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Feb. 23, 2006

Amarillo golfer Ryan Palmer presented a $5,000 gift from the Ryan Palmer Foundation that will benefit golf scholarships for the West Texas A&M University men's and women's golf programs on Thursday (Feb. 23).

"A major focus of the Ryan Palmer Foundation is to help the community and helping kids achieve their dreams is a goal of the Foundation. This endowment is a great opportunity to contribute to the West Texas A&M golf program," Palmer said. "Hopefully, it will help develop and produce future PGA and LPGA golfers. This is just a tremendous honor and we look forward to many years to come."

Palmer is an Amarillo native currently on the Professional Golfers Association (PGA) Tour. This season, Palmer notched his first top-10 of 2006, by tying for 10th at the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, Jan. 22, at La Quinta, Calif. The following week at the Buick Invitational at Torrey Pines Golf Club at La Jolla, Calif., Palmer matched his career-low round with a 10-under 62 on the North Course during the second round, finishing 35th. Palmer's best result of the young season was finishing second at the FBR Open on Feb. 5 at Scottsdale, Ariz.

Amarillo PGA golfer Ryan Palmer addresses the media at the press conference announcing an endowment gift from the Ryan Palmer Foundation to the WTAMU golf program. {Photo by Rik Andersen}

Palmer is currently 19th on the Tour's money list this season, and has one PGA Tour victory, winning the 2004 Funai Classic at Walt Disney World Resort.

The Ryan Palmer Foundation was founded in 2004 and is a Texas non-profit corporation. The foundation has begun to implement its funding mission, including youth golf clinics, special community golf programs, scholarship programs, educational programs, and benevolence to local youth and organizations in need.

"When trying to build a solid program like we're doing here at WTAMU, it is important to have the support of people like Ryan Palmer and his Foundation. Ryan Palmer lives the dream of the Foundation every day by playing golf and this endowment will establish an opportunity for West Texas A&M golfers to reach and live that dream," WTAMU men's head golf coach Jeremy Hodges said.

"One of the things that makes golf exciting is the rapport that's built within the team and the community, and this endowment will build a solid relationship between WTAMU golf and the Ryan Palmer Foundation, and will allow talent in the local area to compete on a national level," WTAMU women's head golf coach Meredith Easley said.

The Foundation's three major tenets are: Etiquette (Education), Athleticism (Health), and Achievement (Opportunity to Succeed).

The Foundation's mission is: "To promote community involvement with a constant focus on the health and education of today's young people and their opportunity to succeed."

For more information on the Ryan Palmer Foundation, check out www.ryanpalmerfoundation.org.

The WTAMU women's golf team opens the spring season this weekend, heading to San Antonio, Texas to compete in the St. Mary's University Invitational, Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 25-26.

The WTAMU's men's golf team also opens the spring season this upcoming week, traveling to Austin, Texas to participate in the St. Edward's University Invitational Monday and Tuesday, Feb. 27-28.

Both the women's and men's team will be participating in several tournaments this spring, including hosting the WTAMU/Subway Invitational, April 3-4 at Amarillo. The men will play at LaPaloma Golf Club, with the women playing at Tascosa Country Club.

-WT-