ShopRite LPGA Classic Top 10 Power Rankings

With many of the top players sitting our the ShopRite LPGA Classic the gate is open for a new 2016 winner – perhaps one of these 10 contenders.

The 25th LPGA Classic will be contended this week at the Stockton Hotel and Golf Course Bay Course in Galloway, New Jersey. Anna Nordqvist is the defending champion.

Weather will figure into the equation this week. Although the winds will remain light throughout the tournament rain is forecast for Friday and Saturday and the Donald Ross designed Bay Course – with its iconic water views – will require a bit more management than it does in dry conditions.

The par 72 track will play 6177 yards and players will find the biggest problems in the abundance of bunkers.  The broad fairways will provide a bit of a break from the tree-lined fairways and relatively tight lies that came last week at Travis Pointe and are coming up next week at Sahalee.

The 54-hole event begins on Friday, June 3 and ends Sunday, June 5. With Lydia Ko, Inbee Park and Lexi Thompson sitting it out, Brooke Henderson will be the highest ranked player in the field and Stacy Lewis, who’s dropped to 6th in the Rolex Rankings, will be the highest ranked American. But Lewis hasn’t recorded a top-10 finish this year. She’s riding on her stunning 2013 and 2014 seasons. Look for others in the field this week to play above her.

The field won’t be as strong this week as it has been in the past three events – many of the top players are taking a break and focusing on preparation for the Tour’s 2nd major, the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. As a result, there’s going to be opportunity for some of the lower-ranked players to record a high finish or even add a win to their resumes.

That said, let’s take a look at the 10 players I think are most likely to dominate the top of the board this week in New Jersey.

Next: Gerina Piller