1. 2004 State Farm LPGA Series to feature 11 events

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - The State Farm LPGA Series, a television series that encompasses selected LPGA events on ESPN and ESPN2 with a $250,000 bonus pool, will feature 11 tournaments in 2004. This marks the seventh year of the Series, which awards points to players finishing in the top 20 at State Farm LPGA Series events and a $100,000 prize to the points champion at the conclusion of the State Farm Classic.

The 11 events in the 2004 State Farm LPGA Series are: Safeway International Presented by Coca-Cola, March 18-21; Office Depot Championship Hosted by Amy Alcott, April 2-4; Chick-fil-A Charity Championship hosted by Nancy Lopez, April 29-May 2; Michelob ULTRA Open at Kingsmill, May 6-9; Franklin American Mortgage Championship benefiting Vanderbilt Children's Hospital, May 13-16; Sybase Classic Presented by Lincoln Mercury, May 20-23; Kellogg-Keebler Classic, June 4-6; Wegmans Rochester LPGA Presented by Lincoln Mercury, June 24-27; Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic Presented by Kroger, Aug. 5-8; Wendy's Championship for Children, Aug. 20-22; and the State Farm Classic, Sept. 2-5.

"This year's State Farm LPGA Series will once again highlight a strong and impressive LPGA television schedule," said LPGA Commissioner Ty M. Votaw. "State Farm has been one of the LPGA's most dedicated and loyal partners for many years, and the Series has grown into one of the most dynamic and compelling television packages in all of sports. The growth of the Series in recent years fulfills our brand promise in bringing the best in women's professional golf to households across the globe."

The 2004 State Farm LPGA Series will have 70 hours of televised coverage, up from 54 hours in 2003. With the addition of events in Nashville, Tenn., and New York, the Series broadcasts seven of 11 events from the country's top 50 television markets, including events in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago. In addition, the 2003 Series saw an eight-percent increase in viewership from adults in the 25-54 age bracket.

"The level of competition and entertainment value offered by the best women golfers in the world make for great viewing for our State Farm customers and fans of the LPGA," said Pam El, vice president of marketing at State Farm. "We are extremely proud to be the title sponsor of the State Farm LPGA Series."

Points will be tripled at the Series-ending State Farm Classic. Korea's Hee-Won Han is the defending champion of the Series. Other Series winners are: Mi Hyun Kim (2002); Annika Sorenstam (2001); Pat Hurst (2000); Karrie Webb (1999); and Se Ri Pak (1998). The Series was the first-ever umbrella-sponsored television series for women's professional golf, and this is State Farm's fourth year as title sponsor.

State Farm Insurance Companies has been involved with the LPGA since 1992. In 1993, State Farm became the title sponsor of the State Farm Rail Classic, an LPGA event held in Springfield, Ill., which has raised more than $1.9 million for various charities. The company will maintain its title sponsorship of the tournament, now called the State Farm Classic, through 2006. Beginning in 2000, State Farm expanded its sponsorship to become a marketing partner of the LPGA and extended its commitment to the LPGA in 2003 to continue as title sponsor and exclusive insurance and financial services advertiser of the State Farm LPGA Series on ESPN and ESPN2. In 2003, State Farm also became the official insurance company of the Tour. State Farm(r) insures more cars than any other insurer in North America and is the leading U.S. home insurer. State Farm's 16,000 agents and 75,000 employees serve nearly 73 million auto, fire, life and health policies in the United States and Canada. State Farm also offers financial services products through State Farm Bank(r). State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies. State Farm is ranked 21st on the Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit statefarm.com(r) or in Canada at statefarm.ca.

2. A look at the 2004 LPGA Tour rookie class: Part two

This week, we take a second look at the 2004 LPGA Tour rookie class, a group that is a mixture of world talent representing 11 countries. This is the second in a four-part series of brief snapshots of the members of the 2004 LPGA Tour rookie class; players are listed in alphabetical order.

Russamee Gulyanamitta, Thailand - By tying for 32nd at the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament, Gulyanamitta earned non-exempt status for 2004, and in doing so became the first player to represent Thailand on the LPGA Tour. Her international experience should help her adjust to playing among the world's best. In addition to competing on the Futures Tour last year, she won the Taiwan Kosaido Ladies Open and lost in a playoff in the Malaysian Kosaido Ladies Open. Her strong showings helped her lead the order of merit on the Kosaido Asian Circuit. Gulyanamitta was also the runner-up at the 2000 U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links Championship. Off the course, the 27-year-old enjoys basketball, pingpong and playing the guitar.

Riko Higashio, Japan - Higashio turned professional in August of 1998 after graduating from the University of Florida with a degree in psychology. While at Florida, she won four collegiate tournaments and was a two-time All-American. Higashio was also the 1998 Dinah Shore Award recipient. She showed true grit while earning her exempt Tour card for the 2004 season, as she survived a three-hole, eight-way playoff at the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament. She qualified for the Tour on her second attempt.

Juli Hilton, United States - Hilton, who is a mother of two, calls Saratoga, Calif., home. She attended the University of San Francisco and graduated with a degree in sports administration in 1993. Hilton didn't pick up the game until she was 18, making her three collegiate runner-up finishes that more impressive. She tied for 17th at the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament to earn exempt status for the 2004 season. Last year, Hilton competed on the Futures Tour, where her season-best finish was fourth place. She married her husband, Shaun, in August 1997. Hilton enjoys music, movies, NFL football, but most of all playing with her children, Mackenzie (4) and Trevor (3).

