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Creamer
Named Winner of Sixth Annual Nancy Lopez Award |
Award
given annually to most outstanding female amateur |
Paula
Creamer, who topped off an incredible 2004 amateur season by
capturing medalist honors at the LPGA Tour qualifying school,
has been selected as the recipient of the sixth annual Nancy
Lopez Award.
Named after one of the most respected women golfers in history,
the award is presented annually to the world’s most outstanding
female amateur. The inaugural winner in 2000 was Kellee Booth,
followed by Aree Song, Meredith Duncan, Lorena Ochoa and, last
year, Virada Nirapathpongporn.
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| Paula
Creamer was named the 2003 Rolex Player of the Year and
recorder 13 career AJGA victories. |
The
award is a key facet of the long-time relationship between Nancy
Lopez and the Chick-fil-A Charity Championship hosted by Nancy
Lopez. As the event’s official host, Lopez will present
the award to Creamer at a gala banquet to be held Thursday,
May 12 of the Chick-fil-A tournament week. Along with the award
comes a sponsor invitation to compete in the tournament. As
she is now an LPGA member, Creamer will not need the invitation
to participate. In addition, the tournament is donating $1,000
in Creamer’s name to the First Tee programs in Sarasota,
Fla., and Pleasanton, Calif.
The native of Mountain View, Calif. enjoyed a remarkable 2004
year topped by a 13th place finish at the U.S. Women’s
Open. She also made it the semifinals in both the U.S. Women’s
Amateur and the U.S. Junior Girls, and represented her country
on both the Curtis Cup Team and the U.S. World Amateur Team.
She competed in seven LPGA events last year, making the cut
in all of them, and finishing second at the ShopRite LPGA Classic
just one shot behind winner Cristie Kerr.
Creamer, the 2003 Rolex Player of the Year, recorded 13 victories
during her AJGA career. Her first title came in 2001 at the
AJGA St. Regis Aspen Junior Classic. Creamer's achievements
includes back-to-back wins at the Heather Farr Classic (2003
and 2004) and a win at the Rolex Girls Junior Championship (2003).
She was also a member of the victorious 2002 West Canon Cup
Team.
Creamer was selected from a list of eight extraordinarily talented
and distinguished international amateur candidates. The Nancy
Lopez Award Executive Committee which chaired the award consists
of Chairman Mike Waldron (Executive Director of the Georgia
State Golf Association), Judy Bell (Past President of the United
States Golf Association), Nancy Lopez (LPGA Hall of Fame Member),
Rob Neal (V.P. of Business Affairs for the LPGA), Betsy Rawls
(LPGA Hall of Fame Member), Steve Robinson (Senior V.P., CMO,
Chick-fil-A, Inc.), Mickey Walker (Former Captain European Solheim
Cup Team) and J.T. Williams (President, Metro South Golf Charities).
The Executive Committee selected approximately 95 international
golf industry experts who compiled the list of candidates. The
committee members and industry experts participated in the voting.
“Having my name associated with this prestigious award
and with the tournament is a huge honor for me,” Lopez
said. “I have wonderful memories of competing in amateur
golf. Paula is a very remarkable young woman to have accomplished
so much at her age. I’m sure she will enjoy a long and
successful LPGA career.” |
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