Redman ready for second installment of Minnesota LPGA Legends event

Former LPGA Tour star Michele Redman set to host her second Land O'Lakes Legends Classic in the greater Minneapolis area.

Michele Redman wants to grow the Legends of the LPGA and see more events added to the schedule. She took matters into her own hands last year by hosting the inaugural Land O’Lakes Legends Classic presented by The Meadows at Mystic Lake. Redman co-owns this event with Jim Lehman, president of Medalist Management and former president of the Minnesota Golf Association, and she couldn’t be more excited heading into year two.

“I’m passionate about senior women’s golf,” says Redman, a two-time LPGA Tour champion with four wins on the professional senior circuit now known as the Legends of the LPGA. “I think it’s the best entertainment value in professional golf.”

With names such as Nancy Lopez, Amy Alcott, Juli Inkster, Jan Stephenson and Hollis Stacy – all World Golf Hall of Famers who have combined for 142 wins on the LPGA Tour – committed to this year’s tournament field on August 13-14, Redman is definitely on to something for Minnesota area golf fans.

LPGA & World Golf Hall of Famer Nancy Lopez will return to take on The Meadows.

“There are more golfers per capita in Minnesota than any other state in the country,” notes Redman. “This event is an excellent fit for golf fans in the greater Minneapolis area, and it couldn’t be happening at a better venue.”

The Meadows at Mystic Lake, an award-winning 18-hole, par 72 public course located in Prior Lake just 25 minutes southwest of Minneapolis/St. Paul, offers a unique, challenging and scenic golf experience. Inkster finished 9 under par over two rounds in the 2021 event to capture the first Land O’Lakes Legends Classic title – and her seventh win on Legends of the LPGA. She edged runners-up Rosie Jones and Christa Johnson by a single stroke.

“Juli played great,” said Redman. “She was definitely on her game, and like a number of the Legends in the field, still competitive and still making great shots. The field is even stronger this year, and I’m looking forward to another exciting finish."

Following months of planning and leading the event management team, Redman will switch gears at the start of tournament week to join the tournament field and tee it up alongside her Legends peers. While it can be challenging to juggle organizing and playing in a Tour event, Redman is up to the task. “I feel good about it,” says Redman. “I wasn’t as nervous about playing as I thought I might be last year. Once the week started, I was able to defer questions to others and focus on my game."

Four-time Legends champion Michele Redman hosts and plays in the tournament.

Redman finished T8 in last year’s event with a pair of 70’s and will be looking to go lower come August. “I’ve been practicing quite a bit and feel really comfortable over the ball,” says Redman. “I’m working on fine-tuning my yardages with various clubs. We learned last year that it can be tricky at The Meadows with the wind, but I just love the course. It’s a great layout, and it’s in fantastic shape.”

The Land O’Lakes Legends Classic is a rare opportunity for area fans to see their lifelong favorites in professional women’s golf, and one that Redman, who played on the LPGA Tour for nearly 20 years, also appreciates. “I love reconnecting with my old friends on the Legends,” says Redman, “and of course, to still have a chance to compete at this level is something really special.”

Per Redman, if you are a golf fan in the area, here are 5 ready-made reasons to get a ticket to this year's Land O’Lakes Legends Classic:

1) Great venue. The Meadows is widely heralded as one of the best public golf courses in Minnesota.

2) You can make a day of it. With Legendary golf action, a casino and other entertainment on the Mystic Lake Resort property, you’ll have plenty to keep you occupied after parking the car for free! Plus, children age 17 and under accompanied by a ticketed adult are granted free admission into the golf tournament.

3) Incredible golf and shot-making. A field of 40 Legends of the LPGA is certain to produce some amazing shots on a challenging, scenic track; follow your favorite pairing or sit on a favorite hole and watch them all come through.

4) No ropes – get closer to the pros! Enjoy an up-close-and-personal view of every swing along with all the banter within earshot as the Legends take on The Meadows. Photo ops and autographs abound!

5) Pick up some valuable tips for your own golf game. Watch how the pros do it and put those observations into action in your next practice session!

Tickets are $25 per day or $40 for a two-day pass. Parking is free and adjacent to the golf course. Active and retired military and children 17 and under accompanied by a ticketed adult are granted free admission. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit LegendsClassicMN.com.

PHOTOS: Craig Stacey