On the back of her top-five finish at the Women’s Australian Open at Victoria Golf Club in December, Sydneysider Grace Kim has confirmed her place in the field for the TPS Victoria tournament at Rosebud Country Club starting on January 26.

Victory at the IOA Golf Classic in May was the foundation for Kim to earn her LPGA Tour card for 2023, finishing fifth on the secondary Epson Tour Order of Merit.

Joining Kim (pictured above) at Rosebud will be second-year LPGA Tour star Stephanie Kyriacou and Australian great Karrie Webb.

Webb is also locked in to play the Vic Open from February 9 to 12, adding significant star power to the commencement of the season.

“Karrie has been a cornerstone of our tour for more than 20 years so we are thrilled that Aussie golf fans will once again get to see her play on home soil,” WPGA Tour CEO, Karen Lunn, said.

“It is also extremely exciting to have both Grace and Steph confirmed to play TPS Victoria to kick off this year’s Webex Players Series.

“Grace and Steph are just starting out on what I am sure will be wonderful careers and I’ve got no doubt they’d both like to start their years with a strong showing at Rosebud.”

Karrie Webb has added the TPS Victoria at Rosebud to her Vic Open appearance. PHOTO: Getty Images.

The release of an 11-tournament schedule for the WPGA Tour is getting back towards pre-pandemic levels.

Four of the events are Webex Players Series tournaments at Rosebud, Cobram-Barooga, Bonnie Doon in Sydney and Cypress Lakes Resort in the Hunter Valley.

With a focus on equality for all, the Webex Players Series showcases the increased alignment between the PGA of Australia and the WPGA Tour, designed to provide playing opportunities for both men and women professionals who compete in the same field for the same prize purse and the same trophy and who are joined by outstanding juniors for the final two rounds.

It is all designed to provide the stars of tomorrow with the foundation to forge long and prosperous careers in the game.

Steph Kyriacou will start her 2023 season playing at home. PHOTO: Getty Images.

Kyriacou was an amateur when she claimed the Australian Women’s Classic at Bonville Golf Resort in February 2020, providing the platform to take her game to the Ladies European Tour and then the LPGA Tour in 2022.

“It’s hard to imagine exactly where I’d be right now without that win at Bonville a couple of years ago,” said Kyriacou, currently ranked No.96 in the world and a top-10 finisher at the Women’s Australian Open.

“Playing professional events as an amateur was crucial in my development and I’m sure we’ll see a few girls step up and make names for themselves during the season.

“It’s great to see so many events on the schedule for the girls to further advance their golf and I’m looking forward to returning to Rosebud to start my 2023 season.”

Fresh from obtaining her Ladies European Tour card at Qualifying School, West Australian Kirsten Rudgeley is expected to feature in a host of WPGA Tour events along with Sarah-Jane Smith, Karis Davidson and Cassie Porter.

The 2023 WPGA Tour of Australasia schedule will begin with a two-round qualifying tournament at Coolangatta and Tweed Heads Golf Club on Monday, January 16.

“It’s no secret that the past couple of years have been challenging but we’re now getting back to a schedule that provides our players with plenty of tournament-playing opportunities,” Lunn added.

“What we’re particularly excited by is the diversity of the tournaments our women will be part of.

“Fans will see them play alongside the men at the Vic Open and during the Webex Players Series and then stand-alone WPGA Tour events in Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland.”

The 2023 WPGA TOUR Schedule
January 16-17         Qualifying Tournament (Coolangatta & Tweed Heads GC)
January 20-22         Melbourne International (Latrobe GC)                   $50,000
January 26-29         TPS Victoria (Rosebud CC)                                  $200,000
February 2-5           TPS Murray River (Cobram-Barooga CC)             $200,000
February 9-12         Vic Open (13th Beach Resort)                               $420,000
February 16-19       TPS Sydney (Bonnie Doon GC)                            $200,000
February 23-26       TPS Hunter Valley (Cypress Lakes GC)                $200,000
March 7                   Moss Vale GC Pro-am (Moss Vale GC)                $20,000
March 9-10              Wagga Country Club Pro-am (Wagga CC)           $50,000
March 13                 Southport GC Pro-am (Southport GC)                  $20,000 (min)
March 24-26            Women’s NSW Open (Tuncurry GC)                    $150,000
March 31-April 2      Australian Women’s Classic (Bonville Resort)      $150,000