Inside the Ropes

The 2009 Kraft Nabisco Championship in Rancho Mirage, California draws more than 100 of the best woman golfers in the world. This weekend, we’ll see defending champion, Lorena Ochoa, go up against Yani Tseng, Na Yeon Choi, Paula Creamer, and Team VTech’s Alena Sharp, Becky Morgan and Diana D’Alessio, as well as other top ranked amateurs in the country as they attempt to break the $2 million dollar bank.

As play begins and the field narrows,  we’ll  look forward to seeing who’ll be this year’s “Lady of the Lake” at the Mission Hills Country Club, Dinah Shore Tournament Course.  With a celebratory dive at the 18th hole of the Kraft Nabisco Championship for the winner, this is one of the most thrilling finishes in all of professional sports.

Keep watch to see who will be able to top Lorena Ochoa’s 25 member Mexican fiesta pool party from 2008 as the Kraft Nabisco Championship gets under way.

Over the weekend during the J Golf Phoenix LPGA International, Team VTech’s Karen “Stups” Stupples was admitted to the hospital for an emergency appendectomy. She is currently resting comfortably and will be released from the hospital tomorrow. Once discharged, she will return to Palm Springs to recuperate for the next four to six weeks.

Karen, get well soon!

All of us at VTech are wishing Stups a speedy recovery and sending her our love. We look forward to seeing her back on the green soon.

34 year-old Aussie Karrie Webb proved triumphant in today’s final round of the J Golf Phoenix LPGA International, as she nabbed  her 36th career LPGA Tour Victory. She shot a 5-under-par to capture the top position on the leaderboard, leaving South Korean Jiyai Shin, who shot a 2-under-par, to take second place. This victory was an important one for Webb as this marked her first victory in 44 starts since winning the Mizuno Classic in 2006.

Team VTech’s Alena Sharp finished the tournament tied for 52nd place beating out golf phenom Michelle Wie who finished tied for 57th. Last year’s winner and number 1 ranked Lorena Ochoa finished tied for 15th place, while number 2 ranked Yani Tseng finished tied for fourth with Suzann Pettersen.

We’ll look for Team VTech: Alena Sharp, Becky Morgan, Diana D’Alessio, and Karen Stupples at this week’s Kraft Nabisco Championship in Rancho Mirage, CA (April 2nd-5th), where they will once again go up against world number one ranked Lorena Ochoa and a chance at the $2 million dollar purse. 

*Amy Hung will not be competing in the Kraft Nabisco Championship

After a very windy start and delays due to darkness, we’re finally coming to the home stretch of the J Golf Phoenix LPGA International. With three days of amazing golf behind us,  we find our very own Team VTech member, Alena Sharp advancing to the final round.

The top spot is currently occupied by LPGA Tour rookie, Jiyai Shin, who carded the low round of the week on Saturday to move into first place with a 6-under-par. Putting Shin one shot ahead of In-Kyung Kim, who is tied for second place with Karrie Webb. (Kim’s two bogies and a double bogey at the par-4 12th hole dropped her from the top stop on the leaderboard today.) Last year’s champion Lorena Ochoa, running into serious bunker problems, finds herself currently tied for 19th place.

But if the gorgeous weather and fair winds continue till tomorrow’s final round, you never know who’ll come away on top. In any case, we’ll be cheering for Alena all the way.

-Team VTech-

The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) has welcomed VTech Communications into the LPGA family as the official cordless phone of the LPGA. Commissioner Carolyn F. Bivens announced the partnership last evening at a pro-am pairings party for the J Golf Phoenix LPGA International Presented by Mirassou Winery in Phoenix, Ariz. Bivens was joined by Tom Bacon, VTech Vice President of Marketing, and Kathie Vu, LPGA Vice President of Corporate Partnerships, as well as a handful of players individually sponsored by VTech.

“We are proud to name VTech the official cordless phone of the LPGA,” said Vu. “The company is a global leader in innovative, high quality, consumer electronics products, and following several years of LPGA player sponsorships, we are excited to expand VTech’s involvement to a broader partnership.”

As both a global supplier and the largest cordless phone supplier in the United States, VTech provides innovative technology and style to deliver cordless phone systems that match contemporary consumer tastes and push the envelope with rich features and unique offerings.

To build greater brand awareness of VTech products, VTech will have a presence in LPGA telecasts during the 2009 Tour season through commercials as well as advertising on LPGA.com. Later this season, VTech will announce special promotions as part of its LPGA partnership.

“We have been long-time fans of the LPGA and its offerings on and off the course,” said Bacon. “By expanding our role with the LPGA, we hope to drive home with LPGA followers that VTech products and programs empower women to stay connected and deliver relevance in their everyday lives. We look forward to an exciting season with the LPGA and our Team VTech players.”

VTech has sponsored several LPGA players since 2005. For 2009, Team VTech includes Diana D’Alessio, Amy Hung, Becky Morgan, Alena Sharp and Karen Stupples.

About VTech®
VTech is one of the world’s largest suppliers of corded and cordless telephones and a leading supplier of electronic learning products. It also provides highly sought-after contract manufacturing services. Founded in 1976, the Group’s mission is to be the most cost effective designer and manufacturer of innovative, high quality consumer electronics products, and to distribute them to markets worldwide in the most efficient manner. For further information on VTech and its array of products, please visit www.vtechphones.com.

