Established 2010 Par 72 Tour(s) LPGA Tour | Course(s) Aviara Golf Club Length 6,593 yards (6,029 m) | |
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Location Carlsbad, California, U.S. | ||
The Kia Classic is a women's professional golf tournament on the LPGA Tour. It debuted in 2010 at the La Costa Resort and Spa in Carlsbad, California. The tournament moved north for a year in 2011 to the Industry Hills Golf Club at Pacific Palms in the City of Industry in Los Angeles County. It returned to La Costa in 2012 and moved to Aviara Golf Club in Carlsbad for 2013.
The title sponsor of the tournament is Kia Motors, a South Korean-based automobile manufacturer.
The winner of the inaugural tournament was Hee Kyung Seo, a member of the LPGA of Korea Tour (KLPGA). She became the 19th non-LPGA member in LPGA Tour history to win an LPGA Tournament and the first player to win as a sponsor exemption since Jin Joo Hong won the KOLON-Hana Bank Championship in October 2006. With the win, Seo became immediately eligible for LPGA membership and was a rookie on the LPGA Tour in 2011.
In 2011, the event was decided by the final pairing on the final green. With both players tied at 15-under, Sandra Gal hit a wedge to within two feet (0.6 m) of the hole and Jiyai Shin was four feet (1.2 m) out. Gal made hers for birdie to win her first LPGA event by a stroke.