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Bowling Green State University Athletics
Falcons Recognized for their Contributions to the Game of Golf
December 02, 2015 | Women's Golf
2015 LPGA Rolex Awards Celebration Release
Carolinas PGA Section Announces 2015 Award Winners
Bowling Green, Ohio – Two BGSU Falcons in Shirley Spork and Heidi Wright-Tennyson were both recently recognized in November 2015 for their dedication and contributions to the game of golf as professionals by the Ladies Professional Golfers' Association (LPGA) and the Carolinas Professional Golfers' Associate of America (CPGA).
One of the LPGA's 13 Founders, Spork received The Patty Berg Award. Established in 1979 by the LPGA Board of Directors, the award recognizes an individual for outstanding contributions to women's golf. The award is named in honor of LPGA Founder Patty Berg and it recognizes her diplomacy, sportsmanship, goodwill, and contribution to the women's game.Spork, who left BGSU in 1960 after one year as a graduate student and faculty member in physical education to join the first tour as one of 13 co-founders of the LPGA, has dedicated her life to growing the game as an LPGA founder, player, teacher and advocate. She helped spearhead the formation of the LPGA T&CP and is well known for her exceptional teaching ability. Beginning in 1960, she served as the chairperson of the LPGA Teaching Division for six consecutive years. Spork was one of six members of the inaugural class of the LPGA Teaching and Club Professional (T&CP) Hall of Fame, named the 1998 Ellen Griffin Rolex Award winner and was a two-time LPGA National Teacher of the Year (1959 & 1984).
"I have the utmost respect and admiration for Shirley Spork and what she has done for the game of golf and women's golf in particular. It is amazing that BGSU and one of the 13 co-founders of the LPGA have a connection. Our university's golf program has a rich history with a tradition of successful professionals," head coach Stephanie Young stated. "Congratulations to Shirley on this most recent honor in being the 2015 Patty Berg Award recipient. Her lifelong passion, dedication, and sacrifice to the game of golf is an inspiration to all. She is a golf legend and we thank her for all that she has done to pave the way for so many!"
Wright-Tennyson, a BGSU alumna, was named the Golf Professional of the Year by the Carolinas Professional Golfers' Associate of America (CPGA), the highest honor awarded to a PGA Professional, for her ongoing accomplishments and ability to grow the game of golf. This honor is awarded to the individual who demonstrates exceptional performance as a Golf Professional at his or her facility, a high level of service to the Section, strong leadership, a positive image, and the ability to both inspire fellow professionals and promote the game of golf.Wright-Tennyson, who played at BGSU from 1987-91, is currently the Director of Golf at Moss Creek Golf Club in Hilton Head Island, S.C. where she has served as the highest ranking PGA Professional for 21 years. Her hard work and dedication as a PGA Professional has also earned her the CPGA Player Development Award in 2013 and the Hilton Head Island Chapter Golf Professional of the Year Award in both 2000 and 2008.
Wright-Tennyson joined Moss Creek in 1994. She became a Class A member of the PGA in 1994 and has a resume filled with service and notable achievements, including her operational responsibilities, and instruction of over 300 private lessons a year. She has an unmatched leadership ability, a passion to provide a level of service that is mutually inspiring and vital to the success of her facility and demonstrates a professional work ethic that inspires her team to grow and achieve their own goals.
"Congratulations to Heidi! What a well-deserved honor this is for her to receive. Heidi is such an outstanding role model for any golf professional in the business and certainly for our student-athletes here at BGSU," continued Coach Young. "We are so proud of Heidi and grateful for everything she has done to help create a successful culture for BGSU and the women's golf program. We are also thankful for all that she continues to do to promote the game of golf and inspire young women within the golf industry."
At BGSU, Wright registered a career stroke average of 85.83 over 33 events and 80 rounds of play during her four year career, which included a low round 73 her junior year in 1989-90 . She improved from a 90.00 stroke average over 18 rounds of play her freshman season in 1987-88 to a season stroke average of 85.40 over a total of 22 rounds as a senior in 1990-91. Her best year as a Falcon came in 1989-90, when she led the team with a stroke average of 82.90 over 23 rounds.
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