MARISA BAENA

Birthdate: June 1, 1977

Birthplace: Pereira, Columbia

Age: 29 Ht: 5’4"

Home: Weston, Fla.

College: University of Arizona

Turned Professional: 1998

Joined LPGA Tour: 1999

LPGA Tour Wins: 1 - 2005 HSBC Women’s World Match Play Championship.

Player Notes: Professional

2005 Highlights

• As the 60th seed at the HSBC Women’s World Match Play Championship, pulled off six consecutive upsets to become a Rolex First-Time Winner; the $500,000 first-place paycheck, the largest ever in an LPGA event, moved her across the $1 million mark in career earnings.

• Finished eighth at the Office Depot Championship at Trump National Golf Club Los Angeles, where she recorded the second hole-in-one of her LPGA career during the third round.

• Carded season-low 66s during the second round of the ADT Championship, where she finished 13th, the first round of the Evian Masters, where she tied for 14th, and the first round of the Wendy’s Championship for Children, where she tied for 15th.

2005 Stats (rank)

Rds under par: 27/66 (28) Rds in the 60s: 16/66 (18) Birdies: 202 (53)

Eagles: 4 (23) Greens in reg: 68.4% (36) Driving accuracy: 71.8% (89)

Sand saves: 44.6% (21) Putts per GIR: 1.79 (12) Driving avg: 251.1 (44)

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

In 1996, Baena was the runner-up at the U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship, won the PAC-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...Qualified for the Tour on her first attempt.