Former Tour player joins LPGA Board of Directors for a three-year term

DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA, Dec. 12, 2011 - The LPGA today announced that former Tour player and current LPGA member Vicki Goetze-Ackerman has been selected as the player president of the LPGA, effective January 1, 2012. Goetze-Ackerman played 18 seasons on the LPGA Tour before retiring in 2009 to pursue other interests including work with Golf Channel. She was a member of the LPGA Player Executive Committee for the 2005-07 seasons, serving as president in 2007.

"I am very honored to have been chosen as the next LPGA player president," said Goetze-Ackerman. "I am looking forward to working with Commissioner Whan and the board of directors to help grow the LPGA."

The LPGA membership has long discussed the potential benefits of electing a "non-playing" member as their player president thus enabling the president the time to focus on player issues, sponsor outreach and the variety of other responsibilities that the job entails. In September, the LPGA players approved moving to that new model allowing a non-playing member to be selected as president. Over the past three month, a search committee for a president was led by LPGA and World Golf Halls of Fame member Karrie Webb, one of six player directors on the LPGA Board.

"The search for a president was a new experience for all involved," said Webb. "It was great to have the support of the whole player body in slightly changing the implementation and outlook of our president. We are excited that Vicki has accepted the position. She already has great experience in this role and I know she is excited to have another chance to accomplish things that were very difficult to achieve while she was a playing president."

"We are excited to bring Vicki back into the fold as the player president of the LPGA," said LPGA Commissioner Michael Whan. "The responsibility of the player president role, not unlike that of many public offices, now requires a level of attention that makes it difficult for an 'active' player to manage. I am confident that Vicki will be a terrific leader for the membership and a fantastic partner to the LPGA's executive team and staff."

As an active member of the LPGA from 1994 to 2009, Goetze-Ackerman played in more than 300 events, twice tying for second at the LPGA Corning Classic. She posted 22 top-10 finishes in her 18 seasons on Tour and won the William and Mousie Powell Award in 2006, given to a player whose behavior and deeds best exemplifies the spirit, ideals and values of the LPGA.

Before joining the Tour, Goetze-Ackerman enjoyed a very successful amateur career. She was the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) Player of the Year from 1988-90. She captured the U.S. Women's Amateur Championship title in 1989 and 1992, and she was the low amateur at the U.S. Women's Open from 1989-90 and in 1992. In 1990 and 1992, Goetze-Ackerman was a member of both the U.S. Curtis Cup and the U.S. World Cup teams and was the 1992 NCAA champion. In addition, she was named the 1989 and 1991-92 Titleist/Golfweek Amateur Player of the Year, 1992 Southeastern Conference (SEC) Player of the Year and 1992 SEC Female Athlete of the Year. She played in 12 professional tournaments as an amateur and made the cut in nine. The LPGA Board of Directors is composed of independent directors, LPGA Player Directors, Dana Rader, the national president of the LPGA Teaching and Club Professionals (T&CP), and Michael Whan, Commissioner of the LPGA. The 2011 LPGA Player Directors are: Laura Diaz, Allison Fouch, Katie Futcher, Kim Hall, Karin Sjodin and Karrie Webb.

The LPGA independent board members are: Roberta Bowman, Duke Energy communications and sustainability executive; Peter Carfagna, former Chief Legal Counsel at IMG and current Chairman/CEO of Magis, LLC; Leslie Greis, founder, CEO and managing member of Perennial Capital Advisors; Karen Jennings, retired AT&T human resources and communications executive; Mike Trager, former chairman of Clear Channel Entertainment and current chairman of The Trager Group; and Bill Susetka, former CMO of the LPGA as well as former president, Clairol U.S. Retail and Clairol International.

As president, Goetze-Ackerman will travel to most domestic LPGA events. She lives in the Tampa area with her husband, Jim, and son, Jacob.

Vicki Goetze-Ackerman selected as LPGA Player President

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