SOUTH BEND — The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians and Four Winds Casinos announced the names of two players selected to be this year’s sponsor exemptions for the Four Winds Invitational, which takes place Friday through Sunday at Blackthorn Golf Club in South Bend.

The Four Winds Invitational is part of the Symetra Tour — Road to the LPGA.

Kelly Grassel, Chesterton, Indiana, and Brooke Ferrell, Edgerton, Wisconsin, earned a spot to play in this year’s tournament. Sponsor exemptions are used to give amateurs and up-and-coming players the opportunity to play in tournaments and compete against professionals. To qualify for consideration, players must have a 4 handicap or better.

Grassel is a member of the University of Florida golf team and is a three-time U.S. Women’s Amateur Qualifier and two-time match play qualifier. In high school, she was a two-time Indiana State Champion and earned the USGA-AJGA Presidents Award. She currently has a +5.3 handicap (as of December 2016).

Ferrell is a recent graduate of the University of Wisconsin. While a member of the Badger golf team, she set records for both the lowest single season scoring average (72.25) and the lowest career scoring average (74.0). She also made First-Team All Big Ten in her junior and senior years. Her older sister, Allyssa Ferrell, has competed on the Symetra Tour since 2015.

“I was excited to learn I was granted a sponsor exemption into the Four Winds Invitational. The energy and enthusiasm around the tournament are very special,” Ferrell said. “I’m so grateful for the opportunity and can’t wait to compete at this amazing golf course.”

“The players selected to be this year’s sponsor exemptions are outstanding examples of the caliber of skill spectators can expect to see at the Four Winds Invitational,” said Tim Firestone, general manager of Blackthorn Golf Club. “These two golfers are driven, focused and more than qualified to compete with the professionals who’ll be here. I’m looking forward to watching them next week.”

Five things to know:

• The Four Winds Invitational is the ninth tournament on the Symetra Tour schedule, and offers a purse of $150,000 with a winner’s payout of $22,500.
• There are 144 players in the field from the United States and 28 different countries around the globe.
• There are two former Notre Dame golfers in the field — Becca Huffer (2008-2012) and Lindsey Weaver (2013).
• Nine of the top 10 on the Volvik Race for the Card money list are in the field including No. 1 Nanna Koerstz Madsen, who ranks No. 85 in the world according to the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings.
• In the first five years of the Four Winds Invitational, $349,000 has been donated to Memorial Children’s Hospital. Proceeds from the 2017 Four Winds Invitational will once again benefit Memorial Children’s Hospital.