Lakewood Ranch grad to play in Sara Bay Classic

Lakewood Ranch graduate Ericka Schneider will play in the Symetra Tour's sixth-annual Sara Bay Classic at Sara Bay Country Club in Sarasota this weekend. 

Per a release, the 54-hole tournament will feature 144 golfers competing for a $110,000 purse, with the winner receiving $16,500. 

Schneider, a 2009 grad, said the toughest aspect of Sara Bay is its greens. 

"You can’t go out and just aimlessly hit golf shots," Schneider said in a release. "This is a golf course you have to respect. You have to be diligent in what shots you select to play into the greens because shots can spin off and downhill puts are not very favorable."

The top-10 on the Symetra Tour's final money list will earn spots on the LPGA Tour for the 2018 season. The previous five winners of the Sara Bay Classic went on to join the LPGA Tour.

The Sara Bay Classic's winning three-day score has never been above 5-under par. 

Friday's first round begins at 7:45 a.m. from the first and tenth tees.