WENDY WARD
Birthdate: May 6, 1973
Birthplace: San Antonio, Texas
Age: 32
Ht: 5'9"
Home: Edwall, Wash.
College: Arizona State
Turned Professional: 1995
Joined LPGA Tour: 1996
LPGA Tour Wins : 3 - 1997 Fieldcrest Cannon Classic. 1998 Cup Noodles Hawaiian Ladies Open, 2001 Wendy's Championship for Children
Player Notes:
Professional
2004 Highlights
• Posted her season-best finish of second place at the Franklin American Mortgage Championship benefiting the Vanderbilt Children's Hospital.
• Recorded a season-low 65 in the fourth round of the LPGA Corning Classic, where she tied for fourth.
• Finished in the top 10 three additional times: Safeway International Presented by Pepsi (T8); BMO Financial Group Canadian Women's Open (T7); and the Wendy's Championship for Children (T10).
2004 Stats (Rank)
Rds under par: 43/89 (26)
Rds in the 60s: 23/89 (28)
Birdies: 305 (16)
Eagles: 7 (19)
Greens in reg: 70.1% (16)
Driving accuracy: 66.8% (125)
Sand saves: 35% (84)
Putts per GIR: 1.81 (41)
Driving avg: 261.5 (16)
2003 Highlights
• Finished second on two occasions: at the Asahi Ryokuken International Championship at Mount Vintage; and the Wendy's Championship for Children at Tartan Fields, where she carded a season-low 63 in the final round and lost in a three-hole, sudden-death playoff to Hee-Won Han.
• Tied for sixth at the Weetabix Women's British Open.
• Qualified for her second U.S. Solheim Cup Team.
• Crossed the $2 million mark in career earnings at the Kellogg-Keebler Classic.
2003 Stats (Rank)
Rds under par: 33/75 (33) Rds in the 60s: 22/75 (17) Birdies: 273 (23)
Eagles: 8 (12)
Greens in reg: 67.1% (34) Driving accuracy: 59.9% (153)
Sand saves: 36.9% (75)
Putts per GIR: 1.82 (54) Driving avg: 264.9 (11)
2002 Highlights
• Best finish was a tie for fourth at the Mobile LPGA Tournament of Champions Presented by Ultimate Software, where she posted all four rounds in the 60s.
• Tied for 12th at the Chick-fil-A Charity Championship hosted by Nancy Lopez and tied for 15th at both the Wendy's Championship for Children at Tartan Fields and the Bank of Montreal Canadian Women's Open.
• Fired a season-low 67 on four occasions: first round of the Aerus Electrolux USA Championship Hosted by Vince Gill and Amy Grant; first round of the Kellogg-Keebler Classic; third round of the Evian Masters; and first round of the State Farm Classic.
• Earned a spot on her first U.S. Solheim Cup Team; recorded a 2-1-1 record as one of five "rookies" on the victorious U.S. Team, including a crucial halve with Annika Sorenstam in the final-day singles matches.
2002 Stats (rank)
Rds under par: 29/74 (42)Rds in the 60s: 13/74 (50)Birdies: 226 (39)
Eagles: 8 (9)Greens in reg: 69.9% (12)Driving accuracy: 63.4% (141)
Sand saves: 37.3% (66)Putting avg: 31.04 (159)Driving avg: 262.2 (11)
2001 Highlights
• After more than three years without a win, established an LPGA record for lowest 54-hole winning score with her victory at the Wendy’s Championship for Children at New Albany; Ward’s 65-62-68=195 (-21) total broke the previous record of 19-under-par by two strokes and included a career-low 62 in the second round.
• Finished second at the LPGA Champions Classic (where she was defeated by Wendy Doolan in a five-hole, sudden-death playoff) and tied for second at the Wegmans Rochester International.
• Tied for third at the McDonald’s LPGA Championship Presented by AIG for the second consecutive year, tying her career-best finish in a major championship.
• Had a career-best scoring average (71.24) and earnings total ($686,906).
• Crossed the $1 million mark in career earnings at the LPGA Takefuji Classic, where she tied for seventh.
2001 Stats (rank)
Rds under par: 39/88 (33) Rds in the 60s: 25/88 (15) Birdies: 306 (10)
Eagles: 4 (47) Greens in reg: 71.3% (8) Driving accuracy: 65.1% (144)
Sand saves: 42.5% (62) Putting avg: 30.44 (109) Driving avg: 254.00 (21)
Career Highlights
• In 2000, twice tied for thirdÑthe McDonald’s LPGA Championship and Giant Eagle LPGA Classic; at the McDonald’s LPGA Championship, called a one-stroke penalty on herself on the 13th hole during the final round; her ball moved while she was addressing it on the green, so slightly that no one saw, not even Ward; eventual champion Juli Inkster, her playing partner that day, said of Ward’s actions, ÒNo one would have known. To do what she did shows true integrity. She is the real champion today."
• In 1999, best finish came at the Standard Register PING, where she finished fifth.
• In 1998, defeated Dana Dormann on the first hole of sudden-death to record her second career victory at the Cup Noodles Hawaiian Ladies Open; carded four additional top-10 finishes.
In 1997, won the Fieldcrest Cannon Classic, where she set the LPGA 54- and 72-hole scoring records (both records have since been broken).
• In 1996, her rookie season, best finish was a tie for ninth at both the Cup Noodles Hawaiian Ladies Open and SAFECO Classic.
• In 1995, turned professional on July 17 and competed in four LPGA events; top finish was a tie for 15th at the GHP Heartland Classic; finished third at the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament to earn exempt status for the 1996 season.
Amateur
Ward had a very successful amateur career. She was the 1992 Texas State Women’s champion and the 1994 Women’s World Amateur Team medalist and helped USA take team title. She was the 1994 U.S. Women’s Amateur champion and a member of the 1994 U.S. Curtis Cup Team. Ward played at Arizona State University, where her team was three-time national champions (1993-95). In 1993, she finished in third place at the NCAA Championship and was runner-up in 1994-95. Ward also earned first-team All-America honors from 1993-95. As an amateur, Ward competed at the 1995 Standard Register PING, where she played with Laura Davies and Beth Daniel in the final pairing on Sunday and finished tied for third place. . .Started playing golf at the age of 7...Credits instructor Mike McGetrick, Lori Brock, Betty Dodd, her parents and sister Pam as the individuals most influencing her career...Married Nate Hair on Sept. 26, 1998...Hobbies include playing the piano, all sports, especially basketball and volleyball, a little bowling and shooting pool; enjoys animals, especially Labrador retrievers.