Suzann Pettersen: Golf & Charity at Oslo

Others were resting last weekend, getting ready for The Evian Championship, or playing in the Helsingborg Open. Nowegian Suzann Pettersen talked a few of her closest friends into helping her raise money for the Right to Play Foundation, a charity that supports junior golf.

Jun. 10, 2012; Pittsford, NY, USA; Suzann Pettersen hits on the eighth hole from the fairway during the final round of the Wegmans LPGA championship at the Locust Hill Country Club. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports /

The Suzann Pro Challenge involved an international, high-powered lineup of 4 two-player teams representing 4 continents. Yani Tseng and Ai Miyazato formed Team Asia, Beatriz Recari and Sandra Gel were Team Europe, Jessica Korda and Paula Creamer competed for Team USA, and Marita Engzelius and Suzann, herself, formed Team Norway. Their warm-up for the Evian was a lot of fun.

Team Asia Wins

To the delight of 5000 spectators, some of golf’s most famous women battled to raise money for charity and to grow the game of women’s golf. The teams played fourball and switched opponents every 6th hole. In the end, Team Asia won the competition with a -10 finish, followed by Team Norway at -8, Team Europe at -5, and Team USA at -4.

"I feel incredibly privileged to be able to devote myself to the one thing that I enjoy the most. Unfortunately, many kids are not as fortunate as I was growing up. To see the girls performing at my home course in front of the crowds, knowing this will help so many children in third world countries, really moved my heart.Suzann Pettersen"

The fans apparently agreed. They divided themselves into two groups for purposes of cheering!

Raising money for kid’s right to play

A Saturday night charity dinner followed the tournament and Right To Play, gaining $140000 USD to extend the game of golf to youth who lack the financial resources to participate in junior golf.

Bringing the Solheim Cup back home?

Pettersen’s tournament had another agenda, supporting preliminary discussions about launching a Norwegian application for the Solheim Cup 2019. The Norwegian Golf Federation, which will promote the event, have already been in informal meetings with the LET board, and will make a decision upon weather or not to apply for the Solheim when it returns to Europe in 2019. If so, it will mean taking the Cup back to Karsten Solheim’s home country.

The Suzann Pro Challenge is collaboration between Suzann Pettersen Management, BMW, Thon Hotels, P4, Jarlsberg, Norwegian Golf Federation, Oslo Golf Club and Right to Play.

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