Parks cards final round 3-under-par 69, earns exemptions into the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give and the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational
GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan – Sadena Parks of Hollywood, Florida shot a final round three-under-par 69 Thursday to take home the women’s division of The John Shippen National Golf Invitational presented by Rocket Mortgage at Blythefield Country Club.
Parks earned an exemption into the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give (June 16–19) in Grand Rapids, Michigan, as well as an exemption into the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational (July 13–16) in Midland, Michigan. She selected Anita Uwadia, analumna of THE JOHN SHIPPENfrom Fort Worth, Texas, to compete alongside in the Dow GLBI, which is a two-player team event.
“This is the first win for me for 2022. THE JOHN SHIPPEN has been great to me, so to give them a win is something magical,” Parks said. “It means a lot.”
Parks carded a first round one-over-par 73 and started the final round four shots back of first round leader Uwadia. Parks used four final round birdies, including three on the final nine holes, to propel her to a three-under-par 69 and the tournament title. Her 36-hole total of 142 was two strokes better than Lakarerber Abe and Georgia Oboh, who tied for second. Uwadia was fourth, shooting 69-77—-146.
Parks said she is looking forward to the opportunity to play as a sponsor exemption in the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give and Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational.,
“(I’m excited for) all of it,” she said. “I want to keep it simple – shot by shot, hole by hole.”
The John Shippen, designed to showcase Black amateur and professional golfers, is named after John Shippen, Jr., who was the first American-born golf professional and also the country’s first Black golf professional. Shippen was bestowed PGA of America membership posthumously in 2009.
Later this summer, The John Shippen National Golf Invitational presented by Rocket Mortgage will feature the nation’s top Black men competing in a 36-hole stroke play competition at Detroit Golf Club July 22–24. The winner will once again receive an exemption into the PGA TOUR’s Rocket Mortgage Classic (July 28-31).
