Westlake's Danielle Kang commits to playing in LPGA event at The Saticoy Club
Danielle Kang is coming home.
The LPGA has named the Westlake High graduate as one of the early commits for the LPGA Mediheal Championship, which will take place next month at The Saticoy Club in Somis.
The $1.8 million event, which arrives locally Oct. 3-9, is the first LPGA tournament to be hosted in Ventura County in more than two decades.
The six-time LPGA winner is familiar with the course from her time spent playing junior events locally.
It is the first professional event for The Saticoy Club, which lists a testimonial from Kang on its website.
“Saticoy has such a friendly environment that I just love going out there!” Kang is quoted as saying. “All the members are great! The greens are always in top condition and the course itself is so fun to play you never get sick of it!”
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Kang finished tied for fifth in the event in 2021, when it hosted by the Lake Merced Country Club in Daly City.
The former Pepperdine University star has played two events since returning to the tour after taking nearly three months off to treat a medical condition on her spine.
Kang shot a 10-under 274 to finish tied for 17th at the CP Women’s Open last month at the Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club.
She shot a 6-under 278 to finish tied for 49th last week at the Dana Open in Ohio.
Before Kang took the course in Ottawa, she told reporters she had been through “a tough few months.”
"I've been gone for a while, but I'm really excited to be back," Kang said. "I know that I really appreciate all the patience that everyone has shown me.
"I took some time to properly rehab and address the issue that I've been playing through, and of course I never want to be away from the LPGA Tour, as anyone that knows me knows, I'm a competitor, so always out here no matter what happens."
"However, this was the best thing to do physically and mentally for me to play through, and I'm super thankful for my medical team and everybody that worked with me.”
Matilda Castren, the event’s reigning champion, Sei Young Kim, who won the event in 2019, and Paula Creamer, the 2010 U.S. Women’s Open champion, were also among the early commits announced Thursday.
“We look forward to welcoming the world’s best players back to Southern California,” tournament director David Tucker said in a news release. “We will have a tremendous international field for our world-class championship, taking place at one of the top-rated courses in California.”
Several golfers with Southern California ties were also announced as early commitments, including Jenny Coleman, Alison Lee, Andrea Lee, Ryann O’Toole, Lizette Sales, Lilia Vu and Angel Yin.
O’Toole was born in Agoura Hills before attending San Clemente High.
Players have until Sept. 28 to commit to the tournament.
Tickets sales and volunteer registration are open at MEDIHEALChamp.com.
Daily general admission is $25. Weekly general admission is $40. Premium hospitality in the Stone Pine Club, an open-air deck above the ninth and 18th greens, are $275 (daily) and $1,000 (weekly).
All military and first responders are eligible to receive complimentary admission. Children are admitted free with a ticketed adult.
Joe Curley is a staff reporter for The Star. He can be reached at joe.curley@vcstar.com. Follow him @vcsjoecurley on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Kang commits to playing in LPGA event at The Saticoy Club next month
