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WRALSportsFan

Amanda Blumenhurst Named Winner of Eighth Annual Nancy Lopez Award

May 16, 2007

DULUTH, GA (May 15, 2006).....In 2006 she enjoyed one of the best performances in women’s amateur golf in recent memory. And now Amanda Blumenherst has been rewarded for that remarkably high and consistent level of achievement as the recipient of the eighth annual Nancy Lopez Award.

Named after one of the greatest and most respected women golfers in history, the Award is presented annually to the world’s most outstanding female amateur. Previous winners have included Kellee Booth in 2000, followed by Aree Song, Meredith Duncan, Lorena Ochoa, Virada Nirapathpongporn, Paula Creamer and, last year, Morgan Pressel.

Since its inception, the award has been a key facet of the long-time relationship between Nancy Lopez and the Atlanta Charity Championship hosted by Nancy Lopez. As last year was the final playing of that event, the Atlanta Classic Foundation has stepped in to honor the recipient during the AT&T Classic Nancy Lopez will present the award to Ms. Blumenherst during the Pro/Am Draw Party to be held Tuesday night (May 15) of tournament week at the Gwinnett County Civic Center.

The talented Scottsdale, AZ native enjoyed a remarkable 2006 that included an outstanding freshman year as a member of the Duke University Women’s team and an equally impressive summer on the amateur circuit. At Duke she earned national freshman and national player of the year as well as first team All-American honors from both GolfWeek magazine and the National Golf Coaches Association. She notched the lowest ever stroke average by a Duke freshman at 71.62 while collecting nine top-fives, 11 top-10s and 11 top-20 finishes in 11 tournaments. She also became the first Duke golfer to begin her collegiate career with nine-consecutive rounds of even or under par.

During the summer months, she tied for low amateur honors at the U.S. Women’s Open with rounds of 70-77-73-73, while finishing tied for 10th overall at nine-over-par. She was named most valuable player of the Fuji Xerox USA vs. Japan Collegiate Golf Championship, leading the U.S. team to a 37-23 victory. She also finished tied for 17th in the Wegmans LPGA. These achievements and others enabled her to make the Curtis Cup Team where she was instrumental in the U.S. team winning the Cup.

"I am thrilled to learn that I have been selected as the winner of the Nancy Lopez Award as the world's most outstanding amateur female golfer for 2006,” said Ms. Blumenherst. “My time in amateur golf has always been very exciting and rewarding and has enabled me to grow as both a player and a person. Nancy Lopez has always been a role model for all golfers because of her great talent, courage, friendliness and humility. To win this award named for her is a huge thrill for me."

Blumenherst was selected from a list of nine extraordinarily talented and distinguished international amateur candidates. The Nancy Lopez Award Executive Committee which chaired the award consists of Chairman Mike Waldron (Executive Director of the Georgia State Golf Association), Nancy Lopez (LPGA Hall of Fame Member), Zac Grant (ZGrant, LLC), Torrey Gane (Metro South Golf Charities), Becky Newell (Metro South Golf Charities), Steve Jackson and Dave Kaplan (Atlanta Classic Foundation). The Executive Committee selected approximately 100 international golf industry experts who compiled the list of candidates. The committee members and industry experts participated in the voting.

“Having my name associated with this prestigious award is a huge honor for me,” said Ms. Lopez. “I have wonderful memories of competing in amateur golf. Amanda is a very remarkable young woman to have accomplished so much at her age. I’m sure she will enjoy a long and successful LPGA career should you elect to become a professional.”
Now in its 39th year, the AT&T Classic brings the world’s best players to Atlanta to compete for a purse of $5.4 million and a first place check of $972,000. Past winners have included Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, Tiger Woods, David Duval and Phil Mickelson.