Over the next 12 days leading up to the new year, symetratour.com will count down the top-12 most memorable stories of the tour’s 2012 season. Coming in at No. 2 is celebrating the Top-10.
Celebrating the Top-10
The No. 2 moment of the 2012 Symetra Tour season is the announcement of the first graduating class with 10 full LPGA Tour cards. Let’s take a quick look at the top-10 players who played their way to the top of the money list and will be moving on to the big stage next year.
Esther Choe
Hometown: Scottsdale, Ariz. Resides: Scottsdale, Ariz.
Birthdate: August 7, 1989
- The 2012 Symetra Tour Player of the Year
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Finished 1st on Symetra Tour Money List with $55,690
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Recorded two victories, a runner-up and a tie for second in just six starts in 2012
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Go-to meal on the road? The Outback Special: sirloin with sweet potato and veggies at Outback Steakhouse
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Favorite sports team: Green Bay Packers
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Biggest sports accomplishment is winning back-to-back events this year on Tour
Paola Moreno
Hometown: Cali, Colombia Resides: Weston, Fla.
Birthdate: August 22, 1985
Education: University of Southern California (Economics)
- LPGA Tour member since 2010
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Recorded her second-career victory on the Symetra Tour at the Eagle Classic
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Posted four additional top-10 finishes and was ranked second on Tour in Scoring Average (71.94)
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Moreno’s favorite meal? A good steak
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Says her putter is her favorite club in her bag. She was fifth on Tour in putting average (29.56)
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One thing you’ll find in her bag besides her clubs? A nail file
Victoria Elizabeth
Hometown: Dayton, Ohio Resides: Dayton, Ohio
Birthdate: March 12, 1992
- Captured her first professional win at the Credit Union Classic and recorded four additional top-10 finishes en route to finishing third on the money list ($46,565)
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AJGA Rolex Junior All-American Honorable Mention selection (2008)
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Greatest passions besides golf are her family and cooking
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If she could be on one TV show it would be one that she could talk about sports or politics
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If Elizabeth wasn’t a golfer, she would have been a reconstructive plastic surgeon
Thidapa Suwanapura
Hometown: Bangkok, Thailand Resides: Bangkok, Thailand
Birthdate: November 20, 1992
Education: Ramkhamhaeng University
- Was an LPGA Tour rookie in 2012 and made one start at the Kingsmill Championship where she tied for 55th
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Captured her first-career Symetra Tour victory at the Vidalia Championship and added five additional top-10 finishes in 2012
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Led the Tour in scoring average (71.32) and rounds under par (19)
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One thing that is always stocked in her fridge? Thai food
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Something other than golf she considers herself good at is table tennis
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Says her favorite country to travel to is Thailand
Daniela Iacobelli
Hometown: Viera, Fla. Resides: Viera, Fla.
Birthdate: November 27, 1987
Education: Florida Institute of Technology (Business Administration, 2009)
- Won the season-finale Daytona Beach Invitational to jump from No. 22 to No. 5 on the money list in the last week of the season
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Was the individual winner of the 2007 NCAA Division II Women's Golf Championship
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Interests outside of golf include traveling and music
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Best travel tip: Update your GPS and don’t forget your cell phone charger
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Would love to be on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and to get involved in her anti-bullying campaign
Mi Hyung Lee
Hometown: Incheon, South Korea Resides: Columbia, S.C.
Birthdate: March 30, 1993
- Was an LPGA Tour rookie in 2012, making five starts
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Was also a rookie on the Symetra Tour where she captured her first-career victory at the Symetra Classic
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Added three additional top-10 finishes en route to winning the Gaelle Truet Symetra Tour Rookie of the Year
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If she could meet anyone dead or alive, Lee says she would like to meet Payne Stewart
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If she had a fresh start, she would like to be a stewardess, the job she dreamed of growing up
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Most frequently visited website? Facebook
Jenny Gleason
Hometown: Clearwater, Fla. Resides: Clearwater, Fla.
Birthdate: September 28, 1980
Education: University of North Carolina- Greensboro (Finance, Insurance and Real Estate, 2003)
- Member of LPGA Tour (2005-2007, 2010, 2012)
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Captured her third-career Symetra Tour victory in 2012 at the NE Delta Dental International
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Gleason is the Executive Director of fellow tour mate and friend Angela Stanford’s charity, the Angela Stanford Foundation
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She didn’t pick up her first golf club until high school
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Favorite food is Mexican
Julia Boland
Hometown: Tamworth, NSW Australia Resides: Bryan, Texas
Birthdate: November 26, 1985
Education: University of Sydney (B.S. Exercise Physiology, 2008)
Texas A&M (M.S. Exercise Science, 2011)
- Was a 2012 Symetra Tour rookie and captured her first professional win at the Four Winds Invitational
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Admires former LPGA player Betsy King. “I think the work that she has done on and off the course is awesome. I hope that I can have as much of an impact on the world as she has had”
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If she had one day to do anything she would spend it at Disney World with her nephews and niece
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Names fellow Australian Karrie Webb as her favorite LPGA player
Nicole Smith
Hometown: Riverside, Calif. Resides: La Quinta, Calif.
Birthdate: September 28, 1980
Education: University of Tennessee (Perspectives in Human Relations & Culture, 2009)
- Recorded five top-10 finishes in 2012 en route to finishing ninth on the money list
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Led the Tour in birdies (172), greens in regulation (75%) and was second in average driving distance (269 yards)
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Describes a shark dive in Honduras as the one of the coolest experiences of her life. Smith is a certified scuba diver
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Hobbies include working out, running outside, road bicycles, snowboarding and shopping
Sara-Maude Juneau
Hometown: Quebec City, QC, Canada Resides: Quebec City, QC, Canada
Birthdate: November 1, 1987
Education: University of Louisville (Sports Administration, 2011)
- Recorded six top-10 finishes in her second year on Tour en route to finishing 10th on the season-ending money list
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Juneau’s greatest passions besides golf: hockey, TV and cooking
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Describes going to college in another country and learning the language and culture as one of the most difficult things she’s done
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Juneau is French Canadian and has a southern accent when she speaks English
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Would like to learn Spanish in two years
Topics: Counting Down
