Gal's first LPGA victory at the Kia Classic

Gal's first LPGA victory at the Kia Classic

Gal hit a wedge from 83 yards to two feet for birdie on the 18th hole to defeat Shin by a stroke and become the only Rolex First-Time winner of 2011. Gal, a native of Dusseldorf, Germany, started playing golf at the age of 6 and her father was her first golf coach. She had an accomplished amateur career, representing Germany at the European Team Championships from 2003-07 and winning the German National Girls Championship in 2003. Gal attended the University of Florida where she was a 2007 first team All-American and won four tournaments. In 2007, Gal won the Czech Invitational Championship and was the top-ranked amateur in both the European and German ranks. Gal turned professional in 2008.Gal is going to Canyon Ranch. With her victory at the 2011 Kia Classic, Sandra Gal earned an all-inclusive stay for two at a Canyon Ranch resort. In a combined effort to promote health and overall well-being among Tour players, Canyon Ranch will provide every winner of an LPGA event with one all-inclusive stay at one of Canyon Ranch's two destination resorts. When Kia and the LPGA got together last year for the inaugural Kia Classic, unbeknownst to LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan, LPGA Chief Marketing Officer Jon Podany and VP of Marketing and Communications for Kia Motors America Michael Sprague, it was also a college reunion.

The trio all graduated from Miami of Ohio in 1987 and even lived together at Dennison Hall their freshman year. “We didn’t know this until we all came together,” Sprague said. “Here’s three guys from completely different backgrounds who all lived in san diego and golf schools the same residence hall 28 years ago, and we came back together for a golf tournament.”I think just a couple injuries that I had in the beginning last season, a few cuts I missed there made me realize that this is my job.  And you've got to love what you're doing, and I wasn't loving it.  So I just changed my attitude towards it. I'm really thankful for what I'm doing and the game I play.  You know, that's made it such a big change.  Part of it is also my team, having my parents around, my coaches, Andrew Park, having Callaway with me.  So all of that together makes it happen.