LPGA Professionals member recognized for giving back in the spirit of Nancy Lopez
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., May 18, 2022 – The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Professionals announced today that Tina Tombs is the recipient of the 2022 Nancy Lopez Golf Achievement Award, which recognizes an LPGA Professional who gives back to the game in the spirit of Nancy Lopez.
The Nancy Lopez Golf Achievement Award was created in 2007 and is given to an LPGA Professional who emulates qualities valued by Lopez: leadership, passion, giving, and approachability. Lopez is a 48-time LPGA Tour winner and four-time Rolex Player of the Year. She was inducted into the LPGA and World Golf Halls of Fame in 1987 and captained the victorious 2005 U.S. Solheim Cup Team.
"I am extremely grateful and honored to be the recipient of the 2022 Nancy Lopez Golf Achievement Award,” said Tombs. “My relationship with Nancy is unique and dates to my very first LPGA professional event in 1988, and my first made cut where I was paired with Nancy Lopez on Saturday. I was a nervous wreck. I was intimidated by her long list of incredible accolades and achievements, my caddie assured me that we all start somewhere. This was some relief, although small! Right from that moment Nancy influenced my career. She became a wonderful role model for me, as one of the best LPGA players in the world, and a mom on Tour.”
Tombs graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Physical Education and minors in Anatomy and Physiology. While at ASU, she was ranked among Golf Digest’s top-10 amateur golfers in the United States and a two-time All American. In 1987, Tombs qualified for the LPGA Tour and began a 14-year playing career, which included a win at the 1990 Jamie Farr Toledo Classic.
In 2002, she founded Tina Tombs Golf, LLC at the Arizona Biltmore Golf Club in Phoenix, Ariz., where she also holds the role of Director of Instruction. At the Tina Tombs Golf Learning Center, she holds private lessons, women’s programs, adult and junior programs as well as corporate events. Tombs is also a co-founder for the Arizona Women’s Golf Expo and serves as an Expo committee member, with LPGA proceeds benefitting LPGA*USGA Girls Golf – Phoenix.
Tombs has been inducted into the New Hampshire Golf, Arizona Golf, ASU and Queen City Halls of Fame. She is also President of the LPGA Professionals Central Section, a member of the LPGA Professionals Executive Committee and was twice named LPGA National Teacher of the Year.
“Nancy and her Golf Achievement Award represent Leadership, Giving, Approachability and Passion. To me, it also represents Grit, Courage, and Perseverance,” added Tombs. “Because of the relationship I have, and the example Nancy set for me as a young player, I won on the LPGA Tour with two young daughters, and I believe it was in large part because I had the opportunity to play and learn these values and qualities from Nancy Lopez. She influenced every step of my career – from the tour to my teaching and coaching profession. It is truly an incredible honor to receive her award.”
Past recipients of the Nancy Lopez Golf Achievement Award include: Debbie O'Connell (2007), Troy Beck (2008), Patti Benson (2009), Lynn Stellman (2010), Malia Folquet (2011), Suzy Whaley (2012), Marvol Barnard (2013), Angela Aulenti (2014), Teresa Zamboni (2015), Donna White (2016), Sandy LaBauve (2017), Lynn Marriott (2018), Louise Ball (2019), Dana Rader (2020) and Cindy Miller (2021).
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