Former champion Vandermade to play in Four Winds Invitational

Published 8:14 am Thursday, June 16, 2016

Nicole Vandermade, the winner of the 2014 Four Winds Invitational, will be in the field when the LPGA Symetra Tour stops at Blackthorn Golf Club this weekend.

Vandermade, along with former Indiana golfer Elizabeth Tong were both added to the field for the fifth annual Four Winds Invitational.

For Vandermade, it will be her 2016 debut on the Symetra Tour.

Play begins Friday morning in the 10th stop of the Symetra Tour and the first leg of the Potawatomi Cup. The final round will be held Sunday at Blackthorn.

The 144-player field will be battling it out for a total purse of $150,000. The winner will pocket $22,500.

Former Notre Dame golfer Becca Huffer will be playing in her third Four Winds Invitational.

She missed the cut last year, but tied for 19th in the 2014 event.

“It’s always nice to come back and see familiar places,” said Huffer, who is also eager to visit Fiddler’s for some good Irish food and CJ’s for burgers.

“I’m staying with my former coach again so it’s just always nice to be here. I like the golf course and I hear it is in good shape again this year,” Huffer said. “When I’m in town, I love to check in with the team still and see how they are playing. All my teammates are gone now, but this place still brings back the memories.”