Tonight, many of the biggest names in women’s professional golf will gather in the Valencia Ballroom in Orlando, Florida, as the LPGA gives out its biggest awards.
The 2017 Rolex Players of the Year, Sung Hyun Park and So Yeon Ryu, will be among those honored — but they won’t be closing down the evening.
That honor will belong to Franklin native Karen Wenning Stellick, who is set to become the first person in four years to be presented with the LPGA President’s Award.
The award was first given out in 1996, but Stellick — who now resides in Colorado Springs, Colorado — will be just the third recipient since the turn of the century.
When she received a call from Deb Vangellow, the national president of LPGA Teaching & Club Professionals, informing her that she would be getting the award, Stellick was caught completely by surprise.
“She’s a friend of mine, because I’ve worked with her on the teaching division teams,” Stellick said. “So when she called, I thought she needed my help for something else. Did she want me to revamp some of the teaching protocols or something like that?
“I said, ‘Deb, what can I do for you? How can I help you?’ And she said, ‘Well actually, it’s the other way around.’ So it was completely off guard.”
It was not, however, unwarranted.
A physical therapist for more than 30 years, Stellick has worked with the LPGA for much of that time. From 1998 to 2002, she traveled with the touring pros and provided fitness instruction and injury rehabilitation help to such stars as Annika Sorenstam and Nancy Lopez.
She also has written articles for numerous outlets, including Golf Digest.
Stellick’s relationship with the game goes back to her childhood growing up in a very golf-friendly family. She played at Ball State while working on degrees in physical therapy and biology — so as she followed her career path, it only makes sense that she and golf have remained intertwined.
Tonight, her many years of giving to the game behind the scenes will be rewarded on the grandest of stages.
“I’m very honored to be honored by these women who have worked so very hard around the world,” Stellick said.
