Arizona Women's Golf Association

THE SPOTLIGHT’S ON . . . ALL OF OUR 2005 AWARD WINNERS

Tui Selvaratnam – Player of the Year

In 2005, Tui earned 1,725 points – more than double the points of her next closest competitor. To be named “Player of the Year” an individual must earn the highest number of points during the year by participating in specific golf events that award point through a carefully established point system.

Her skill is undeniable and consistent. She regularly wins or places inmost tournaments and has been named Player of the Year for five consecutive years, 2001-2005. Her attitude and talent are a testament to women’s golf and her recurring participation in events demonstrates her commitment to the sport.

Tui is known throughout the state in all areas of golf competitions. She is highly regarded as a focused and deliberate player who consistently plays her best. In 2005, among her many accolades are the AWGA State Amateur match Play Championship and the AWGA Scotch Play Overall Champion with Lynn Simmons.

Other tournaments where she placed in order to earn points included:
• US Women’s Open Qualifier
• Phoenix Metro Championship
• Heather Farr Match Qualifier
• Western Women’s Amateur
• Women’s Transnational
• USGA Mid-Am Qualifier
• AWGA State Stroke Play Championship
• USGA State Team – Arizona
• USGA Mid-Am
• SAWA Championship

Her record is truly one of a champion. She is a past winner of the AWGA Weekend Classic, AWGA Short Course Tournament, and celebrated a four-time victory in the AWGA State Stroke Play Championship.

In 2005, Tui’s family was among those affected by the devastating tsunami in Asia and she was there at the time to help and support them. She is back in Sri Lanka with her family now as we celebrate and recognize her unequaled talent.

The AWGA is proud to present Tui Selvaratnam with the “Player of the Year” award. She has truly demonstrated the skill, passion and commitment to women’s amateur golf in this state. Congratulations, Tui!

Barbara Byrnes – Senior Player of the Year

Barbara Byrnes has a long string of championships to her credit and 2005 has been no exception. With 800 points in the AWGA Point Qualification, Barb has more than twice the amount of points of her next closest competitor to earn the title of “Senior Player of the Year” for the second consecutive year.

A college tennis player, Barb’s amateur golf career started in 1994. Her innate athletic ability was immediately obvious as she established her very first USGA Handicap at 18. She played in her first tournament in 1995 and from then until 1999 she won a few local club tournaments as she honed her competitive skills. In 1999, Barb became a member of the AWGA and joined Red Mountain Ranch Country Club where she has been the women’s champion 4 of the 7 years in which she has participated. Between 1998 and now, Barb has had a steady record of successes in local, state and national championships.

2005 started and ended with a bang for Barb! She won 3 – 2005 AWGA tournaments beginning with the first of the season, the Weekend Classic. She also won the last tournament of the season, the State Medallion Overall Gross and Team Championship representing Papago Women’s Golf Club. In between these two victories, she won the AWGA State Senior Championship for the second year in a row.

In addition to these major wins, Barb also had other outstanding accomplishments in 2005.

• She had her first “witnessed” hole-in-one (her actual first one happened while she was playing alone)
• Qualified for the USGA Mid-Amateur (tied for 64th in the National Championship in Houston)
• Qualified for the USGA Senior Amateur Championship (advanced to match play in the National Championship in Rye, NY)
• 2nd at Southeastern Arizona Amateur
• 3rd at Phoenix City Championship
• 3rd at the Women’s Transnational Senior 4-Ball
• Papago Club Champion

Barb holds a B.S. degree in Computer Science from the University of Oregon and a Masters in International Management (Finance) from Thunderbird Graduate School of International Management in Glendale, AZ. She is also a CPA and enjoyed a successful business career as a financial executive for 17 years in the Chicago area. She won several awards for excellence in corporate financial strategies, one of which included being a featured on the CBS show “Money Talks.”

Despite her rigorous schedule on the course, Barb understands the value of volunteering and serves as Treasurer on the AWGA Board of Directors. Her commitment to women’s golf along with sharing her professional expertise have been a source of leadership, knowledge, strength, energy, and animated spirit for the AWGA.

Congratulations, Barb, on another year of spectacular golf!

Colleen Green – AWGA Representative of the Year

Colleen is an old friend of the AWGA. Her involvement with women’s golf in the state of Arizona runs deep and long. From moving to Arizona in 1987 as a novice golfer to being chosen as the “Arizona Women’s Golf Association 2005 Representative of the year,” Colleen as come a long way.

Golf was far removed from Colleen’s mind when she was a young homemaker. She kept herself busy with hubby and family until her last child was in school. She then went to work outside the home and spent almost 20 years at the local TV cable company, Viacom International. She ended her career as the local radio station’s traffic manager.Colleen’s interest in golf was sparked when her husband retired and they became permanent residents of Arizona.

The Great Eagle Golf Course Ladies Club was formed in 1988 and Colleen was one of its charter members. That’s when she enthusiastically began her pursuit of the game of golf and all the volunteer opportunities that presented.
Colleen is not only the AWGA Representative at Great Eagle but she also serves as their handicap Chair and Central Arizona Golf District (CAGD) Rep, along with serving on the AWGA Tournament Committee and as tournament director for the CAGD. In her work as AWGA Rep, Colleen consistently makes sure her fellow club members are well informed about the activities going on at the state level and are receiving all the AWGA communications such as the newsletter and NewsBlasts. She is diligent about telling new club members about the AWGA and their membership in the organization. She effectively runs her club’s local state medallion tournament and encourages her winners to compete at the state level, where they won first place in their flight in the 2005 competition. As a matter of fact, when we asked her club President for her input in selecting our AWGA Rep of the Year, Colleen was rated a perfect 10!Colleen’s other volunteer activities include acting as a walking scorer for the LPGA Safeway International, assisting with the state high school regionals and the Joanne Winter Arizona Silver Belle.

