STEPHANIE PAREL NAMED TO WORLD AMATEUR GOLF COUNCIL POST

Far Hills, N.J. - The World Amateur Golf Council (WAGC) has announced the appointment of Stephanie Parel of the United States Golf Association (USGA) as manager of the WAGC.

In her new role, Parel assumes day-to-day oversight of WAGC matters and responsibility for conducting its biennial men's and women's championships that rotate among three geographic zones: Australasian, American, and European-African.

The next Women's World Amateur Team Championship will be held on Aug. 23-26 at Berlin Sporting Club Resort in Bad Saarow, Germany, while the men's championship will be conducted on Aug. 31-Sept. 3 at the same course.

It will mark the first time these competitions have been contested in Germany. Parel, 31, is a 1990 graduate of Stanford University, earning a B.A. degree in English/creative writing, and played on the women's varsity golf team for four years. She competed for three years as a professional player on the Futures, Players West, and Asian Tours from 1990-1993. She subsequently helped found Corporate Sports, a special event management group, from 1994-1995.

Parel later joined the PGA Tour's on-site operations staff from 1995-1997, and served as the head Rules official of the South American Tour during 1996. Parel has served as manager of women's competitions for the USGA since 1997, helping conduct a wide array of USGA national championships and educating golfers about the Rules.

She assumes her new WAGC duties immediately while retaining most of her existing USGA duties, including Rules education and conducting the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links championship.

"Stephanie Parel's talents and experience will strengthen the organization and promotion of the World Amateur Golf Council and the World Amateur Team Championships," David Fay, joint secretary of the WAGC and executive director of the USGA, said.

"We've never had a full-time person play such a role before, but Stephanie is well equipped to handle such a challenge."

The WAGC comprises national governing bodies of golf in more than 85 countries and is recognized by the International Olympic Committee as the International Federation for golf. The Council has been administered jointly by the Royal & Ancient Golf Club (R&A) of St. Andrews, Scotland, and the USGA since inception.

The WAGC's mission is: "To encourage the international development of golf and to foster friendship and sportsmanship among the peoples of the world."