Duramed FUTURES Tour
"The Road to the LPGA"
MISSION
The mission of the Duramed FUTURES Tour is to prepare the world's best young women professional golfers for a successful career on the LPGA Tour.
LPGA ALIGNMENT
The Duramed FUTURES Tour is known as "the Road to the LPGA" and since 1999, it has been designated as the LPGA’s developmental tour. The LPGA acquired the Duramed FUTURES Tour in July 2007. LPGA achievements include:
- More than 500 Duramed FUTURES Tour alumnae have gone on to earn LPGA membership.
- Through 2008, Duramed FUTURES Tour alums own a total of 345 LPGA victories and 37 major championships.
- Tour alums won 17 of 34 LPGA tournaments and two of the four major championships in 2008.
- Nine alums won 17 LPGA titles in 2008, including seven by alumna Lorena Ochoa, who was the 2002 Player of the Year on the Duramed FUTURES Tour.
- Twenty-one Duramed FUTURES Tour members earned 2009 LPGA Tour status at the LPGA’s Final Qualifying Tournament in December 2008.
TOUR FACTS
The Duramed FUTURES Tour is the most established women’s developmental tour in the world, with 29 years of structured competition.
- In 2006, the Tour signed a multi-year agreement with national title sponsor Duramed Pharmaceuticals, Inc., an innovator in women's healthcare pharmaceutical products.
- The Duramed FUTURES Tour now operates under the ownership umbrella of the LPGA.
- Tour’s 2009 schedule includes 17 tournaments in 14 states.
- Tournament purse for 2009 is nearly $1.8 million.
- Tour’s 2009 roster has attracted top women professionals from 31 different nations and 40 U.S. states
- Average age of Duramed FUTURES Tour members is 25.08 years.
- Average winning score on 2008 Duramed FUTURES Tour was 69.00, while average winning score on 2008 LPGA Tour was 68.44.
TOUR GRADUATES:
The Duramed FUTURES Tour annually awards LPGA membership to its top players on each official season money list. (Three LPGA cards were awarded from 1999-2002; five were awarded from 2003-2007; and 10 were awarded, starting in 2008). A total of 57 players have automatically "graduated” since 1999. They are as follows:
2009: Mina Harigae,
Jean Reynolds,
Misun Cho,
Samantha Richdale,
Song Yi Choi,
Whitney Wade,
Angela Buzminski,
Christine Song,
Alison Walshe,
Dewi Claire Schreefel
2008: Vicky Hurst,
Mindy Kim,
Sarah-Jane Kenyon,
M.J. Hur,
Jin Young Pak,
Song Yi Choi,
Jessica Shepley,
Leah Wigger,
Sophia Sheridan,
Kim Welch
2007: Emily Bastel,
Allison Fouch,
Mollie Fankhauser,
Violeta Retamoza,
Seo-Jae Lee
2006: Song-Hee Kim, Charlotte Mayorkas, In-Bee Park, Kristy McPherson, Meaghan Francella
2005: Seon-Hwa Lee, Virada Nirapathpongporn, Kyeong Bae, Nicole Castrale, Sun Young Yoo
2004: Jimin Kang, Lindsey Wright, Nicole Perrot, Aram Cho, Malinda Johnson
2003: Stacy Prammanasudh, Soo Young Moon, Candy Hannemann, Ju (Birdie) Kim, Reilley Rankin
2002: Lorena Ochoa, Christina Kim, Miriam Nagl
2001: Beth Bauer, Angela Buzminski, Jung Yeon Lee
2000: Heather Zakhar, Michelle Ellis, Dodie Mazzuca
1999: Grace Park, Marilyn Lovander, Audra Burks