DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA, September 10, 2013 – Caroline Hedwall rewrote the Solheim Cup record books in Parker, Colorado last month and became the first player in the event’s 13-year history to go 5-0 in competition. The Swede’s historic performance helped her European squad win the biennial event for the first time on U.S. soil and earned her the “Kia Most Compelling Performance Award” for August.
“It’s a great honor to receive this award and hope I can continue my strong play throughout the rest of the season,” said Hedwall. “I have to thank my teammates because our victory in Colorado was a total team effort. I was thrilled to have such an instrumental role in Team Europe’s win.”
The 24-year-old, who was playing in her second Solheim Cup, improved her overall record to 7-1-1. She started off the week teamed up with fellow Swede Anna Nordqvist in Friday morning’s foursomes and the duo beat top-ranked American Stacy Lewis and Lizette Salas 4&2. She followed it up with another win while partnered with Solheim Cup rookie and Germany native Caroline Masson as they defeated Angela Stanford and Gerina Piller 2&1.
VIDEO: Watch highlights of Caroline’s record-setting performance at the Colorado Golf Club
Hedwall kept her momentum through both Saturday sessions. She teamed up with Nordqvist again for morning foursomes and won in dramatic fashion. Hedwall and Nordqvist were 1 up against Morgan Pressel and Jessica Korda heading to the 17th hole and with one stroke, Nordqvist ended the match, 2&1, with the first hole-in-one in Solheim Cup history. Hedwall was paired with Masson for the second time on Saturday afternoon for the fourball matches and picked up another point for Team Europe beating Michelle Wie and Jessica Korda 2&1.
Hedwall stole the spotlight again during Sunday’s singles matches when she sank an eight-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to outlast Michelle Wie 1 up. Hedwall’s putt fittingly gave the Europeans the clinching 14th point to retain the Cup and helped the squad achieve the largest margin of victory in the event’s history with an 18-10 win.
Previous “Kia Most Compelling Performance Award” winners in 2013 include Yani Tseng (February), Stacy Lewis (March), Inbee Park (April & June), Jennifer Johnson (May) and Beatriz Recari (July).
The 2013 “Kia Most Compelling Performance Award” winner will be announced at the season-ending 2013 CME Group Titleholders following an online fan vote (fan voting period is October 1-21, 2013). Performances may include a single tournament, multiple tournaments, single-round accomplishments or record-breaking performances. Winners of all the 2013 Kia Performance Awards will receive an all-new 2014 Kia Cadenza, premium sedan.
“Kia is pleased to see Caroline Hedwall has continued her outstanding play to earn this month’s Kia Performance Award for Most Compelling Performance,” said Michael Sprague, executive vice president of marketing & communications, Kia Motors America. “With this award she is now has the potential to win a 2014 Kia Cadenza premium sedan which is the most powerful and technologically-advanced vehicle we have ever introduced in North America.”
The 2013 Kia Performance Awards are:
- Kia Power Drive – Won in 2012 by Brittany Lincicome; awarded to the player with the longest average driving distance
- Kia Drive to the Top – Won in 2012 by Stacy Lewis; awarded to the player with the most top-10 finishes
- Kia Most Compelling Performance – Won in 2012 by Inbee Park; recognizing a player with exceptional performances throughout the year; this award will be chosen by fans through an online vote
- Kia Community Assist – Won in 2012 by Angela Stanford; recognizing a player who makes exceptional contributions to charity organizations or community programs
Tseng earned the February “Kia Most Compelling Performance Award” for her Sunday surge at the Honda LPGA Thailand, where she fell just two strokes short of a “three-peat” following a final-round 63. Lewis was the March award winner on the heels of consecutive victories at the HSBC Women’s Champions and the RR Donnelley LPGA Founders Cup, where she took over as No. 1 on the Rolex Rankings. Park earned the April award for her victories at the Kraft Nabisco Championship – where she took over as No. 1 from Lewis – and the North Texas LPGA Shootout and claimed the honor in June for sweeping all three LPGA Tour events staged that month. Johnson earned the accolade in May by becoming a Rolex First-Time Winner at the Mobile Bay LPGA Classic, holding off a group of players that included LPGA and World Golf Halls of Fame member Karrie Webb and LPGA winners Jessica Korda and Anna Nordqvist. Beatriz Recari picked up the honor for June for her performance at the Marathon Classic Presented by Owens Corning & O-I where she outdueled American and nine-time LPGA winner Paula Creamer on Sunday for a one-shot victory.
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