Winslow Earns Sponsor's Exemption To LPGA Event in Florida

Andia Winslow, the first African-American to compete in the Ivy League and for Yale University, and the first African-American to compete on the LPGA in four years, has accepted a sponsor's exemption to the inaugural Ginn Clubs & Resorts Open at the Reunion Resort & Club, April 24-30.

Winslow will compete against the prominent 144-player field, which is also expected to include No.1-ranked LPGA player Annika Sorenstam. The field will be squaring off for one of the richest purses in the history of the LPGA at $2.5 million.

Winslow is the first African-American since LaRee Pearl Sugg in 2001 to compete on the LPGA. The Orlando-area resident and Seattle, Wash., native said she’s honored to play in the event. Winslow was also the first recipient for a full scholarship at Yale University from the Jackie Robinson Foundation.

"I'm delighted and pleased about the chance to play in the Ginn Open," Winslow said. "The city of Orlando is embracing the event, I am working hard on my game and I'm excited about the whole experience."

"Andia is a wonderful addition to the premiere field we have at the Ginn Clubs and Resorts Open," said Bobby Ginn, president and CEO of Ginn Clubs & Resorts. "She is a trailblazer being the first African-American to play at Yale, and shows great determination as she perseveres to be on the LPGA some day. We look forward to watching the Orlando-based players please the hometown crowd."

Winslow is the first African American to play varsity golf for Yale University (2000-03). She is now a freelance writer and a documentary filmmaker. Her uncle is Pro Football Hall of Fame member Kellen Winslow. She was the 1999 National Minority Junior Golfer of the Year and first-ever African-American, man or woman, to compete in the Ivy League.

Winslow is currently playing amateur tournaments with hopes of eventually qualifying for the LPGA; she won the Golfweek Orlando State Championship in 2005. She currently works at the Walt Disney World Golf Resort and served as the Assistant Director of Golf at the Yale University Golf Course in 2004.

Tickets for the tournament are $10 for each of the practice rounds and pro-am days, and $30 for general admission for each of the four rounds. Parking is complimentary and included with each ticket. Weekly badges are $80, which allows guests access to all of the tournament events as well as the two evenings of music on Friday and Saturday night with concerts by the Pointer Sisters and Brooks & Dunn, to name a few. Practice rounds will be held on Monday, April 24 and Tuesday, April 25. The Pro-Am will be held on Wednesday, April 26 and the 72-hole competition will begin Thursday, April 27 and run through April 30.

Seniors will be admitted to Thursday's first round of play for $15 and all military will be admitted to the final round on Sunday for $15. Fans interested in group sales and sponsorship information can call the tournament office at 877-GINNTIX.

The inaugural Ginn Clubs & Resorts Open will be played at Reunion Resort & Club on a composite layout of two of the resort's courses, the Legacy Course designed by Arnold Palmer and the Independence Course by Tom Watson. CBS Sports and The Golf Channel will televise the event nationally.

The 7,154-yard Independence Course, Watson's first Florida design, has garnered many accolades since opening in February 2005. Also challenging is the 6,916-yard Legacy Course. Reunion's third course, the Tradition Course, a Jack Nicklaus Signature design, is slated to open in early 2007.