Lewis earns exemption to 2007 Kraft Nabisco Championship

FAYETTEVILLE — University of Arkansas junior golfer Stacy Lewis earned an exemption to play in the 2007 Kraft Nabisco Championship March 26-April 1 in Rancho Mirage, Calif. The event takes place at the Dinah Shore Tournament Course at Mission Hills Country Club. This is Lewis’ second LPGA event. She participated in the Owens Corning Jamie Farr Classic in Ohio in the summer of 2006. "I’m very excited to get the invitation," said Lewis. "The tournament has a history of giving several spots to amateurs and it’s a great opportunity to play against the best in the world. This tournament is one of the majors for the LPGA, so the field is a little smaller and more difficult to get in." Lewis’ career with the Lady Razorbacks has been record-setting. The Woodlands, Texas, native holds six of the eight single-season and career records and has been a part of back-to-back NCAA Championship appearances with the Lady Razorbacks. A two-time National Golf Coaches Association for Women all-American, Lewis was named the Golf World Amateur of the Year for 2006 after spending much of her summer as the top-ranked player in the country. She is a two-time SEC first-team selection and was the 2005 SEC Championship medalist setting a course record and then school record with a final round 67. Lewis bettered that round with a course-record 66 in the final round of the 2006 NCAA Championship, a mark that stands as the Arkansas school record. Lewis’ amateur career has taken her coast-to-coast as well as across oceans. The summer of 2006 saw Lewis win the 11th World University Games individual title leading the United States to the team title. She also reached the semifinals of the U.S. Women’s Amateur and had several top finishes at other amateur events. Although Lewis is well-traveled in the golf world, she has not faced this particular course yet. "I have not played the course," she said. "Shauna (Estes, Arkansas’ assistant golf coach) has played it several times and the first stage of LPGA qualifying school is held there. I’ve only seen the course on TV, but I will be able to get to the tournament a couple days early and be able to play a couple practice rounds." Lewis’ future plans include trying her hand as a professional golfer and this event should provide a good measuring stick for the junior. "I’m excited to be able to see how my game compares to the pros," Lewis said. "It’s very helpful in showing the areas that I need to improve if I want to play successfully on the tour one day. The LPGA event I played in last summer gave me a lot of confidence and also showed where my game needed to improve, so I’m hoping this event will do the same. " The Lady Razorbacks are in the midst of their spring season traveling to the Susie Maxwell Berning Classic in Norman, Okla., April 8-9. Arkansas is just coming off the Liz Murphey Collegiate Classic with Lewis squeezing in the Kraft Nabisco Challenge between collegiate events. For more information about Lewis and Arkansas golf, please log on to LADYBACKS.COM.