Laney Frye to Participate in the 2024 LPGA Drive On Championship

Bradenton, Florida – Laney Frye, the highly talented University of Kentucky All-American golfer, is set to make her debut on the LPGA Tour at the upcoming LPGA Drive On Championship at Bradenton Country Club. Five days of high-quality golfing action will begin on January 25th, and the Kentucky Wildcat will be teeing off at 9:04 a.m. ET on hole No. 1 alongside Lauren Hartlage, an alumna of the University of Louisville, and Malia Nam, a graduate of Southern California.
The LPGA Drive On Championship is the second event of the year and will feature a full field of 120 players, including the top four players in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings. These top-ranked players, Lilia Vu, Ruoning Yin, Celine Boutier, and Nelly Korda, are expected to provide fierce competition. The tournament also boasts the presence of other fan favorites such as Lexi Thompson and Stacy Lewis.
Frye, a senior hailing from Nicholasville, Kentucky, was bestowed with a sponsor exemption, making her the sole amateur in the field. However, she will be joined by 15 other rookies, including graduates from the 2023 Epson Tour and Q-School.
Frye has had an outstanding start to the 2023-24 season, displaying her impressive skills. With a stroke average of 69.9 through four tournaments and 11 rounds, she has consistently performed at a high level. Notably, seven of her 11 rounds in the fall were under par, including six rounds in the 60s. In all four tournaments, she finished within the top 15, securing three top 10 finishes and one top-five finish. Her exceptional autumn run culminated in a fourth-place finish at the Ruth’s Chris Tar Heel Invitational, where she shot an impressive 7-under-par 209.
This season’s success follows Frye’s remarkable achievements in the previous season, where she established a new program record for single-season stroke average. Throughout 30 rounds and 10 tournaments, she maintained a remarkable average of 70.9 strokes. Even more impressive, 20 of her 30 rounds were at or below par, including 11 rounds in the 60s. Frye’s junior season was highlighted by a school-record, 9-under-par 63 at the NCAA Pullman Regional.
Frye is no stranger to high-level competition. Her career includes 54 rounds at or below par, with an impressive 24 rounds in the 60s. Training under esteemed PGA Tour caddie Ted Scott, she has made notable appearances at the U.S. Women’s Amateur, reaching the match play stage in each of the three years she competed. Additionally, Frye has earned runner-up honors three times at the Sea Island Women’s Amateur and has been invited to the Augusta National Women’s Amateur twice.
After 36 holes of stroke play, the field will be cut in half, with only the top 65 players and ties advancing to the final rounds on Saturday and Sunday.
For fans of the University of Kentucky and Frye’s supporters, coverage of the tournament will be available on Golf Channel and Peacock. The broadcast schedule comprises four days of remarkable golf action, commencing on Thursday, January 25th, from noon to 3 p.m. ET. On Friday, the coverage will continue during the same time slot. Saturday’s coverage will be split, with Golf Channel hosting a one-hour broadcast from 4-5 p.m. ET, while Peacock will provide coverage from 2-5 p.m. ET. Finally, the tournament will come to a thrilling conclusion on Sunday, with Golf Channel and Peacock airing coverage from 2-5 p.m. ET.
Enthusiasts of the sport can also stay updated with live scoring by visiting the official tournament website. To keep up with the latest news on the Kentucky women’s golf team, follow them on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and visit UKathletics.com.