Ochoa wins the 2008 Ginn OPEN!

With a 68-67-65-69=269 (19 under par), Lorena Ochoa secured her fourth victory in a row, 6th victory this season and her 22nd LPGA Tour victory at the Ginn OPEN.  Ochoa entered the final round with a one-stroke lead and finished three strokes ahead of rookie Yani Tseng.  » Final Results & Interviews

Ginn OPEN Tournament Course One of THE Best

Golfweek Magazine has ranked the Ginn OPEN Tournament Course one of "The Best Tournament Courses You Can Play".  Reunion, home to the Ginn OPEN, was ranked #20.  Read more about the award and see the complete list of rankings.

TIME names Lorena Ochoa one of the 100 most influential people in the world

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., May 1, 2008 – LPGA Tour player and world number one Lorena Ochoa today joins an acclaimed list of individuals honored in this year’s TIME 100. As TIME managing editor Richard Stengel writes in his Letter to Readers, “The TIME 100 is not a list of the smartest, the most powerful, or the most talented—it is a thoughtful and sprightly survey of the most influential individuals in the world. Influence, like those other categories, is subjective, but you try to measure it in the effect people have on the world.” ... read more

Ochoa Wins the 2008 Ginn OPEN

The 2008 Ginn OPEN has come and gone, and left behind some amazing stories. After four days of challenging golf, it was Lorena Ochoa who once again proved her dominance of the LPGA, taking home the much coveted Dale Chihuly designed Kelly Jo Dowd Trophy.

The Ginn OPEN was a tournament that had twice previously escaped Ochoa, and this year wasn't without challenge. Strong play from rookie Yani Tseng kept pressure on Ochoa, but in the end, she managed to hold her lead, even putting a couple of strokes between the two of them, reminding the golf world why she is number one, and taking home her fourth victory in a row.

Ginn Open renames championship trophy

By Tim Reynolds, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Kelly Jo Dowd's memory will live on at the Ginn Open.

The LPGA tournament is renaming its winner's trophy in memory of Dowd, the Palm Harbor, Fla., woman whose fight against breast cancer made international headlines two years ago when her then-13-year-old daughter, Dakoda, played in the event.

Now, the Ginn winner will receive what is being called "The Kelly Jo Dowd Championship Trophy." ... read more.

Ginn Employee Trini Hartley chosen to present the 2008 Ginn OPEN trophy

Ginn Resorts employee Trini Hartley presented Ginn OPEN champion Lorena Ochoa with the Kelly Jo Dowd Championship Trophy April 20

Following a four-day search for an employee to represent Ginn Resorts in the presentation of the first Kelly Jo Dowd Championship trophy, Trini, a featured builder liaison at Tesoro, was selected to present the trophy.

Trini, who has been with Ginn Resorts for nearly five years, is currently battling Stage 4 metastatic breast cancer. She undergoes chemotherapy treatments every Friday.

“I followed the story of Kelly Jo and the Dowd family, and I completely understood the need for a mother to see her child live out a dream,” Trini said.

“I am thrilled I was able to represent Ginn Resorts and present this beautiful trophy recently renamed in Kelly Jo’s honor.”

The Ginn OPEN renamed its tournament trophy in memory of Kelly Jo Dowd, mother of Dakoda Dowd, the then 13-year-old who played in the 2006 Ginn OPEN on a sponsor’s exemption to fulfill her mother’s dying wish. Kelly Jo Dowd died of complications from breast cancer in 2007.

The 2008 Ginn OPEN will make a contribution to Making Memories and the KJ Koda Dowd Fund.
 

Annika Sorenstam swaps putts for pool

Golf star Annika Sorenstam traded in her golf club for a pool cue and faced off against billiards champion Sarah Ellerby in a friendly pool game during the 2008 Ginn OPEN^â.

While the No. 2 ranked golf star has a billiard’s table at home, she admitted that her table was dusty and her skills were rusty – especially against No. 7 ranked billiards pro Ellerby.

“This isn’t really my sport by any means, but I am competitive – doesn’t matter if it’s golf, pool or cards,” Sorenstam said. “I try to do the best I can.”

The champion athletes settled for a tie, each clinching one victory on the new state-of-the-art, custom-made billiards table at Ginn Reunion Resort.

Ellerby, known as Velvet in the billiards world, will make a series of special appearances at Reunion Resort throughout the year to teach members and guests basic pool fundamentals to raise their game.

Sorenstam, with more than 80 victories across the globe, operates the ANNIKA Academy, her 5,400 square-foot golf school, from Ginn Reunion Resort.

+ View photos from this special event
 

GINN OPEN PARTNERS WITH CYPRESS GARDENS

The Ginn OPEN has partnered with Central Florida's oldest theme park, Cypress Gardens. The partnership will allow anyone attending the Ginn OPEN a free ticket into Cypress Gardens between April 19th and May 23rd. All attendees of the Ginn OPEN will have to hold onto their weekly badges or daily tickets and show them at the ticket window when they go to Cypress Gardens to receive their one free pass.

“This partnership provides both Cypress Gardens and the Ginn OPEN an excellent opportunity to cross market our offerings to our similar demographic audiences,” said Steve Baker, President and CEO of Baker Leisure Group, the park’s new management company. “We look forward to working with a solid partner like Ginn on this event and future opportunities.”
 

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