The Tribune

BAHAMAS native Raquel Riley and LPGA players Kathleen Ekey and Paula Reto greeted more than 50 enthusiastic boys and girls for the annual RBC Kids Clinic on the driving range at the Ocean Club Golf Course yesterday.

The clinic is one of the pre-tournament highlights of the Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic that begins Thursday at the same venue.

Reto and Ekey, Pure Silk ambassadors, and Riley, who earned a sponsor invitation into the tournament after winning a 36-hole Bahamas Golf Federation qualifier, provided instruction answered questions and provided demonstrations to the kids in attendance.

Each of the junior participants received a hat and T-shirt from RBC and later collected the autographs of the three players.

“This is a great opportunity for youngsters here to get exposure to the players and also learn a little about how to play the game,” said tournament director Matt Truax. “I think they get more enjoyment out of the event when they have first-hand experience with the game and with the players they have a chance to watch. It was fun to see the interaction.

Riley, a former member of the national team, said she was pleased to introduce kids to the game in the same manner that she once was introduced to golf.

“This is how I started, and it just grew from there,” said 36-year-old Riley. “I was grateful for that opportunity, and now I am happy to try to help kids learn how to play a little bit. You can see they are having fun with it, and that’s what you hope for.”

The third annual Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic is the second of 33 events on the LPGA schedule. It offers a $1.3 million purse with $195,000 going to the winner.

Last year, Jessica Korda won her second career LPGA title with a one-stroke victory over Stacy Lewis. 

The 120-player field features six of the top 10 players in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Ranking.

Golf Channel will provide 10 hours of live coverage of the $1.3 million tournament beginning on Thursday, February 5 from 11:30am to 2:30pm EST.

Live second-round coverage on Friday also is 11:30am to 2:30pm, while live coverage of the final two rounds Saturday and Sunday will air 3-5 pm.

Admission is free for all spectators.