf Resort Invitational tournament is scheduled for 36 holes of stroke play over Saturday and Sunday, July 18-19 (with a practice round and skins game on Friday).

More junior golf

Along with the popular iRN junior golf events conducted in our area, the Ridge Runner junior golf tour also allows young golfers a place to compete and learn the game.

Upcoming events on the Ridge Runner tour include Windber CC (July 9), Summit CC (July 13), Scotch Valley CC (July 16), Philipsburg Elks GC (July 23), Park Hills CC (July 28) and Iron Masters CC (Aug. 4).

Entry can be made directly to each club’s pro shop, no more than two weeks in advance.

90 years ago

During the last week of June in 1936, Tyrone Golf Club head pro Walter Work set a new course record at the Tyrone links, playing two times around the nine-hole course.

Work scored six birdies and 12 pars en route to an 18-hole score of 6-under, 66. His score bettered the previous record of 69 set by assistant pro Red Francis.

Ken Love covers local golf for the Mirror. He can be reached at GLTR777@atlanticbb.net.