1. LPGA Commissioner Bivens names members of 2009-10 Commissioner's Advisory Council
2. Twenty-one golfers join 2009 LPGA Tour for their rookie season
This week is the first in a five-part series highlighting the new year's class
3. LPGA news and notes
1. LPGA Commissioner Bivens names members of 2009-10 Commissioner's Advisory Council
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., Jan. 12, 2009 - Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Commissioner Carolyn F. Bivens today announced members of the 2009-10 the Commissioner's Advisory Council. Along with this announcement Bivens named Rae F. Evans, immediate past chairwoman of the LPGA Board of Directors, as the chairperson of the Commissioner's Advisory Council.
The Commissioner's Advisory Council is a 23-member board comprised of individuals from the corporate, academic, political, philanthropic and cultural arenas. Convened under Bivens' tenure for the first time in September 2006, members of the Commissioners Advisory Council are invited to serve two-year terms. The Commissioner's Advisory Council is gathering for the 2009 session this week at LPGA Headquarters in Daytona Beach, Fla.
"We welcome this talented and diverse advisory group," Bivens said. "As we implement our strategic plan, we are fortunate to have this extraordinary mix of expertise and varied capabilities. Their insight will help us focus on several key initiatives, specifically media exposure and economic empowerment for our members."
"We are extremely pleased that the Commissioner's Advisory Council has recruited individuals with such remarkable vision and experience," Evans said. "Their interest of and dedication to the LPGA and their willingness to lend their time and talents to expand the global reach of the LPGA is phenomenal."
The role of the Commissioner's Advisory Council is to provide both expertise and guidance in all aspects of the LPGA's business, while also serving as a sounding board as the LPGA continues to grow and evolve. Members will offer expert counsel and insight in their respective areas and will assist Commissioner Bivens and her staff in optimizing opportunities for the LPGA's future growth and long-term success. The concept of a Commissioner's Advisory Council was initiated by former LPGA Commissioner Charles S. Mechem, Jr. during his tenure (1991-95).
The members of the 2009-10 LPGA's Commissioner's Advisory Council include the following individuals:
Carolyn F. Bivens, LPGA Commissioner
Rae F. Evans, chairwoman of Commissioner's Advisory Council and president of Evans Capitol Group
Peggy Conlon, president and CEO of The Advertising Council, Inc.
Peter Derby, former managing executive for Operations and Management, SEC
Nancy Dorn, vice president government relations of General Electric
Alice Dye, golf course architect for Pete Dye, Inc.
Evern Cooper Epps, former president of The UPS Foundation
Frank J. Fahrenkopf, Jr., president and CEO of the American Gaming Association
Joie Gregor, former assistant to President George W. Bush for presidential personnel and former vice chairman at Heidrick & Struggles
Bonnie Hill, president of B. Hill Enterprises, LLC
Kathy Hubbard, co-founder Bridges of Understanding
Kim Hume, former FOX News vice president and Washington Bureau Chief
Bill Imada, chairman and CEO of IW Group, Inc.
John Keyser, former senior executive of Johnson & Higgins
Nancy Lopez Knight, LPGA Tour and World Golf Halls of Fame member and founder of Nancy Lopez Golf
Herb Lotman, chairman of Keystone Foods
Charles S. Mechem, Jr., LPGA commissioner emeritus
Susan S. Morse, CFA and CFP of Mosaic Financial Partners
Susan Neely, president of the American Beverage Association
The Honorable Tom Ridge, president and CEO of Ridge Global
Gary Smith, founder of The Sandringham Group
Annika Sorenstam, LPGA Tour and World Golf Halls of Fame member, founder ANNIKA Academy at Ginn Reunion Resort
Sheila Tate, vice chair of Powell Tate
Mark Woodward, CEO of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America
Carol Corcoran, LPGA chief administrative officer and Commissioner Advisory Council staff liaison
2. Twenty-one golfers join 2009 LPGA Tour for their rookie season
This week is the first in a five-part series highlighting the new year's class
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - The 2009 LPGA Tour rookie class is comprised of 21 'rookies,' who have some very veteran experience. Representing six countries outside the United States with 15 international members and six members hailing from five U.S. states, the class is as diverse as they are talented.
