Smyers Wins Trainor Award, Connelly Wins Wilbur Spirit Award
LAKELAND, Fla., Dec. 20, 2006 — The Duramed FUTURES Tour announces the recipients of its annual awards today. Tour member Katie Connelly of Beloit, Wis., is the 2006 winner of the Heather Wilbur Spirit Award, while Florida resident Sherrin Smyers of Newcastle, Australia, is the winner of the Trainor Award. The awards will be presented during the Tour’s season-opening event on March 11, 2007, following the final round of the Lakeland Duramed FUTURES Classic at Cleveland Heights Golf Course in Lakeland, Fla.
The Duramed FUTURES Tour established the Trainor Award in 1999, in honor of the Tour’s founder and former president Eloise Trainor, who retired in 1999. In the spirit of Trainor, who operated the Tour for 20 years, the annual Trainor Award is presented to an individual or group that has made a significant contribution to women’s golf.
Smyers, who now resides in Lakeland, Fla., was a member of the LPGA Tour from 1985 to 1997. She launched her pro career on Florida-based mini-tours, including the Tampa Bay Mini-Tour in 1983, and posted numerous top-10 finishes on the LPGA Tour, with a career-best tie for fifth. In recent years, she has worked with business leaders to raise funds and launch The First Tee golf program for youth in Lakeland. Smyers is still involved in the program and also volunteers with the Lakeland Duramed FUTURES Classic tournament and assists with the city’s Special Olympics golf program.
"My life has benefited greatly from the game, so I’ve always wanted to give back to something that has given me so much," said Smyers, married to golf course architect Steve Smyers and mother of two sons. "The values of honesty, integrity and discipline are so inherent in the game and it can open doors throughout life. My driving force is to give these kids a chance to be around quality individuals and to open up new avenues in their lives."
Added Duramed FUTURES Tour president and CEO Zayra F. Calderon, "Sherrin is not only a pioneer as one of the first Australians on the LPGA Tour, but when she left competition, she continued to lead the younger Australians on the LPGA Tour and show them the way. Now, she’s a tireless worker for the good of the game."
The Heather Wilbur Spirit Award is presented to a Tour member who best exemplifies dedication, courage, perseverance, love of the game and spirit toward achieving goals as a professional golfer. The award was established in memory of four-year Tour member Heather Wilbur of Canada, who lost an 11-month battle to leukemia in 2003.
Nominated by her peers, Connelly became the fourth recipient of the annual award. She joined the Duramed FUTURES Tour in 2004 and during the recent 2006 season, the former University of Wisconsin player posted nine top-10 finishes, including a career-best tie for second. Connelly suffered an acute eye injury during tournament play this season and was forced to withdraw due to injury.
"It’s always hard for me to vote on this award because I feel that each and every player on our tour has dedication and courage to be out there," said Connelly, 25, who was struck directly in the eye by a ricocheted ball during the opening round of the season’s final event. "I wasn’t expecting this award at all, so this is an honor."
"The essence of the Heather Wilbur Award is to recognize players who are about so much more than golf and who possess the unselfish, generous and genuinely caring characteristics that Heather had," said Calderon. "Katie Connelly is such a good match for this award. Even with the accident on the golf course, she maintained a good attitude and a fighting spirit."
About the Duramed FUTURES Tour
Celebrating its 26th competitive season this year, the Duramed FUTURES Tour has remained committed to preparing the world’s best young women professional golfers for a career on the LPGA Tour. With more than 280 alumnae as current members of the LPGA Tour, former Duramed FUTURES Tour players have won a total of 314 LPGA titles, including 33 major championships. Designated as "the official developmental tour of the LPGA," the Duramed FUTURES Tour has become the largest international developmental tour and the second largest women’s golf tour in the world. At season’s end each year, the top five players on the Tour’s money list earn automatic LPGA Tour exemptions for the following year. Throughout its first quarter century, membership has increased from approximately 150 North American players to more than 300 players from 31 different nations. The Duramed FUTURES Tour currently conducts 19 tournaments in 14 states and has raised nearly $4 million for charitable organizations since 1989. For more information, please visit www.duramedfuturestour.com.
Contact:
Lisa D. Mickey, Duramed FUTURES Tour
863-709-9100, Ext. 2
lisa@duramedfuturestour.com
