South African Teen Coming to America

Ashleigh Simon of South Africa has accepted a sponsor's exemption to the second annual Ginn Tribute Hosted by Annika. The $2.6 million event will again be played at RiverTowne Country Club in Mt. Pleasant, S.C., May 26 through June 1.

Simon, who will turn 19 on May 11, is a non-exempt rookie on the LPGA Tour. She turned professional in May 2007 and competed on the Ladies European Tour (LET), where she won the Catalonia Ladies Masters and tied for 24th at the Evian Masters. Simon tied for 18th at the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament to earn non-exempt status for the 2008 LPGA season.

"I am honored to receive the sponsor's exemption to the Ginn Tribute Hosted by Annika," said Simon. "Annika is a role model to many golfers and especially to those my age who are just joining the world of professional golf. Ginn Resorts is a dedicated sponsor and I am pleased to have the opportunity to play one of their courses and in one of their events."

Though still a teenager Simon has enjoyed a remarkable career, winning four professional events as an amateur, including the 2004 South African Open at age 14. Simon also won the 2005 Pam Golding Classic and the Nedbank Masters in 2006 on the Ladies African Tour. Before turning professional, she won the South African Open for a second time.

The four-time South African Amateur Stroke Play champion (2004-07) and a three-time South African Amateur Match Play champion (2004, 2006-07) competed in the 2006 Rolex Tournament of Champions and in the 2006 World Amateur Team Championships. She also partnered with Laurette Maritz in representing South Africa three times (2005-07) at the Women's World Cup of Golf, an unofficial LPGA Tour event.

In 2006 Simon again won the South African Amateur double and made a mark in the U.S. by winning the AJGA Rolex Tournament of Champions, being named a First-Team Rolex Junior All-American.

She qualified for the Ricoh Women's British Open, and received invitations to play in two other LET events. The highlight of 2006 was when she and her teammates won the World Amateur Golf Championships on their home turf in Cape Town.

In January 2007 Simon received invitations to the two LET tournaments in Australia. She was leading amateur in the 2007 Australian Women's Open in Sydney, finishing 20th. On the March 12, 2007, Simon once again made history by winning the WPGA Ladies South African Open for the second time in three years as an amateur. She also finished as the leading points scorer on the WPGA Ladies Tour.

The youngster started playing golf at age 6 and credits her father as the individual who most influenced her career.