The JTBC Classic (officially the JTBC Classic Presented by Barbasol) was a women's professional golf tournament on the LPGA Tour, held in Carlsbad, California. The tournament was held at the Aviara Golf Club.
History
The winner of the inaugural tournament was Hee Kyung Seo, a member of the LPGA of Korea Tour (KLPGA). She became the 19th non-LPGA member in LPGA Tour history to win an LPGA Tournament and the first to win as a sponsor exemption since Jin Joo Hong won the KOLON-Hana Bank Championship in South Korea in October 2006.[1] With the win, Seo became immediately eligible for LPGA membership and was a rookie on the LPGA Tour in 2011.
In 2011, the event was decided by the final pairing on the final green. With both players tied at 15-under, Sandra Gal hit a wedge to within two feet (0.6 m) of the hole and Jiyai Shin was four feet (1.2 m) out. Gal made hers for birdie to win her first LPGA event by a stroke.
The event was formerly named the Kia Classic. In 2022, the title sponsor of the tournament changed to JTBC (Joongang Tongyang Broadcasting Company), a South Korean nationwide pay television network.
