Libba Galloway & Carol Mann Photo by Montana Pritchard/ The PGA of America

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., May 19, 2008--One of the game's top players, teachers and ambassadors, Carol Mann will receive the 2008 PGA First Lady of Golf Award on Wednesday, May 21. The award ceremony will begin at 7 p.m. at the Kilbourn Hall in the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y.; held in conjunction with the Senior PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club.

A golfer since she was nine, Mann would develop into one of the sport's most influential players. Her journey on the LPGA began in 1961, after turning professional in October 1960. Mann, who won 38 times�including two majors--on the LPGA Tour, was the ninth inductee into the LPGA Tour Hall of Fame (1977). She set numerous records, which raised the bar for those who followed, including, in 1968, when she recorded 23 rounds in the 60s (the most until that point), won 10 events and set a Tour-low scoring average record of 72.04, which has since been surpassed. In 1975, she was the first player to card seven consecutive birdies in a round and, during this time was also dedicating off-course time to her duties as president of the LPGA (1974-74). She has also served on the LPGA Executive Board and Board of Directors. Mann ended her competitive Tour career at the 1981 Rail Charity Classic, but her accomplishments that followed would lead a changing dynamic for the LPGA.

In 1993, she was named an honorary member of the LPGA Teaching and Club Professionals (T&CP) for her golf education commitments. She is active giving lessons at Woodlands Country Club in The Woodlands, Texas, where she now resides.

She takes the role of--coach' in many avenues through lessons; serving on various advisory boards, including the Rice University Women's Athletic Advisory Board; received a presidential appointment in 1988 to the White House Conference for a Drug-Free America; and was named one of GOLF Magazine's--100 Heroes of American Golf,--as well as one of the LPGA's top-50 players and teachers in 2000.

Photo by Montana Pritchard/ The PGA of America

Through two business ventures--serving as president of Carol Mann, Inc., and Carol Mann Golf Services, she has aided in bringing executives to the course via corporate golf programs at a variety of processional events and her expertise is valued as a product development consultant for national golf manufacturers. Carol Mann Golf Services is the first woman-owned and operated course design and management firm based in Houston.

As a leader toward increasing girls' and women's opportunities in sports, Mann has been active on the Women's Sports Foundation board of trustees and executive committee and was elected to the International Women's Sports' Hall of Fame in 1982. In 2002, her talents were also recognized through earning her PGA of America membership. A talented writer, Mann has authored --The 19th hole: Favorite Golf Stories-- and worked as a television analyst. She remains a consultant to the World Golf Hall of Fame, as well. In 2006, Mann and PGA Director of Instruction Rick Martino developed and provided lessons for Russian Cosmonaut Mikhail Tyurin. Their lessons led to Tyurin's drive into space from the deck of the Russian Space Station, honoring the 35th anniversary of Alan Shephard, Jr., hitting golf balls on the surface of the Moon during the Apollo 14 mission. Tyurin's ball is still in orbit and has become the longest in history.

The PGA First Lady of Golf Award, inaugurated in 1998, is presented to a woman who has made significant contributions to the promotion of the game of golf. For more information about the PGA First Lady of Golf award, log on to pga.com.