Out of the Rough: ShopRite LPGA powered by Wakefern (2026)

The LPGA Tour remains on the east coast, moving from Ohio to New Jersey for this week’s ShopRite LPGA powered by Wakefern.

This is one of the longest standing events on the LPGA schedule, first being played in 1986. It has been played at the Bay Course at the Seaview Golf Resort since 1998.

Despite its longevity, the event was lost from the LPGA schedule between 2006 and 2010. 

It was founded as the Atlantic City LPGA Classic in 1986. It has played under names including the Atlantic City Classic, ShopRite LPGA Classic and the ShopRite LPGA Classic Presented by Acer. 

Wakefern, a New Jersey based supermarket cooperative, has taken over title sponsorship this season. Wakefern also owns ShopRite.

The Field

Being the final event prior to the U.S. Women’s Open presented by Ally in two weeks time, many of the world’s best will sit idle this week.

Charley Hull (No. 7,) comes in as the highest ranked golfer within the Rolex Women’s World Rankings to be playing this week.

She’ll be joined by Hye-Jin Choi (No. 15,) Aki Iwai (No. 18,) Chizzy Iwai (No. 21) and Jennifer Kupcho (No. 24) as those ranked within the top-25 of the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings to be teeing it up this week.

Kupcho comes in as the defending champion as she birdied three-of-the-last-five holes, including 18, to hold off Ilhee Lee a season ago.

Other former winners of this event teeing it up this week include Linnea Strom (2024,) Ashleigh Buhai (2023,) Brooke Henderson (2022,) Celine Boutier (2021,) Annie Park (2018,) Anna Nordqvist (2015 & 2016) and Brittany Lincicome (2011.)

The Course

The Bay Course at Seaview Golf Resort in Galloway, New Jersey is a classic 1914 Donald Ross design.

It plays as a par-71 at 6,263 yards.

The venue is known for its Scottish links feel, sweeping marsh views and the nearby Atlantic City backdrop.

As the distance on the scorecard may suggest, this is a positional, strategy-based golf course. It requires strategic shot-making over pure distance and power.

Off-the-tee, the tight fairways are lined by tall fescue, to go along with the Scottish links influence.

Another line of defense this course offers are the deep pot bunkers that will challenge even the world’ best sand players.

From there, golfers will play to famously small and undulating greens. Holding the greens will be tough so a complete short game will be required this week.

In all, this is a short course that requires patience, strategy and a complete game to contend at.

The Weather

As of the time of writing this, Thursday is calling for just a ten-percent chance of precipitation. Friday is calling for a 20-percent chance, Saturday a 15-percent chance and Sunday a 20-percent chance. Temperatures will begin the week at the highest on Thursday at 78-degrees before dropping to 76-degrees on Friday. From there, temperatures will fall to 72-degrees on Saturday before returning to 74-degrees on Sunday. Winds will be the lowest on Thursday at nine miles-per-hour before jumping to ten miles-per-four on Friday and 12 miles-per-hour across both days of the weekend.

Key Stats

• Strokes Gained: Approach (SG: APP)

• Driving Accuracy Percentage

• Strokes Gained: Putting (SG: PUTT)

• Putting average per Greens in Regulation Percentage

• Strokes Gained: Around the Green (SG: ATG)

• Ball Striking

• Scrambling

• Sand Saves Percentage

• Bogey Avoidance

• Par-4 Average Scoring

Betting Card

Celine Boutier (+1850)

Boutier has been a golfer I’ve been tailing dating back to last year. A golfer of this level could not have been kept down for much longer. Courtier has returned to form, having not missed a cut all season long. She placed 16th at the Kroger Queen City Championship, ninth at the Mizuho Americas Open, 42nd at the Riviera Maya Open at Mayakoba, 21st at The Chevron Championship and 18th at the JM Eagle LA Championship. She’s been trending in the right direction for a long time and it’s time for her to secure her seventh career title. She is currently tenth on Tour in Bogey avoidance, 21st in both scrambling and sand saves percentage, 38th in SG: APP, 42nd in SG: PUTT, 47th in driving accuracy, 59th in SG: ATG, 72nd in putts per GIR, 80th in ball striking and 85th in par-four average scoring. She last played this event in 2022 where she placed ninth. She also won here in 2021. 

Cassie Porter (+4500)

Porter is currently 23rd on Tour in par-four average scoring, 24th in putts per GIR, 25th in SG: PUTT, 29th in bogey avoidance, 36th in ball striking, 38th in sand saves percentage, 61st in scrambling, 70th in SG: ATG, 80th in driving accuracy percentage and 83rd in SG: APP. Porter has missed one cut all season long, dating back to the JM Eagle LA Championship. Since then she’s placed 34th at The Chevron Championship, 45th at the Mizuho Americas and 30th at the Kroger Queen City Championship. Her season has been highlighted by a fifth placed finish at the Fortinet Founders Cup and a 13th place finish at the Ford Championship presented by Wild Horse Pass. She will be making her tournament debut this week. 

Jodi Ewart Shadoff (+7300)

I know Shadoff hasn’t won on the LPGA Tour since 2022, but I honestly believe this event is wide open. This is a depleted field meaning it’s up for anyone’s grabs. Shadoff placed 54th at the Kroger Queen City Championship but was sixth at the Riviera Maya Open at Mayakoba. On the season she also placed 28th at the Aramco Championship and 19th at the Fortinet Founders Cup. She does have some great course history over the past five seasons. She missed the cut a season ago, although on the number. Prior to that she placed 12th in 2024, 30th in 2023, third in 2022 and seventh in 2021. Shadoff is currently 15th on Tour in sand saves percentage, 29th in SG: APP, 45th in putts per GIR, 48th in driving accuracy percentage, 51st in ball striking, 54th in bogey avoidance, 66th in par-four average scoring, 68th in scrambling, 99th in SG: ATG and 102nd in SG: PUTT. 

Pornanong Phatlum (+11000)

When I say I believe this event is wide open, I mean it. Phatlum placed a season high 16th at the Kroger Queen City Championship. She also has finishes such as 24th at the Blue Bay LPGA, 36th at the Fortinet Founders Cup, 38th at the JM Eagle LA Championship and 42nd at the Honda LPGA Classic on her resume this season. She also has some decent course history here over the past five seasons. She placed 38th last year, 27th in 2024, missed the cut in 2023, placed 29th in 2022 and missed the cut in 2021. She is currently fourth on Tour in sand saves percentage, 18th in scrambling, 24th in putts per GIR, 34th in bogey avoidance, 37th in driving accuracy percentage, 44th in par-four average scoring, 65th in both SG: PUTT and ball striking, 81st in SG: ATG and 121st in SG: APP. Not a bad resume for someone in this price range.