Inside the Ropes

Catriona Matthew has become the first-ever Scottish LPGA player to win a LPGA major championship at today’s RICOH Women’s British Open.  The 39-year-old mother of two carded a 3-under-par 285 (74-67-71-73) to win by a three-stroke victory over Karrie Webb (even par 288) at Royal Lytham & St. Annes Golf Club.  The victory is Matthew’s first major title and third-career LPGA Tour win. Matthew’s win marks the first time a Scot has won and is the first British Open winner from the UK since Team VTech’s Karen Stupples who won the event back in 2004.

Hee-Won Han, Paula Creamer, Ai Miyazato and Christina Kim all tied for 3rd with 1-over-par 289. Last year’s champion Jiyai Shin finished tied for 8th with 3-over-par 291, and Team VTech’s Becky Morgan finished tied for 33rd at 11-over-par 299.

Check back with us as the Solheim Cup kicks off in a few weeks with the US vs Europe.

As the Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic Presented by Kroger celebrates 25 years on LPGA Tour and finishes up its first round of play today, last year’s champion Paula Creamer is unable to defend her title. Though Creamer prides herself on playing well even if she’s not, she was unable to overcome her injuries to compete and become the second back-to-back winner behind Se Ri Pak. Se Ri is the only back-to-back winner in the event’s 25-year history. If Se Ri wins, she’ll become the only player to win the same event six times.

After first round of play, Laura Diaz, Morgan Pressel and Song-Hee Kim currently reside on the top of the leaderboard. All three shot 7-under-par today for a total of 64. Just one stroke behind are Suzann Pettersen and Michelle Wie at 6-under-par. Five-time defending champion Se Ri Pak is currently tied for 66 at 1-under-par at 70 alongside Team VTech’s own Karen Stupples and Alena Sharp who’s also 1-under. Diana D’Alessio is tied at 87 at even total 71 while Becky Morgan is tied at 48 at 2-under-par at 69.

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!!!

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.