LPGA

Top ranked LPGA Champion Cristie Kerr will receive the prestigious Muhammad Ali Award for Sport Achievement at the starstudded Celebrity Fight Night charity gala March 19th at the Marriott Desert Ridge in Scottsdale, Arizona. SCOTTSDALE (March 9,2011) - Top ranked LPGA Champion Cristie Kerr will receive the prestigious Muhammad Ali Award for Sport Achievement at the star-studded Celebrity Fight Night charity gala March 19th at the Marriott Desert Ridge in Scottsdale, Arizona. In 2010, Kerr became the first American to reach #1 in the Official Rolex World Golf Rankings when she won the LPGA Championship by a record 12 shots. The Miami, FL native and part time Scottsdale resident has 14 wins on the LPGA tour including two Major Championships and is 5th all time in career LPGA earnings. The ceremony caps a busy week for Kerr who will be competing in the inaugural RR Donnelley Founders Cup, a new LPGA event in which players donate their winnings to charity. "Celebrity Fight Night is fortunate to be honoring Cristie Kerr with the Muhammad Ali Celebrity Fight Night Sports Achievement Award in 2011. Cristie not only exemplifies what being a true champion is on the course, but she consistently portrays what Muhammad Ali stands for in his fight against Parkinson's disease with her extraordinary heart off the course” remarked Celebrity Fight Night founder Jimmy Walker. Kerr has used her success on the course as a platform to create awareness and funding for breast cancer research through her foundation, Birdies for Breast Cancer. In 2010, the foundation partnered with Jersey City Medical Center to create the regions most comprehensive center specializing in women's health issues. The Cristie Kerr Women's Health Center offers breast cancer screening and treatment programs and is the first center of its kind to treat uninsured women. “I'm deeply honored to be recognized by Muhammed Ali and the Celebrity Fight Night event not just for my golf achievements, but also for our work off the course to fight breast cancer. I have always admired what Muhammed Ali has stood for as an athlete and a humanitarian and the work Jimmy Walker does with the event, raising money and awareness to fight Parkinsons Disease is an inspiration to me in my efforts”, Kerr commented on the honor. In addition to golf and her philanthropic efforts off the course, Kerr expanded her entrepreneurial skills by partnering with award winning Pride Mountain Vineyards to create Curvature Wines. The highly rated wines are featured in some of Americas top golf clubhouses and restaurants, and 100% of proceeds go to breast cancer research. The other recipients of the Muhammad Ali Celebrity Fight Night awards this year are: Academy Award-winning actress Halle Berry, Founder and CEO of GoDaddy Bob Parsons and former NBA and NFL owner Red McCombs. Celebrity Fight Night is being emceed by Grammy Award-winning artist Reba McEntire. Multi-platinum recording artist, Matchbox Twenty and Grammy Award-winning vocalist Kelly Clarkson will also be performing. Other notable celebrities taking the stage include comedians Billy Crystal and Sinbad, Legendary country singer, Lee Greenwood, the Top 12 American Idol 2011 finalists as well as Bret Michaels. Kevin Costner and his band, Modern West will provide after-party entertainment. Celebrity Fight Night has raised nearly $65 million for the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center and other charities. The event is Saturday, March 19th at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa in Phoenix, Ariz. For more information, visit CelebrityFightNight.org.

Rolex Rankings No. 25 Angela Stanford maintained her lead following a 6-under par 66 going into tomorrow's final-round at the RR Donnelley LPGA Founders Cup. A four-time winner on the LPGA Tour, Stanford carded seven birdies and one bogey during the second round of play at Wildfire Golf Club at the JW Marriot Desert Ridge Resort & Spa in Phoenix, Ariz.

Shooting a 6-under 66, Rolex Rankings No. 25 Angela Stanford leads by one shot after the first round of the RR Donnelley LPGA Founders Cup. Stanford's round included six birdies, a double-bogey and an eagle at Wildfire Golf Club at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa in Phoenix, Ariz.

After an opening-round 69, Rolex Rankings No. 5 Cristie Kerr is poised to make a run at the top $200,000 charitable prize at the RR Donnelley LPGA Founders Cup this weekend. The former No. 1 currently sits three back of leader Angela Stanford in the play for charity event at Wildfire Golf Club at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort and Spa. Kerr will split her potential proceedings between two causes close to her heart – Birdies for Breast Cancer and the Muhammad Ali Parkinson's Foundation. Kerr will receive the Muhammad Ali Award for Sport Achievement at the star-studded Celebrity Fight Night charity gala Saturday after her round at the JW Marriot Desert Ridge Resort and Spa.

LPGA Tour Rookie Jennifer Song demonstrated the breadth of her heart at the RR Donnelley LPGA Founders Cup Wednesday. Song, who donates one third of her earnings every time she tees it up in a tournament, is playing for Arizona Quest for Kids this week. The 2009 U.S. Women's Amateur champion spent much of her practice day talking with the students benefiting from the program and giving some tips on the driving range.

LPGA Tour player Mollie Fankhauser had a play date in the park with pups from the Mayday Pit Bull Rescue in Phoenix Thursday. While Fankhauser is teeing-it-up this week at the RR Donnelley LPGA Founders Cup for the Measle's Animal Haven Pit Bull Rescue in Columbus, Ohio, she has plans to visit pit bull rescues in every community in which she plays this season.