Katherine Hull, Australia - After graduating with a degree in sports administration from Pepperdine University, Hull wasted little time picking up her first win as a professional. She won the first two events she entered on the Futures Tour, but was unable to parlay that success into an exempt card for 2004. Hull tied for 42nd at the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament to earn non-exempt status for the upcoming year. Her amateur career is well-documented. Hull was the 2003 NCAA College Player of the Year, an All-American form 2002-03 and winner of eight collegiate events. She also won the 2003 Dinah Shore Award and recorded the lowest 18- and 54-hole scores in NCAA history. While not on the course, Hull enjoys Bible study, movies and music.

Amy (Chin-Huei) Hung, Taiwan - Hung is the sole rookie from Taiwan in 2004 and is non-exempt after tying for 42nd at the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament. The 23-year-old's amateur resume is highlighted by 50 junior and amateur wins worldwide, and she did win a professional event as an amateur in 1997. She began playing golf when she was eight and qualified for the LPGA Tour on her first attempt. Hung enjoys swimming in her free time.

Brandi Jackson, United States - Jackson is as Belton, S.C., resident and attended Furman University. She graduated in 2003 with a degree in health and exercise science, and she was a Second-Team All-American during her playing days. In 2002, Jackson was the runner-up at the U.S. Women's Amateur Championship. She qualified for the Tour on her first attempt and earned exempt status for 2004 after she tied for 17th at the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament. She competed on the Futures Tour last year and in her free time enjoys shopping, sports, tubing and scrapbooks.

Seol-An Jeon, Korea - The 22-year-old Jeon didn't begin playing golf until she was 15 and then needed only one attempt to earn exempt status for 2004, as she tied for 12th at the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament. She competed on the Futures Tour last year, where she collected five top-10 finishes and ended the year 11th on the money list. While not on the course, Jeon enjoys catching up on sleep and watching cartoons.

Brief snapshots of the other members of the 2004 LPGA Tour rookie class will continue for the next two weeks.

3. LPGA News and Notes

Cartwright plays to pay for scholarships: "Operation Birdie" benefits Special Operations Warrior Foundation. Catherine Cartwright, co-medalist at the 2003 LPGA Tour Final Qualifying Tournament, will donate her first LPGA paycheck this season and $25 for each birdie she makes in LPGA competition to Operation Birdie, a program benefiting the Special Operations Warrior Foundation (SOWF). Its mission is to provide full college scholarships for the children of Special Operations personnel killed in operational or training missions.

The 20-year-old Cartwright first competed on the LPGA Tour in 2002 and initiated her birdies program her rookie year, raising nearly $10,000 for the SOWF. This year, she is seeking to involve even more players and patrons.

"Phil Mickelson has gotten involved in the program, and what he's done with major sponsors is tremendous," said Cartwright. "My idea is to interact directly with other families to help the Warrior Foundation family. Our country's freedom is so fragile, and men and women die all the time defending it. The Special Operations Warrior Foundation gives the families a little more comfort knowing their children's futures are more secure."

Details on Cartwright's Operation Birdies can be found on the SOWF Web site, www.specialops.org. Fans can make pledges by phone or at operationbirdies@att.net, and Cartwright will send them a weekly update on her progress through the season. Also, Cartwright will update fans and sponsors on her progress throughout the year on her messageboard on LPGA.com, the official Web site of the LPGA. Fans can post messages to Cartwright as well (click on the green "Messageboards" box in the center of the LPGA.com home page).

Since America launched Operation Enduring Freedom and the war on terrorism, special operations forces have lost 87 personnel, leaving behind 99 children. Today there are more than 480 children across the country in the Warrior Foundation family.

Palmer named teaching pro at Sahalee Country Club. Nineteen-time LPGA tournament winner Sandra Palmer will begin her new teaching position at the prestigious Sahalee Country Club in Sammamish, Wash., on March 1. Sahalee is annually regarded as one of the top 100 courses in the United States and will host the 2010 PGA Championship, an honor it last held in 1998.

Web site launched for two LPGA tournaments. The Web site www.safewaygolf.com has been launched to help promote and provide information for two LPGA tournaments on the 2004 schedule. The Safeway International Presented by Coca-Cola is scheduled for March 18-21 at Superstition Mountain Golf and Country Club in Superstition, Ariz., with Se Ri Pak as the defending champion. The Safeway Classic Presented by Pepsi will take place Sept. 17-19 at Columbia Edgewater Country Club in Portland, Ore. Annika Sorenstam is the defending champion. Visitors to www.safewaygolf.com will be able to get up-to-date information concerning both tournaments, purchase tickets and browse volunteer opportunities.

Porter-King re-elected to USGA Executive Committee. Mary Bea Porter-King has been re-elected to serve on the 15-member Executive Committee of the United States Golf Association. She was first elected to the committee in 2000. Porter-King, who played competitively on Tour from 1973-98, collected one career title, the 1975 Golf Inns of America event.

Beisiegel in cyberspace. LPGA Tour rookie Isabelle Beisiegel recently launched her Web site, www.isabellebeisiegel.com. Fans can log on to see what Beisiegel is up to and can vote in her online survey. Other pieces of interest include her biography and a photo gallery.

LPGA birthdays. The following LPGA Tour players are celebrating birthdays this week. Feb. 9 Cherie Byrnes (28) Kate Golden (37) Marilyn Lovander (49) Feb. 12 Kristen Samp (30) Feb. 13 Patty Berg (86) Vickie Odegard (39) Celeste Troche (23) Feb. 14 Mickey Wright (69)