In a newly established partnership between Mizuno and the ECWPGT, the Japanese manufacturer will serve as title sponsor of the Mizuno Cali Q-School Prep Series this August, a two-event tournament series designed to give players a preview on what they’ll face the following week at Stage One of LPGA Q School.
The first event will be played at the Arnold Palmer Course at Mission Hills CC and second played on Marriott’s Shadow Ridge course at Palm Desert.
“We are delighted to partner with the East Coast Women’s Professional Golf Tour,” said Lauren Smith, Player Development Rep from Mizuno. “It’s an ideal fit as both organizations have a strong desire to help aspiring players to develop and progress through the professional ranks to the top of the game. Our equipment is designed for all golfers and our fitting process is very much by ability rather than by gender and we want to use as many routes as possible to get that message across. Partnering with the ECWPGT is one of those routes.”
“This is a great opportunity for our players to have access to the resources Mizuno can provide,” said Mark Berman, operator of the ECWPGT. He added, “It is critically important for our players to know they have the support of a big-league brand, and that they are recognized as the next LPGA Tour stars in someone’s eyes other than their own. While Mizuno’s investment allows us to deepen the purse, it is an investment in the future of women in the game that it signals the most. We’re proud to have them aboard and pleased we can give Mizuno a platform to recognize and celebrate the depth of talent that will be at this event.”
This is the latest in a series of initiatives by Mizuno designed to develop and support rising star golfing talent. Mizuno is an official partner of the American Junior Golf Association through 2024 and a presenting sponsor of the Southeastern Junior Golf Tour. In Europe, The Mizuno Next Gen Tour features 25 UK-based events for aspiring professionals and amateurs.
Mizuno is committed to the women’s game, working closely with the LPGA Tour. Mizuno has had a presence at multiple LPGA events since 2021 with the equipment truck travelling to LPGA tour events – to highlight its gender-neutral Swing DNA club fitting process. Also, US Solheim Cup captain Stacy Lewis, LPGA Tour players Olivia Cowan and Eun-Hee Ji plus JLPGA star Mao Saigo are part of Team Mizuno.
The objective of the East Coast Women’s Professional Golf Tour (ECWPGT) is to create playing opportunities for women aspiring to the LPGA Tour, whether she’s a current playing professional, a recent college grad or a player still in college. The Tour offers strong and competitive fields and events over championship courses in geographically desirable and accessible destinations. Tournaments are grouped together to help players save on travel costs, the dominant prohibitive factor in deciding on a playing career. It’s a developmental circuit to help players prepare for the journey ahead – Q School, Epson Tour and life on the road as a playing professional on the LPGA Tour.
The two events in the Prep Series that Mizuno is sponsoring specifically target LPGA Tour Q-school players. The prep events give players a chance to fine-tune their games on two of the courses that will be featured in Stage 1 of Q-School which will be played from August 18-21.
The Mizuno Cali Q-School Prep Series #1 played over the Arnold Palmer Course at Mission Hills CC will take place on August 8-9. The deadline for entry is midnight on July 18 and the entry fee is $549. There’s a guaranteed purse of $10,000 with a separate bonus purse for combined low Q-School Prep series scoring.
The Mizuno Cali Q-School Prep Series #2 played at Marriott’s Shadow Ridge at Palm Desert also carries a guaranteed purse of $10,000 with the separate bonus purse for combined scoring carried over from Prep Series #1. The event gives entrants a chance to play Shadow Ridge twice, the week before LPGA Tour Q-School Stage 1. Entry fee is $549 and the deadline is midnight on July 26. Both the events offer lunch served daily. Players who enter both events receive $100 discount.
For further information on Mizuno’s full range of golf equipment visit: Mizunogolf.com.
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