Canadian Gail Graham receives 2002 William and Mousie Powell Award

Tue, 03 Mar 2009 01:47:00

"Two-time Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) champion and outgoing LPGA Tour President Gail Graham has been chosen as the 2002 recipient of the William and Mousie Powell Award by the members of the Tournament Division of the LPGA. The William and Mousie Powell Award recognizes an LPGA player who, in the opinion of her playing peers, through her behavior and deeds best exemplifies the spirit, ideals and values of the LPGA. The award was donated to the LPGA Tour in 1986 by the Mousie Powell, an LPGA honorary member.

"Gail has led the LPGA Executive Committee for the past two years with class and professionalism, and I am thrilled that she has been honored with this award," said Ty M. Votaw, commissioner of the LPGA. "Gail has given 100 percent of herself for the LPGA Tour as Tournament Division president, playing an integral role in the evolution and growth of the Tour during her time in that role. She is a dedicated person, a valued friend and wonderful representative of our association. I congratulate Gail for receiving this honor."

Graham, a native of Vanderhoof, British Columbia, Canada, served as president of the LPGA Tournament Division from 2001-02 and was been a member of the LPGA Executive Committee from 1994-97 and from 2000-02. Graham joined the Tour in 1990 and has earned more than $1.2 million during her 13-year career.

"I'm very honored," said Graham, who now resides in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. "I sacrificed a lot on the golf course for what I did off the golf course these past two years. I didn't do it for accolades, but to be recognized by my peers for it is pretty neat. The past winners of this award - that's such an illustrious group of players, especially the Hall of Famers. What they contributed and what they did for the Tour is amazing, and I'm glad that other players think I'm following in their footsteps in that regard."

Graham has a pair of LPGA tournament titles to her credit: the 1997 Alpine Australian Ladies Masters and the 1995 Fieldcrest Cannon Classic. Her win in 1997 helped propel her to a career-best $223,040 in season earnings. Her career-low 64 came in the second round of the 1994 Sara Lee Classic, where she went on to tie for ninth.

Prior to joining the LPGA Tour, Graham won the 1988 Manhattan Futures Classic on the Futures Tour and was the Canadian PGA Ladies champion. She was a member of the 1987 Canadian Commonwealth Championship Team and was the low amateur at the LPGA's du Maurier Ltd. Classic, which was a major championship at the time. She graduated from Lamar University in 1986, when she was an NCAA Academic All-American. Graham also won the Manitoba Amateur Championship in 1983 and 1985.

The late Mousie Powell was a close supporter and friend of the LPGA from the 1950s until her death on Jan. 18, 1997. She was married to William Powell, a Hollywood legend and one of its leading male actors. Mousie, who was also featured in movies during that time, started the William and Mousie Powell Award in 1986. The award is intended to recognize the qualities and values of sportsmanship, which are not reserved only for winners.

Past winners are Kathy Whitworth (1986), Nancy Lopez (1987), Marlene Hagge (1988), Heather Farr (1989), Judy Dickinson (1990), Pat Bradley (1991), Shelley Hamlin (1992), Alice Miller (1993), Jill Briles-Hinton (1994), JoAnne Carner (1995), Betsy King (1996), Sherri Turner (1997), Judy Rankin (1998), Meg Mallon (1999), Lorie Kane (2000) and Wendy Ward (2001).
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