Inside the Ropes

Earlier this month, attorney Herb Papenfuss was chosen as our VTech Sweepstakes winner for a trip for 4 to the McDonald’s LPGA Championship in Havre de Grace, MD. Herb saw a VTech internet ad for a chance to win the VTech sweepstakes trip for four and on a whim, entered.”I was very surprised to have won!!”

With a trip for four, who did Herb decide to bring along with him to the tournament? Other than his wife Carole, it was easy for him to decide who to invite. “We have two friends who golf and are always doing nice things for other people (especially elderly people in our church). They never ask for anything in return and don’t have a lot of extra money, so this was a major trip for them.” This was everyone’s first time at a major tournament and they had a wonderful time. Cathy Levering from the LPGA and a great friend to VTech was there to great them on their arrival and treated them like VIPs. “Cathy Levering of the LPGA met us on the first day and showed us the ropes.  She introduced us to the VTech players and made sure we got photos and autographs. She also introduced us to Betsy Rawls, a hall of fame member and director of the event. She is such a delightful lady, whose lifetime has been dedicated to her sport.”

Initially Herb knew little about the LPGA and wasn’t an avid golf watchers but may be a convert now. “We weren’t fans of any player (except maybe Michelle Wie) but we soon became a fan of Anna Nordqvist, when we saw her make a fantastic chip shot at the 18th hole on the first day. Add to that the fact that she was a rookie who lead almost the entire way and shot a great final round to win. What a performance! We had the best seats in the house to watch (the skybox at the 18th green ) and we had the option of going into the clubhouse to watch live Golf Channel Coverage.The food and refreshments were first rate and we were even entertained by Ronald  McDonald on Sunday.”

His favorite part of the tournament was watching rookie Anna Nordqvist hold off the rest of the field on Sunday to win the Championship.” But the most memorable part was meeting and talking to the Team VTech players. “My wife is from the UK and she had a great talk with Karen Stupples of Team VTech from England, who also married an American. All the girls were so nice to take time out from their day to make us feel welcome.”

Also during their stay, they had a chance to see Baltimore and Annapolis which made the overall experience even more fun. “Everything went smoothly, we met some wonderful people, saw a great tournament, were treated like VIPs and had a vacation in addition and learned a lot about the LPGA.  An experience we shall never forget! Thanks VTech!”

Thanks to Herb for sharing his story with us at VTech and congratulations again to him for entering and winning the VTech Sweepstakes. Be sure to check back as we’ll have more opportunities for you to enter and win VTech products, trips and more.

And a special thanks to Cathy Levering from the LPGA who took care of our winners, making them feel right at home and giving them the red carpet treatment. Thanks Cathy, you’re the greatest!!!

LPGA Tour rookie, Jiyai Shin carded 17-under-par (65-68-67-71 =271) to win the 2009 Wegmans LPGA with Kirsty McPherson and Yani Tseng tied for second place at 10-under-par, seven strokes behind.

The first day at the Wegmans found Sandra Gal on top of the leaderboard with Jiyai Shin a stroke behind in second place. After second round of play, Jiyai Shin took control from Sandra Gal to take the top spot of the leaderboard and never let go by setting a new tournament 36-hole record 133. By the third round she was 4 strokes ahead of Morgan Pressel. Her overall 16-under-par 200 score gave her some cushion over her competition leading into the final round at the Locust Hill Country Club in Pittsford, N.Y.  And on the last day, her seven stroke lead cemented her place as winner of the Wegmans LPGA.

Jiyai Shin has already recorded her first win this year as a rookie at the HSBC Women’s Champions event in Singapore.

Congratulations to Team VTech, 4 of the players successfully made it to the final round at the Wegmans. Alena Sharp T22 (70-70-69-70 =283), Karen Stupples T24 (69-72-71-72= 284), Becky Morgan T40 (71-73-71-74= 289), and Diana D’Alessio T72  (68-76-76-77= 297)

This week our girls head to the Locust Hill Country Club in Pittsford, NY for the Wegmans LPGA. Over the past 33 years, the Wegmans LPGA has become one of the most popular stops on the LPGA tour. It’s a great combination of the world’s best golfers and the most enthusiastic crowds. 

