• Webb prepares to defend Shoprite title

Karrie Webb. Photo: Getty
Karrie Webb returns the scene of one of her 2013 victories this week at the Shoprite LPGA Classic presented by ACER in Galloway, New Jersey.

The Stockton Seaview Hotel and Golf Club’s Bay Course, a par-71, 6,155-yard track, is the site for this year’s event, and players will be chomping at the bit to take on the challenging course. The 54-hole tournament features a $1.5 million purse.

Webb entered the final round at this event a year ago down five shots. But a blustery 25-30 mile per hour Sunday wind threw the tournament up for grabs, and Webb took advantage, firing one of the more impressive 68s you’ll ever see given the conditions.

Only 13 players that Sunday fired under-par rounds, and Webb’s 4-under-par 209 three-day total tied the highest score ever to win the event.

The 20-year tour veteran and seven-time major winner has already won twice this season at the ISPS HANDA Women’s Australian Open and the JTBC Founder’s Cup and is looking to become the first person ever to repeat at this event. The only multiple winners at the ShopRite Classic Presented by Acer are a trio of Hall of Famers - Betsy King, Juli Inkster and Annika Sorenstam.

Webb had never been in contention at this event before last year and her win snapped a two-year drought. She’s currently ranked No. 6 in the Rolex Rankings after Lexi Thompson passed her last week at the Airbus LPGA Classic Presented by JTBC.

Julia Boland, Stacey Keating, Katherine Kirk, Sarah-Jane Smith and Lindsey Wright are the other Australians in the field.

Smith finished in a tie for second at the Kingsmill Championship on the LPGA Tour in May.

the JTBC Founder’s Cup and is looking to become the firs

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