Gerina Piller’s Clutch Putt Earns “September Kia Most Compelling Performance Award”
Fan Vote for Season-Ending Award Opens Today
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., October 1, 2015 – Gerina Piller delivered the defining moment in the United States’ historic comeback at The Solheim Cup in Germany, holing a nine-foot par putt to defeat Caroline Masson 1 UP in her critical singles match. The clutch performance on one of golf’s biggest stages earned Piller the Kia Most Compelling Performance Award for the month of September. Kia is the Official Automotive Partner of the LPGA.
Piller’s up-and-down on the 18th hole from the thick, greenside rough was more impressive considering the pressure-packed significance. After Caroline Masson missed a 10-foot birdie putt that would have halved the match and earned the half point needed to retain the Cup for Team Europe, Piller looked at the scoreboard and knew that her putt was to keep the Americans’ hopes alive to pull off the biggest comeback in the event’s history. Team USA would win 8 ½ of the 12 possible points during Sunday’s singles session to overcome a four-point deficit and give the U.S. its first Solheim Cup victory since 2009.
The 2015 Kia Most Compelling Performance Award winner will be announced at the season-ending 2015 CME Group Tour Championship following an online fan vote (fan voting begins October 1, 2015). Previous winners of the 2015 monthly awards were Lydia Ko for her win at the ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open in February, Cristie Kerr for her win at the Kia Classic in March, Sei Young Kim for her stellar performance at the LOTTE Championship Presented by HERSHEY in April, Minjee Lee for her performance at the Kingsmill Championship in May, Inbee Park in June for winning her third consecutive KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, Chella Choi in July for her first career win at the Marathon Classic Presented by Owens Corning and O-I and Kris Tamulis in August for her first career win at the Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic, tying a career best in relation to par with a final round 7-under-par 65 to edge out Yani Tseng and Austin Ernst by one shot.
Performances may include a single tournament, multiple tournaments, single-round accomplishments or record-breaking performances. Winners of all the 2015 Kia Performance Awards will receive an all-new 2016 Kia Sorento, Kia’s best-selling CUV.
The 2015 Kia Performance Awards are:
- Kia Power Drive - Awarded to the player with the longest driving distance
- Kia Drive to the Top - Awarded to the player with the most top-10 finishes
- Kia Most Compelling Performance - Recognizes a player with an exceptional performance throughout the year; this award will be awarded monthly then the year-end winner will be chosen by fans through an online vote
- Kia Community Assist - Recognizing a player who makes exceptional contributions to charity organizations or community programs