This week is the first of five weeks highlighting snapshots of each rookie in the run up to the first official 2009 LPGA Tour event, the SBS Open at Turtle Bay.
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Chella Choi (Choy) Country: South Korea Turned professional: January 2008 Priority List Category: 11 In her first year on the Duramed FUTURES Tour in 2008, Chella Choi recorded 10 top-10 finishes, including a tie for second at the Bright House Networks Open. A member of the Korean National Team in 2006, Choi won the Korean Junior Championship that same year. Off the course, the 18-year-old Choi enjoys reading books and going to CYWorld. |
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Song Yi Choi (Song Yee Choy) Country: South Korea Turned professional: March 2007 Priority List Category: 17 Song Yi Choi was a two-year member of the Duramed FUTURES Tour in 2007-08, earning 10 top-10 finishes during that span. The 23-year-old was a member of the Korean National Team from 2002-05, and won the 2001 and 2003 Korea Junior Golf Championships. Before turning professional, she won the 2004 Taiwan Amateur Championship and the University Volvik Championship. Choi finished sixth on the 2008 Duramed FUTURES Tour season-ending money list to earn Priority List Category 17 for the 2009 LPGA season. In her spare time, Choi enjoys playing the piano, playing the drums and fishing. |
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Tania Elosegui (TAH-nee-ah Eh-LO-se-gee) Country: Spain Turned professional: November 2005 Priority List Category: 16 Tania Elosegui's amateur career included gold and bronze medals at the 2000 Mediterranean Games, a runner-up finish at the 2000 European Individual Championship, and was a bronze medalist at the 2002 World Amateur Championships. Elosegui won five gold medals from 1999-2005 while representing Spain at the European Team Championships In 2007, Elosegui won the Telkom Women's Classic on the Ladies African Tour and, on the 2008 Ladies European Tour (LET), she recorded seven top-10 finishes, including three runner-up marks. Elosegui, 26, enjoys snowboarding, going to the beach, skateboarding, kitesurfing, music and playing tennis. |
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M.J. Hur Country: South Korea Turned professional: December 2007 Priority List Category: 9 Hur competed on the Duramed FUTURES Tour in 2008 and won the Louisiana Pelican Classic, while finishing in the top-10 eight other times. A member of the Korean National Team in 2005 and 2006, Hur won the individual and team competition at the Korea National Team Festival. In 2006, she won the individual title at the Queen Sirit Cup Asia-Pacific tournament and was a member of the third-place team. As an amateur, the 19-year-old tied for sixth at the 2006 KOLON· Hana Bank Championship. Hur finished fourth on the Duramed FUTURES Tour season-ending money list to earn Priority List Category 9 for the 2009 LPGA season. Other than playing golf, Hur enjoys going out to eat with friends and playing video games. |
3. LPGA news and notes
LPGA T&CP Life Member Prentiss, 79, dies. Betty Prentiss, a LPGA Teaching and Club Professional (T&CP) member since 1981 and Life Member since 2002, died Friday, Jan. 9, 2009. Prentiss, a West Palm Beach, Fla., resident at the time of her death, served as an assistant golf professional at the Palm Beach Country Club, in Palm Beach, Fla. She became a member of the LPGA T&CP in 1981 and earned her Life Member status in 2002. Golf played a large part in the life of Prentiss and her family as her husband, Robert, is a Life Member of the PGA of America, and their daughter, Patti Benson, has served as the National President of the LPGA T&CP since 2001.
Condolences may be sent to the Quattlebaum Funeral Home, 1201 South Olive Avenue, West Palm Beach, FL 33401. Donations may also be made to the Hospice of Palm Beach County.
