(Stockbridge, Georgia, March 7, 2006) — Morgan Pressel and Natalie Gulbis, two of the brightest young stars on the LPGA Tour, have committed to play in the Atlanta Charity Championship hosted by Nancy Lopez. They join defending champion Annika Sorenstam, Paula Creamer, tournament host Nancy Lopez and other top professionals in the 15th annual event. Scheduled for April 17-23 at Eagle’s Landing Country Club in Stockbridge, GA, offers a first-place check of $240,000 and a total purse of $1.6 million. Here are additional facts and figures about Pressel and Gulbis:
Morgan Pressel:
â?¢ One of the top junior and amateur golfers in recent memory, Pressel competed in the 2005 LPGA Qualifying Tournament as an amateur and finished tied for 6th at the Finals. She turned professional in November and was granted full LPGA membership in January despite the fact that she doesn’t turn 18 until May 23rd.
â?¢ Her final year as an amateur was chock full of highlights. She won the U.S. Women’s Amateur at Ansley Golf Club at Settindown Creek near Atlanta. She finished tied for second at the U.S. Women’s Open when Birdie Kim sank a bunker shot on the final hole. She also played in six LPGA events last year and never finished below 25th. In addition to her U.S. Open performance, she also collected a fifth place at the State Farm Classic.
â?¢ Throughout most of 2005 she was both the top ranked women and junior amateur in the GolfWeek ratings. She was eligible to play in five American Junior Golf Association events last year and won them all. She also won three consecutive Florida High School titles (2003-05).
In 2002, 2003 and 2005 she represented the U.S. on the PING Junior Solheim Cup team.
â?¢ She is a nominee for the Nancy Lopez Award, presented annually to the World’s top amateur during tournament week at the Atlanta Charity Championship hosted by Nancy Lopez.
â?¢ Gulbis enjoyed a career break-out year in 2005, crossing the $1 million mark in earnings to rank 6th on the final money list. That followed finishes of 39th, 39th and 42nd during her first three years on the Tour.
â?¢ Her best 2005 finishes included third place ties at both the Michelob ULTRA Open and the State Farm Classic. She had ten additional top 10’s including a tie for fourth at the U.S. Women’s Open. She capped off the year by earning three points for the victorious U.S. Solheim Cup team.
â?¢ In the 2005 statistical categories she ranked third in birdies (328), fourth in rounds under par (50/94) and eagles (23), eighth in putts per greens hit (1.78) and 10th in greens in regulation (70.9%).
She is off to a terrific start in 2006 with a fifth place tie at the SBS Open at Turtle Bay and a tie for fourth at the Fields Open in Hawaii. She ranks sixth on the money list with $76,645.
â?¢ She turned professional in July of 2001 and then tied for third at the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament to earn exempt status for the 2002 season. Gulbis won the LPGA Sectional Qualifying Tournament in Venice, FL, by eight shots.
â?¢ At the age of 14, Gulbis won the California Women’s Amateur Championship. That same year, she became the youngest player to Monday qualify for an LPGA tournament (1997 Longs Drugs Challenge), a record that stood until Michelle Wie accomplished the same feat at the 2002 LPGA Takefuji Classic at age 12.
Proceeds from the Atlanta Charity Championship benefit the Henry Medical Center; Dayton, Ohio-based AIM for the Handicapped, the favorite charity of Nancy Lopez; and the East Lake Foundation.
Contact:
John Marshall
Marshall & Associates
(770) 436-2643
Torrey Gane
Atlanta Charity Championship hosted by Nancy Lopez
(770) 474-4653
