DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., Dec. 5, 2006 – Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Commissioner Carolyn F. Bivens named Jane Geddes, an 11-time LPGA tournament winner, to the position of senior director of tournament business affairs. She will officially join the LPGA staff on Jan. 2, 2007.
"It is terrific to officially welcome Jane to the LPGA staff," said Bivens. "She has proven herself as a champion on the course throughout her career and exudes passion for the business of the LPGA off the course. She will contribute greatly to a talented team that is building strong lines of communication with our tournament constituents and increasing the LPGA’s support to our tournament family."
Geddes will serve as a liaison between the LPGA and designated tournaments. She will work with tournament directors and title sponsors to insure they have access to resources, including research and other LPGA assistance needed to consistently improve the success of each event. Geddes will assist with the renewal of tournament agreements, the development, negotiation and implementation of the Tour’s tournament schedule and the development of new tournaments and related sponsorships.
"I am pleased to welcome Jane to the tournament business affairs department," said Chris Higgs, LPGA senior vice president and chief operations officer. "This addition will enable us to offer even better service to our global and growing landscape of tournaments and ensure that current and new events are as successful as possible."
Geddes joined the LPGA Tour in August 1983 and began making a name for herself right away, posting 11 top-10 finishes in her first three seasons. Her breakthrough came in 1986 when she defeated Sally Little in an 18-hole playoff at the U.S. Women’s Open. She is one of only 14 players in LPGA history to claim the U.S. Women’s Open as her first LPGA title. Geddes continued her winning ways with 10 more titles, including another major, the 1987 LPGA Championship. She was a member of the 1996 U.S. Solheim Cup team and assistant captain for the 2002 and 2003 matches. With more than $3.7 million in earnings, Geddes ranks 31st on the LPGA career money list.
Geddes earned a B.A. in Criminology from the University of South Florida in 2003 and a J.D. from Stetson College of Law in St.. Petersburg, Fla., earlier this month.
About the Ladies Professional Golf Association
Featuring the world’s best women golfers, the LPGA’s membership includes touring, teaching and club professionals. The LPGA Tour in 2006 features 36 events, with total prize money of nearly $52 million. Since 1981, the LPGA and its tournaments have raised approximately $170 million for charity. From the dreams of its 13 founders in 1950, the LPGA has evolved into the world’s pre-eminent women’s professional sports organization. The LPGA has grown from its roots as a playing tour into a non-profit organization involved in every facet of golf. In addition to the LPGA Tour members, the LPGA membership includes nearly 1,200 certified Teaching and Club Professionals (T&CP) who serve the golf industry in teaching, coaching and management positions. The LPGA T&CP member programs focus on increasing the involvement of women, girls and youth in golf, as well as contribute to the growth of the sport overall. The LPGA is headquartered in Daytona Beach, Fla. For more information on the LPGA, log on to www.LPGA.com.
Contact:
Connie Wilson, LPGA
386-274-6200
connie.wilson@lpga.com
