Allison Emrey during the second round of the Symetra Tour’s 2017 season ©2017 Scott Miller

Feb. 9. Women’s professional golf returns to the Charlotte area later this year when the Symetra Classic is held at River Run Country Club. The 54-hole event will be played May 13-17, 2019.

This will be the second year the event is held at River Run. The tournament was held at Raintree Country Club in Charlotte from 2012–2016 and moved to Atlanta National Golf Club in 2017.

“We are extremely excited to return to River Run and build on the success of last year’s event,” said Mike Nichols, chief business officer of the Symetra Tour. “The greater Charlotte area has been very supportive of professional golf and we’re excited to return to the region.”

The event will give a boost to the local economy in terms of dinners out and overnight stays for those who follow the tour. In many cases the contestants themselves are put up by members of local clubs.

The Symetra Tour is known as “the Road to the LPGA,” and since 1999 it has been designated as the LPGA’s Official Qualifying Tour. The Tour prepares the world’s best young women professional golfers for a successful career on the LPGA Tour.

Last year’s Symetra Classic champion, Jenny Haglund of Sweden, finished 12 on the season ending money list and earned full time status on the LPGA.

“River Run is excited to build on the success of our first year and welcome the future stars of the LPGA and Symetra Financial,” said Slade Goldstein, president of River Run Country Club. “Our members and our community are looking forward to once again witnessing these amazing professionals test their abilities on our golf course.”

Allison Emrey (pictured) is from Charlotte. She began playing golf at five years old.

Visit www.symetraclassic.com for more information about sponsorship, playing in the Pro-Am, volunteering and ticket sales.