The AWGA would like to thank Colleen for her dedication, her unselfish giving of her time, her cheerful attitude, and her outstanding work for the association. She truly deserves the title of “AWGA Representative of the Year” for her numerous efforts in her club and the countless jobs she performs for the AWGA. Congratulations, Colleen!

Augusta Ranch Golf Club - Host Club of the Year

The Augusta Ranch Team

How appropriate that the recipient of the 2005 AWGA “Host Club of the Year” award has a motto so relevant for women who love to play golf. They are proud to announce that they are “The Augusta That Welcomes Women” and they have definitely shown our members that they know how to roll out the red carpet. It was an easy choice since Augusta Ranch stood out among the rest as being a perfect course for women golfers and for our Short Course Tournament. It offered the best of both worlds -- it’s not intimidating for high handicappers and it’s a lot of fun for more skilled players. But that’s just one reason why we chose Augusta Ranch as our Host Club of the Year.

August Ranch Golf Club opened in 1999 and has continuously enjoyed a reputation for providing professional and quality service along with meticulous course maintenance. Their friendly and welcoming atmosphere made it an outstanding venue for our tournament. Its management team is known for offering first rate customer service to all who play their course. The landscaping is top notch and was transformed to an even more beautiful state before our tournament. Mike Mooney, Golf Course Manager, Henry Trevino, Head Golf Pro, and Eduardo Morales, Golf Course Superintendent, took every step possible to have the course ready for us and to be certain it was in the best condition for our players. It was obvious that they took great pride in their course. Mike made himself available the day before while setting up for the tournament. Eduardo went the extra mile and rocked in drainage areas as well as built bridges with beautiful Arizona natural rocks to add to the beauty of the course. He made sure all boundaries were well defined, making it a much easier task for our Rules team to set up. Mike, Henry and Eduardo were enthusiastic about hosting an AWGA tournament and constantly showed it throughout the planning process and the day of the event. They demonstrated the kind of hospitality and attentiveness that made us feel like “their” course was “our” course too. Sergio Lopez, Food and Beverage Manager, did an outstanding job in preparing just the right lunch served in the beautiful Magnolia Room that allowed our players to view the panoramic surroundings of the course.

On the 12th of March the beautiful Bermuda grass was green and lush. The slightly contoured greens played true giving our players the opportunity to demonstrate their genuine skill level in putting. And the waterfall on hole #10 offered players the chance to step back and enjoy the picturesque scenery that engulfed the fairway and green. With every need taken care of, our players were presented with a great day on the course.

Thank You to the entire Augusta Ranch Golf Club staff for making the AWGA 2005 Short Course Tournament an overwhelming success. And a special thanks to Mike Mooney, Henry Trevino and Eduardo Morales for making our members feel so welcome. Your enthusiasm made this day “just right” for our women and you left us with an experience that our members will remember for a long time. Congratulations and Thank You!

Moon Valley Country Club - Special Recognition Award

Mary Long & Hugh Edgmon

Originally planned as a golf club in 1959, Moon Valley Country Club has evolved through the past 47 years into one of the premier country clubs in the state of Arizona. Originally designed by Dick Wilson of Delray Beach, Fl, and later renovated by Robert Cupp, the course was open for play in early 1960. The Clubhouse was completed in May 1961.

Long an advocate of women’s golf, the club has been home to some of Arizona top professionals and amateurs. Among the top women amateurs and professionals who came from this course are State Match Play Champion and Southwestern Champion, and Arizona Golf Hall of Famer, Dee Hornbake; State Match Champion and State Senior Champion Chris Holian; Southwestern Champion and State Senior Champion Donna Cunning; State Senior Champion Merle Windatt and Scotch Play Champions Linda Lambatos and Shirley McClure, LPGA Professionals Danielle and Dina Ammacapanne, Grace Park, Kristal Manzo-Parker and Patty Hurst, and LPGA teaching professional, Pam Barnett.

Over Moon Valley’s 47 year history, it has changed hands from a private, member owned club to a corporate owned (by Karsten Manufacturing) facility in 1984, and back again 2004. But its support of women’s golf has continued without waiver. The club has hosted many top amateur championships, including the AWGA Match Play Championship, the AWGA Stroke Play Championship, the Women’s Southwestern Championship, and USGA Women’s Mid Amateur Qualifying. In 1987 Karsten Solheim invited the LPGA to hold the LPGA Standard Register Championship at Moon Valley. This tradition continued until the LPGA moved the event to Superstition Mountain in 2004. The Championship that started at Moon Valley has turned into one of the top events on the LPGA tour.

After the most recent transfer of ownership, the membership at Moon Valley has continued the tradition of supporting women’s golf. In 2004 they established an open door policy toward the AWGA, inviting the organization to utilize their facilities for meetings and seminars, entertaining visiting dignitaries, as well as presenting AWGA tournaments. This invitation has filled a need that had long been unmet for the AWGA, to have a “home club”. In 2004 and 2005, the AWGA presented four very significant events at Moon Valley Country Club; the 2004 Day in Hades Tournament, the 2005 WARM (Women’s Association Round-table Meeting, attended by 13 other state and regional women’s golf association Boards of Directors from all across the nation), the 2005 State Stroke Play Championship, the 2005 Board Retreat, along with numerous Board and staff functions.

We are very pleased to present Moon Valley Country Club with this 2005 Special Recognition Award. Thank you, both members and staff, for your continuing support of women’s golf and the Arizona Women’s Golf Association.