Eighteen LPGA T&CP members to be considered for Hall of Fame induction. Nancy Henderson, executive director of the LPGA Teaching and Club Professionals (T&CP), has announced the 18 finalists for consideration to be inducted into the LPGA T&CP Hall of Fame. To be eligible for induction, members must be a LPGA Class A Member, accumulated at least 350 award criteria points, have a minimum LPGA certification unit of 500 and be at least 45 years old. The award-point system is based on different categories, including leadership, contributions to the golf industry, playing ability and work-related activities.
The four nominees who receive the highest number of votes from the 15-person selection committee will be inducted in the LPGA T&CP Hall of Fame at the LPGA T&CP 50th Anniversary Celebration at the Hickory Ridge Marriott Conference Center in Chicago, Ill., preceding the 2009 Solheim Cup.
Prior to 1970 Nominees
Gloria Armstrong
Marjorie Burns
Mary Dagraedt
Carol Johnson
Pat Lange
Jane Read
Penny Zavichas
Post-1970 Nominees
Patti Benson
Dr. Betsy Clark
Susan Fiscoe
Nell Frewin-Hays
Jane Frost
Kerry Graham
Lorraine Klippel
Kay McMahon
Dana Rader
Rina Ritson
Diane Thomason
LPGA Tour member Lindley to host charity event. The 2008 LPGA Corning Classic champion Leta Lindley will host the Leta Lindley Prader-Willi Classic on Jan. 17 at the PGA National Resort and Spa, in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. The purpose of the fifth-year event is to raise money toward research for Prader-Willi Syndrome, a potentially life-threatening genetic disorder, which affects appetite, growth, metabolism and behavior. Other LPGA members participating in the event include: Beth Bader, Jean Bartholomew, Ashli Bunch, JoAnne Carner, Heather Daly-Donofrio, Meaghan Francella, Allison Fouch, Jackie Gallagher-Smith, Vicki Goetze-Ackerman, Anna Grzebien, Nicole Hage, Tracy Hanson, Liz Janangelo, Michelle McGann, Laurie Rinker, Nancy Scranton and Carri Wood. More information is available at www.pwclassic.com.
Creamer hosts weekend to benefit The First Tee of Sarasota/Manatee. Paula Creamer, an eight-time winner on the 2008 LPGA Tour, hosted the Paula Creamer Celebrity Classic Jan. 9-11, 2009, at Lakewood Ranch Golf & Country Club, which benefited The First Tee Sarasota/Manatee.
Participating celebrities joining Creamer included Champions Tour veteran Jim Thorpe, Beat the Bogeyman Inventor Dr. Travis Fox and trick shot artist Brad Denton. Organizers set a goal of raising $100,000. For more information on the event and Creamer's work with The First Tee Sarasota/Manatee philanthropy work, visit Paula4Kids.org.
Morgan & Friends raise $300,000 for breast cancer research. Three-year Tour member and two-time winner Morgan Pressel's second annual Morgan & Friends charity event on Monday, Jan. 5, 2009, at St. Andrews Country Club in Boca Raton, Fla, raised $300,000 for the fight against breast cancer. The funds will be used toward treatment through deployment of a new cancer drug at the Sylvester Cancer Center at the University of Miami, and for early detection by funding a traveling mammography van. The van will be utilized by the Boca Raton Community Hospital and named for Pressel's late mother, Kathy Krickstein Pressel, who died of breast cancer in 2003. A dinner was held on Sunday, Jan. 4, which was attended by 300 guests, and 160 played golf on Jan 5. Friends Christina Kim, Nancy Lopez and PGA Tour player Bubba Watson participated in the event. The inaugural event in January 2008 raised more $450,000, which supports breast cancer services, programs and research.
Song affiliated with Captain Planet's Green Team. LPGA Tour member Aree Song will balance full-time golf and working with The Captain Planet Foundation, which raises environmental awareness. Song joined the LPGA in 2004 and has tallied nine top-10 finishes.