Natalie Gulbis sat down with Golf Channel's Golf Central via Satellite from Phoenix, AZ to talk about the legends and founders at the RR Donnelley LPGA Founders Cup, the charity she will be playing for and her upcoming season.

LPGA Tour player Stacy Lewis took time after an opening-round 71 at the RR Donnelley LPGA Founders Cup to encourage three young women battling scoliosis. Lewis was diagnosed with the condition herself at the age of 11 and was told that she would never play golf again. She now serves as an inspiration to others diagnosed with the condition.

Na Yeon Choi took part in a photo shoot with Golf Digest Korea last fall. Fellow Tour member and close friend Song-Hee Kim joined in on the fun.

RR Donnelley LPGA Founders Cup: The LPGA Tour is set to descend upon Wildfire Golf Club at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort and Spa in Phoenix, Ariz., for the inaugural playing of the RR Donnelley LPGA Founders Cup. A field of 134 players including Rolex Rankings No. 1 Yani Tseng, No. 2 Jiyai Shin, No. 5 Cristie Kerr and No. 10 Karrie Webb will compete for a purse of $1 million, which will be donated entirely to charity. Song-Hee Kim, Morgan Pressel, Christina Kim, Paula Creamer, Laura Davies and LPGA and World Golf Halls of Fame member Juli Inkster will also compete alongside LPGA Tour rookies such as Jessica Korda, Jennifer Song and Belen Mozo.

As those affected by recent tragedies in Japan begin the recovery process, RR Donnelley, title sponsor of this week's RR Donnelley LPGA Founders Cup, has committed to donate $100 for every birdie and $500 for every eagle made on holes 15-18 this weekend to the U.S. Fund for UNICEF's Japan relief efforts. Players will be encouraged to “Finish Strong for Japan” as the closing stretch of the course will be dubbed the “Japan Relief Zone.”

Describe your style on the course? Being with adidas is great because they are always up on the latest fashion trends. I'm excited to wear their line of apparel. What should we expect to see this season? I always love wearing dresses so I hope their are a lot of dresses in the 2011 line. I know there will be a lot of bright colors. Tell me about how you helped design a shoe. Adidas asked me to design a shoe for them. It took about a year. We started with the design in 2009 and it came out in 2010 and it did really well. So I just designed a new shoe that will come out in 2012. What is your favorite color to wear on the course? Black. I try to wear black on Sunday's but I'd wear black all the time. I think it always looks classy and it's easy to travel with. What is your favorite accessory on the course? My SkyCaddie that they bedazzled it for me in Japan. Also Butch Harmon my coach makes headcovers for me and they are "Welcome to Las Vegas" and "Butch Harmon School of Golf", so it's special because it reminds me of him out on the golf course.

What are Brittany Lincicome's favorite things? Did you know that she to relax by fishing with a glass of Mirassou Wine? Brittany also loves following her favorite teams and watching NCIS.

Players visit Scottsdale Healthcare Thompson Peak Hospital Wendy Ward, Cindy LaCrosse and Tiffany Joh visited with patients, visitors and staff at Scottsdale Healthcare Thompson Peak Hospital on March 15. Hospital administrator Jean Knoedler toured the group around the new hospital, which is just a ‘short drive' from the Wildfire Golf Club and JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort and Spa, site of this week's inaugural RR Donnelley LPGA Founders Cup. The tour included the hospital's ER, the state's only Ambient Experience CT Suite with calming multimedia surround sound, lighting and animated murals, patient care areas and healing garden. Players visited with and signed autographs for knee replacement patients and others in the orthopedic unit. An added bonus was a trip to the OR, where they learned about the hospital's daVinci robotic surgical system, and each took turns “operating” with the robot! Scottsdale Healthcare is the Official Medical Partner of the RR Donnelley LPGA Founders Cup in Phoenix. Amanda Blumenherst threw out the first pitch. Rookie Sara Brown appeared on 12 News / KPNX-TV to give a putting lesson and talk about the RR Donnelley LPGA Founders Cup.

Learn more about the 13 LPGA Founders before the start of the inaugrual RR Donnelley LPGA Founders Cup.

In 2011, 28 rookies will make their LPGA Tour debuts as members. There are nine countries outside the United States represented among the 2011 class.

The hottest golfer on the planet hopes her play at the inaugural RR Donnelley LPGA Founders Cup will support Japanese children impacted by the recent earthquake and tsunami and also provide much needed water to young children in need in other areas around the world.

The final field has been set for the Kia Classic, and befitting the LPGA's return to the Los Angeles area for the first time in six years, the tournament is packed with star power.

Today, March 16th, marks the 10-year anniversary of Annika Sorenstam shooting 59. Sorenstam shot 59 (-13) during the second round of the 2001Standard Register PING at Moon Valley Country Club in Phoenix, Ariz. The Swede went on to win the tournament at 27-under-par, two strokes better than Se Ri Pak.

The RR Donnelley LPGA Founders Cup unveiled today the RR Donnelley Founders Cup Trophy to be hoisted by the winner of the inaugural event on Sunday, March 20. The perpetual trophy, created by renowned artist and sculptor Malcolm DeMille, is an impressive three-dimensional replica of the LPGA logo, symbolizing the association rich in history.