UC Irvine tournament winner to compete in LPGA event

The path to the LPGA?

Apparently one route is through UC Irvine.

Irvine women’s golf program will host an invitational Feb. 23-25, with the winner getting sponsor exemption into the 2013 Kia Classic. The UC Irvine Invitational, sponsored by Kia, is the only is the only tournament in the nation where the winner advances to a LPGA event.

Irvine, Brigham Young, Gonzaga, Idaho, Long Beach State, Montana, North Dakota State, Northern Colorado, Portland State, Sacramento State, San Diego State, Santa Clara and UC Riverside will compete at the Santa Ana Country Club. There also will be seven individuals in the tournament.

The Kia Classic is March 18-24 at Aviara Golf Club in Carlsbad.

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