We’ll watch to see if last year’s defending champion Eun-Hee Ji, who defeated Suzann Pettersen by two strokes has it in her to pull off a repeat. 

Stay tuned as we watch the competitors and our Team VTech girls go for another shot at a win and a king’s ransom in purse winnings.

Team VTech’s Alena ‘Sharpy’ Sharp had a great day on June 16th. From the great weather to the pace of play to the dinner and auction, the stars aligned for an eventful day for the fourth annual Alena Sharp Charity Classic (ASCC). Even with the recent economic crisis, everyone came out in support of her charity, which helped raised $20,000 for Alzheimer Research in Hamilton, Halton and Brant which matched what she raised last year.  

Team VTech's Alena Sharp

I have seen a lot of the same faces for the last four years. I am very lucky to have people who come out and support me and my family to raise money for such an amazing cause.

This was my favourite charity event out of the last four years. I really enjoyed myself all day. It started at the clinic where I was in a duel with my father. And might I say that I beat him in the events 2-1. But he did hole a bunker shot out, which the crowd was very excited about. It was a day of seeing familiar faces. My Toledo host family - the Lynch’s - came to participate again for the third year. I had so many members who support me throughout the year play yesterday, as well. I am also very fortunate to have great sponsors, personally, who support me raising money for the Alzheimer’s Society.

I will never forget my grandmother and every year at this event I know that my family and I shed a tear for such a happy soul that was lost in such a horrible disease. I just hope that we are making a difference in someone else’s life. That’s what raising money in a charity tournament is all about. Michael Sells was the organizer of my event and it wouldn’t have been possible without him. And lastly, but not the least, thank you to everyone who played in my charity tournament, the participants are the ones who made it such a success.

After four days of competition and a surprising turn of events (Suzann Pettersen withdrawing after the third round and lightning delays), LPGA Tour rookie, Sweden’s Anna Nordqvist has finished at 15-under-par and on top of the leaderboard with a total of 273. 

The first day saw Nicole Castrale  with a one-stroke lead over 2009 rookie Anna Nordqvist and last year’s winner Yani Tseng tied for 52nd. After the second-round, 78 players advancing to the weekend. A lone member of Team VTech, Becky Morgan, made the cut. And 22-year-old Anna Nordqvist takes the top spot away from Nicole. 

Team VTech's Becky Morgan

The third round saw delays due to lightning and Anna holding onto the top spot. As the final round draws to a close, the first year rookie Nordqvist has won the tournament with Lindsey Wright holding on to the second spot at 11-under-par with a total of 277. Last year’s winner Yani Tseng  finished in tied for 23rd with Lorena Ochoa. Team VTech’s Becky Morgan has finished tied for 65th.

Our VTech sweepstakes winner Herb Papenfuss of Carlsbad, CA touched down in Maryland for the McDonald’s LPGA Championship. He and three of his guests from San Diego made it to the tournament today and are having a a great time meeting several players including Betsy Rawls, Brittany Lincicome, Jill McGill, Team VTech members and more. We hope they continue to have a great time during their stay!!

Herb Papenfuss and guests with Team VTech's Diana D'Alessio

Herb and friends with Team VTech's Karen Stupples

As competition heats up.…. Will Yani Tseng be able to defend her title at the 55th McDonald’s LPGA Championship Presented by Coca-Cola as the LPGA’s top players head to Bulle Rock for this season’s second major championship and $2 million in prize money?

In 2008, Tseng took four holes in a sudden death playoff of with Maria Hjorth of Sweden to become the 2008 Rolex First-Time Winner and the second-youngest winner of a major championship in 2008. 

At the tournament, all of this season’s 10 winners will be among the 151-player field, including Rolex Rankings’ number one player Lorena Ochoa, who missed the State Farm Championship last week in Springfield, Ill.

Check back with us to find out who makes the final cut and who comes out on top of the leaderboard.

* Thanks to Cathy Levering at the LPGA for the photos!

After receiving thousands of entries to our VTech’s Getaway for 4 to the McDonald’s LPGA Championship, we finally have a winner.