From Singapore to Mexico and back, the VTech Team is back on U.S. soil and getting ready for some action!  This week the whole team gears up to compete at the J Golf Phoenix LGPA International at the historic  Papago Golf Course, designed by well known and esteemed golf course architect William Francis (Billy) Bell, the same architect of Torrey Pines in San Diego.

Since the Papago Golf Course just celebrated their Grand Reopening last month-  recently closed for 8 months for a course overhaul, we’ll be keeping an eye on what happens to our girls this week on this new course. With Amy Hung, Alena Sharp (Sharpy), Becky Morgan (Shorty), Diana D’Alessio (Sweet D) and Karen Stupples (Stups) in the final field, they’ll definitely be giving defending champion Lorena Ochoa, a run for her money. And with $1.5 million in purse money up for grabs, we’ll definitely be keeping our fingers crossed!

The Team is back from Mexico and happy to be home. A few of the are checking out Sharpy’s new house, the one that makes a brief appearance in the new commercial - or is it? Sharpy and Shorty made it to the weekend, nice work kids. I know that can be an “interesting” course and gives everyone some heat. Tour Commissioner Carloyn F. Bivens will be announcing our new partnership tomorrow night at the pairing party, and the official news will drop Wednesday morning. We couldn’t be more stoked to the regular season kicked off in Phoenix and I’m pleased to be able to attend and be there with them. Next week we’re gonna do a shoot at the house Stups rented for the Nabisco so keep your eyes open, we will post new pics next week. B+ and Coleman, our friends at Mochilla will be doing the shoot and if you’re curious about other things VTech supports check out our other blog and specifically the Timeless Series we just finished in LA.

Look for news on LPGA or at VTech on Wednesday to find out more about the new partnership.

So we’re getting ready to make a big announcement about a new partnership with the LPGA, but for now let’s talk about the commercial we are  creating for broadcast during the season on TV.  Due to the crazy schedules of the team, only Alena Sharp and Sweet D were able to make it to the first shoot.  Thursday they arrived in LA, having no idea what the commercial was about, as I didn’t give them a heads up. After settling in at our agency’s spot, Ayzenberg, in Pasadena, we sat down to go over the next day’s shoot.  Immediately after turning the pages in their playbook Sharpy and Sweet D were laughing and smiling. NICE, a big relief for me.  Off to a quick dinner and some shut eye as call time was 7am and the car was coming at 630. Nothing like a day off.

We shot the spot in LA out in Tarzana, otherwise known as The Valley.  It was a beautiful day, perfect weather and a big crew. Sharpy was up first as we wanted to get her on a plane home that evening.  Sharpy was so relaxed, nailing her lines and doing serious damage to interior of the house ( you will understand why when it airs ).  It was interesting to watch them both deal with what is a very tedious process. Again, again, again, more feeling, less feeling, more smiles, less smiles.  Amazing what it takes to get to 30 seconds for the finished spot.  Not new for us, but I have to say they handled it likes Pros.

Right before lunch Mike Yamato ( wing man #1) asked me if I wanted anything from In-N-Out?  Sweet D and Sharpy had a hankering for double-doubles, who doesn’t? Back to the shoot and never missed a beat. Solid.  Sharpy wrapped up and the focus turned to Sweet D.  I can’t give away her portion of the spot but let’s say if you had a 100 tries to do what we asked her to do you would lose your mind…Sweet D never did.  Nailing lines, hitting shots, laughing…the way a shoot should be.

Our good friends at Mochilla joined us for the afternoon, shooting the shoot so to speak. Even our good friend Cody Christian  and fam joined us, bringing back memories of the Safety Vic campaign we did 3 years ago in which he was one of the stars.  At 13 he just wrapped a big budget film with Bruce Willis, yet I digress…thanks for coming out Cody! We’re proud of you!

The day wrapped about 7:30, we headed back to Pasadena to get some grub and the next day Sweet D was off to Singapore for the HSBC Women’s Champions event, meeting up with Becky, Stups and Sharpy -who headed over on Sunday.  We can’t thank them enough for doing their part and being such good sports.  Shortie and Stups will do their parts in future episodes for the web, looking forward to it.

We wish the whole team good luck across the pond, and look for this commercial to air during the Kraft Nabisco Championship 4.2-5 TV broadcasts and please let us know what you think. It matters to us. For now enjoy some pics from the day of the shoot. Cheers

Big thanks to Mike Yamato for taking these shots…you da man.

The HSBC Women’s Championship kicks off March 6th in Singapore and Team VTech is ready to go. Diana D’Alessio, Becky Morgan, Alena Sharp and Karen Stupples all traveled to this limited field event and the first time this year the Team will be at the same event.  Stupps is coming off a T-15 in Thailand and is looking to continue her solid play.  The off season was great for Stupps and she is feeling strong.  Sweet D played well at the Aussie Masters and her shoulder is 100% again due to some amazing rehab work in a very short time.  Sharpie started strong in Hawaii and is ready to bomb her drives down the fairways of the Taneh Merah Country Club Garden Course. Becky Morgan, aka “Shortie” is making her first appearance of the season and we’re glad to have her in the field. We’ll be even happier when she graces us with her presence state-side in the near future, we’ve missed her.

Have a great tournament all of you and look here for updates once the event begins.  Hopefully the weather will cooperate, as it was raining buckets..at least it that might help soften up those greens!