MARISA BAENA
Birthdate: June 1, 1977
Birthplace: Pereira, Colombia
Age: 28
Ht: 5’4"
Home: Weston, Fla.
College: Univ. of Arizona
Turned Professional: 1998
LPGA Tour Wins: None
Player Notes:
Professional
2004 Highlights
• Posted her season-best finish at the State Farm Classic, where she tied for 17th.
• Carded a season-low 67 in the first round of the Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic Presented by Kroger.
• Recorded her first career hole-in-one during the first round of the Longs Drugs Challenge.
• Returned to the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament Presented by American Airlines, where she tied for 37th to earn non-exempt status for the 2005 season.
2004 Stats (Rank)
Rds under par: 11/62 (133)
Rds in the 60s: 8/62 (88)
Birdies: 1554 (106)
Eagles: 5 (38)
Greens in reg: 58.9% (141) Driving accuracy: 57.1% (163)
Sand saves: 31.8% (119)
Putts per GIR: 1.84 (82)
Driving avg: 257 (35)
Career Highlights
• In 2003, recorded her career-best finish at the Jamie Farr Kroger Classic Presented by ALLTEL, where she tied for second.
• In 2002, posted her season-best finish at the Bank of Montreal Canadian Women's Open, where she tied for 11th.
• In 2001, recorded her season-best finish of third at the Kathy Ireland Championship Honoring Harvey Penick, where she posted her career-best score of 64 during the third round.
• In 2000, best finish of the season was a tie for seventh at the LPGA Takefuji Classic; returned to the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament and finished tied for fourth to earn exempt status for 2001.
• In 1999, came on strong late in the season, posting two top-five finishes: tied for fourth at the State Farm Rail Classic and tied for fifth at the First Union Betsy King Classic; finished the season in the top 90 on the money list to earn exempt status for the 2000 season.
• In 1998, tied for 58th at the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament to earn non-exempt status for the 1999 LPGA season.
Amateur
Baena had an impressive amateur career. In 1996, she was the runner-up at the U.S. Amateur Championship to Kellie Kuehne, won the Pacific-10 Championship and the West Regional Championship. She was a member of the University of Arizona's golf team, where she won 10 tournaments; was the 1996 NCAA individual champion; and was named the University of Arizona's Player of the Year in 1996-97. Baena was a first-team All-American from 1996-98.
Personal
Started playing golf at the age of six . . .Credits her parents as the individuals most influencing her career . . .Has two sisters. Cristina Baena plays on the Futures Tour and also played at Arizona. . .Qualified for the Tour on her first attempt.