CHARLOTTE, N.C., Sept. 13, 2010 – The LPGA’s Teaching and Club Professionals (T&CP) named three honorary members last weekend prior to the kick-off of the annual LPGA T&CP National Championship. Honored at the Rolex Welcome Reception presented by Doral Golf Resort & Spa last Saturday at The Golf Club at Ballantyne was the trio of Cindy L. Davis, Nancy Lopez and Barrie Oringer.
President of Nike Golf since September 2008, Davis now oversees Nike’s global business, including all product categories, sales, operations, finance, marketing, sports marketing, global brand and human resources. She moved to Nike from the Golf Channel, where she served from 2000-2004 as a senior vice president of golf sponsorships, sports marketing and new media.
Prior to her tenure at the Golf Channel, Davis was the president and CEO of The Arnold Palmer Company and also served as vice president of the LPGA, directing the LPGA’s first integrated marketing and communications business plan. She began her senior-level role at the LPGA in 1992, as the first executive director of the LPGA’s T&CP division.
“This honor is really special for a lot of reasons,” said Davis, addressing members at the award presentation last Saturday. “It was right here with the T&CP that I began my business career in golf. We built value in this membership. We created revenue, and we built success. I always viewed myself as one of you, and I will cherish this for the rest of my career.”
Lopez, a member of the LPGA and World Golf Halls of Fame, won nine tournaments in 1978 during her first full season on the LPGA Tour. She went on to win eight more times the next year during her 1979 season. Mother of three daughters, Lopez won numerous honors on the LPGA Tour, including the LPGA’s Player of the Year Award four times, and 48 career victories, including three major championships.
Namesake for her company, Nancy Lopez Golf, which offers a full line of women’s golf equipment, the LPGA legend has also served as the U.S. Solheim Cup team captain, the PING U.S. Junior Solheim Cup team captain, and has worked in television commentary and golf course design.
“When I started playing, I didn’t know much about the golf swing,” Lopez told the LPGA T&CP membership. “But I learned about it while playing golf, and I learned a lot from the women who teach the game. Many former LPGA players who are now teachers opened the doors for so many people to play golf, and I consider the T&CP as the other part of my golf family. I’m excited to be here to accept this honor.”
Oringer joined SELF Magazine as the creative services director in 2008, overseeing the magazine’s promotional and merchandising initiatives. Prior to joining the staff at SELF, she was the associate publisher, creative services for Golf For Women Magazine.
Oringer held other positions during 17 years at Golf For Women, but under her direction, she signed on the magazine as the title sponsor of the LPGA T&CP National Championship. The partnership continued for 14 years. Not only did Oringer garner financial support from the magazine for this championship year after year, but she played a major role in creating a tournament with the look and feel of an LPGA tour event and became an iconic figure on site as well.