21 Nov 2023
Dow Chairman and CEO, Jim Fitterling, was named as the recipient of the Commissioner’s Award at the 2023 Rolex LPGA Awards, which took place during the LPGA Tour’s season finale, the CME Group Tour Championship, in Naples, Florida last week.
As the Official Sustainability Resource for the LPGA and the LET and title sponsor of the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational, Dow is dedicated to sharing knowledge and experience, inspiring others and supporting the development of sustainability solutions for golf.
The Commissioner’s Award, introduced in 1991, honours a person or organisation that has contributed uniquely to the LPGA and its Members, furthered the cause of women’s golf, and possesses character and standards of the highest order.
Fitterling, the Dow Chairman and CEO, has been instrumental in the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational, creating an event with a fun, new format centred around teaming up. He has continued to support the values that both Dow and the LPGA share, as he continues to reinvest in the tournament each year.
Upon receiving the award, Fitterling commented: “In my business, we make, ship, and sell things. And like you, we love big wins and big prizes. Yet what separates us from the competition is not exactly adrenaline-pumping. It’s our focus on consistency, high-quality products, on-time delivery, accuracy, high health and safety standards, the quest to do it better, every day. The simple stuff that can often feel anything but. This is what connects Dow to the world of sport, to the beauty of golf, to those family values and to that mystical experience the LPGA delivers day after day. We’re a good fit, and we consider it our privilege to be associated with you.”
The title sponsorship of the Dow Great Lakes bay Invitational, which in 2019 became the first LPGA event to be GEO Certifed, is only a part of sustainability actions. The Celebrating the Green initiatives supported by Dow on the LPGA and LET highlight much of the great work taking place across their respective communities through the season. GEO Sustainable Golf Foundation is proud to support both organisations in driving action in environmental sustainability and climate action, partnering with Dow to provide support, guidance and advice in sustainable matters.
The LPGA Acceleration Grant, provided by Dow, enabling tournaments to join the GEO Foundation OnCourse Tournaments Program, has so far helped 57% of the LPGA events accelerate and amplify action in just two years.
These include the Portland Classic, among others, which was last week recognised with the LPGA Green Driver award supported by Dow for their innovative campaign of “Tree Boxes”.
Dow Chairman and CEO Jim Fitterling receives the Commissioner's Award from Mollie Marcoux Samaan
The other recipients of the 2023 Rolex LPGA Awards included Jane Park, who won the Heather Farr Perseverance Award; Lexi Thompson, who won the Founders Award, Hae Ran Ryu,who won the Louise Suggs Rookie of the Year award, Lilia Vu, who won the Rolex ANNIKA Major Award (RAMA), Sheri Hayes, who won the Ellen Griffin Rolex Award.
In addition, all 12 Rolex First-Time Winners on the LPGA were recognised. They were Lilia Vu(Honda LPGA Thailand), Ruoning Yin (DIO Implant LA Open), Grace Kim (LOTTE Championship presented by Hoakalei), Rose Zhang (Mizuho Americas Open), Allisen Corpuz(U.S. Women’s Open), Linn Grant (Dana Open), Elizabeth Szokol (DOW Great Lakes Bay Invitational), Alexa Pano (ISPS Handa World Invitational), Megan Khang (CPKC Women’s Open), Chanettee Wannasaen (Portland Classic), Hae Ran Ryu (Walmart NW Arkansas Championship presented by P&G), Angel Yin (Buick LPGA Shanghai).