Congratulations to Herb Papenfuss of Carlsbad, CA who was randomly selected as our sweepstakes winner. He and three of his guests will enjoy a 6 day, 5 night trip to Aberdeen, MD for the 55th  McDonald’s LPGA Championship Tournament in Havre de Grace at the Bulle Rock Golf Course where they’ll watch the 2008 Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie Player of the Year, Yani Tseng defend her title and attempt to secure her chunk of the $2 million dollar purse.  Will it prove to be as nail biting as last year’s four-hole, sudden-death playoff against Maria Hjorth? For Herb’s sake, we hope so… 

Thanks to all  who entered and be sure to check back with us for more exciting events.

What a great turn out for Team VTech this weekend at the 2009 LPGA State Farm Classic at the Panther Creek Country Club in Springfield, Illinois!!

Not only did we have four of our members make the final cut, but two of them finished strong in the top 25 of the final field. It was said that this tournament, in its 34th year, boasted one of the strongest fields in any event, and so it has. 

After play was suspended due to  electrical activity in the area, two groups were left to finish. One of them included VTech’s own Amy Hung who was left to wait at hole 17. She finished in the top 10, tied for 6th place with 4-under-par for a score of 14-under-par and a total of 274. 

Karen Stupples has finished tied for 19th with a final score of 10-under-par and a total of 278. Not bad for some who had an emergency appendectomy a only two months ago.

In-Kyung Kim is the winner of the 2009 LPGA State Farm Classic with 7-under-par for a total of 17-under-par, beating Se Ri Pak by one stoke. Pak finished at 6-under-par today for a total of 16-under-par. 

*Team VTech’s Diana D’Alessio and Becky Morgan finished tied for 66th and 69th. 

Stay tuned as we move to the McDonald’s LPGA Championship Presented by Coca-Cola in Havre e Grace, Maryland and the $2 million dollar purse prize.

Saturday, one more day till the final round of the 2009 LPGA State Farm Classic was as blustery, and the winds of change brought new faces to the top of the leader board before the day was out. 

Cristie Kerr and Kristy McPherson finished at 12-under-par to move to the top of the leaderboard.

Team VTech’s Becky Morgan came out swinging as she sank four birdies in her first four holes as the winds did little to throw her off track.

Just one stroke back from the leaders is first year player, Jiyai Shin with Ai Miyazato close behind with two strokes behind after turning in a 7-under-par for the day. Se Ri Pak is tied with Ai Miyazato and is still a strong contender for tomorrow’s final round.  So far in her 2009 season, Pak has participated in nine tournaments, making the cut in seven of them, and finishing in the top-25 three times.

Amy Hung finished at 3-under-par to extend her lead to 10-under, leaving her tied for 4th place with Se Ri Pak, Helen Alfredsson and more.

Karen Stupples and Becky Morgan both finished at 4-under-par leaving them tied for 37. And Diana D’Alessio finished at 1-under-par tied for 62.

Those who came to the tournament today enjoyed their down time in the VTech lounge. Where they relaxed, ate and drank all while keeping tabs on their favorite players on the large flat screens inside. 

Day two is cut day and today was a good day for golf. Team VTech got into the swing of things.. as all team members finished under par..

At Panther Creek Country Club in Springfield, Illinois at the 2009 LPGA State Farm Classic, we had another beautiful day, perfect for a great day of golf. Today the field was narrowed down to 72 players at 2-under-par with 70 standing for Saturday’s competition. Round three has many contenders fill vying for a win in the final round on Sunday. 

Amy Hung and Karen Stupples finished an impressive 7-under-par, Diana D’Alessio finished 3-under-par, Becky Morgan finished 2-under-par and Alena Sharp rounded it out with 1-under.

This year’s event has one of the strongest field’s ever with everyone going for a share of the $1.7 million purse.

Pak and Pettersen are tied for 1st as they remained bogey-free after round two. Both finished with 10-under-par. This is Pak’s second day on top of the 2009 State Farm Classic leader board. 

But right behind them are a handful of players who could easily take their leads away. Kristy McPherson, Helen Alfredsson, Kris Tamulis, Moira Dunn and Jee Young Lee are just a stroke back. 

Team VTech is still in contention as both Karen Stupples and Amy Hung are 7-under-par and Becky Morgan and Diana D’Alessio made the cut. We’ll check back tomorrow to see what happens during “moving day” out on the course.