The LPGA-owned Symetra Tour has never been stronger, and its 2019 schedule reflects the massive growth the developmental circuit has experienced in the last half-dozen years.
The 2019 Symetra Tour schedule has 24 events, which is the most on the docket since 1988. More important, the Symetra Tour is playing for a record total of $4 million in prize money. The total season purse is up 27 percent from last season, and the total purse has increased 150 percent since 2013.
The Symetra Tour has more than taken over from the Ladies European Tour for its place on the ladder of the world's most important women's pro golf tours. Behind the Korean LPGA, perhaps it is the third-biggest women's tour in the world.
The schedule features the first event with a $300,000 purse, and six events on the schedule feature a purse of at least $200,000. There are four new events on the schedule, including events at the Opelika Course on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail in Alabama with a $300,000 purse, and the SkyiGolf Championship played in North Port, Fla., for a $250,000 purse -- equaling the previous high mark in Symetra Tour purses.
The Symetra Tour announced the Forsyth Classic in Decatur, Ill., which has been on the schedule for 35 of the tour's 39 years, will be played for the final time in 2019. The Symetra Tour will be hosting special events in gratitude for the tournament's long run.
2019 Symetra Tour schedule
- March 7-10 -- SkyiGolf Championship -- Charlotte Harbor National Golf Club, North Port, Fla. -- $250,000
- March 15-17 -- Florida's Natural Charity Classic -- Country Club of Winter Haven, Winter Haven, Fla. -- $125,000
- March 29-31 -- IOA Championship -- Morongo Golf Club at Tukwet Canyon, Beaumont, Calif. -- $125,000
- April 5-7 -- Windsor Golf Classic -- Windsor Golf Club, Windsor, Calif. -- $150,000
- April 26-28 -- Murphy USA El Dorado Shootout -- Mystic Creek Golf Club, El Dorado, Ark. -- $150,000
- May 9-11 -- IOA Invitational -- Atlanta National Golf Club, Milton, Ga. -- $150,000
- May 15-17 -- Symetra Classic -- River Run Country Club, Davidson, N.C. -- $175,000
- May 23-26 -- RTJ Trail Tournament -- Lake Course at Grand National, Auburn, Ala. -- $300,000
- May 31-June 2 -- Valley Forge Invitational -- Raven's Claw Golf Club, Pottstown, Pa. -- $125,000
- June 7-9 -- Four Winds Invitational -- Blackthorn Golf Club, South Bend, Ind. -- $150,000
- June 14-16 -- The Forsyth Classic -- Hickory Point Golf Course, Decatur, Ill. -- TBA --
- June 21-23 -- Island Resort Championship -- Sweetgrass Golf Club, Harris, Miss. -- $200,000
- June 28-30 -- Prasco Charity Championship -- TPC River's Bend, Cincinnati, Ohio -- $125,000
- July 11-13 -- Donald Ross Classic at French Lick Resort -- French Lick Resort (Ross Course), French Lick, Ind. -- $225,000
- July 18-21 -- Danielle Downey Credit Union Classic -- Brook Lea Country Club, Rochester, N.Y. -- $150,000
- July 26-28 -- TBA -- TBA -- $125,000
- Aug. 2-4 -- Janesville Golf Classic -- Janesville Country Club, Janesville, Wis. -- $150,000
- Aug. 9-11 -- PHC Classic -- Brown Deer Park Golf Course, Milwaukee, Wis. -- $125,000
- Aug. 16-18 -- FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship -- Battle Creek Country Club, Battle Creek, Mich. -- $125,000
- Aug. 29-Sept. 1 -- Sioux Falls GreatLife Championship -- Willow Run Golf Club, Sioux Falls, S.D. -- $210,000
- Sept. 6-8 -- Garden City Chartiy Classic at Buffalo Dunes -- Buffalo Dunes Golf Club, Garden City, Kan. -- $150,000
- Sept. 20-22 -- Guardian Championship -- Capitol Hill Golf Club, Prattville, Ala. -- TBD --
- Sept. 27-29 -- IOA Golf Classic -- Alaqua Country Club, Longwood, Fla. -- $150,000
- Oct. 3-6 -- Symetra Tour Championship -- LPGA International (Jones Course), Daytona Beach, Fla. -- $225,000
