South Korea’s Hee Young Park won the LPGA Tour’s season-ending CME Group Titleholders Championship for her first tour victory, closing with a 2-under 70 on Sunday to hold off Paula Creamer and San Gal by two strokes. Park finished at 9-under 279 at Grand Cypress and earned $500,000 as she held off some of the biggest names in women’s golf.
Another shot back were Na Yeon Choi and world No. 2 Suzann Pettersen, world No. 3 Cristie Kerr , world No. 1 Yani Tseng and Michelle Wie. It was a fantastic week at Grand Cypress – Orlando and the event was well supported by locals and visitors alike.
“I still cannot believe this,” Park said. “On the back nine I was getting like nervous and then getting tight in my body. So my caddie said, ‘Just keep going, keep trying to (play) like (it’s the) first round. You’re on the tee first time each hole, and just keep doing the same thing.’ And then I said ‘OK. My first win in the US., it feels totally different, still same kind of goose bumps, but this win, I think could change my life, my future.”
One of the top automobile auctions heads back to Kissimmee in January as over 1750 vehicles hit the auction block. The event is scheduled to run from 24 to 29 January 2012 at Osceola Heritage Park, Kissimmee, just a short drive from Florida Leisure’s vacation rental homes.
Some of the highlights of the event will be:
A Special Offering of 6 Corvettes
A special offering of 6 Fifties-era Corvettes tracks the car’s evolution from stylish “image-maker” and boulevard cruiser to SCCA National Champion, Le Mans class-winner and American cultural symbol in the span of 8 short years. Four of these jewels have been awarded with prestigious NCRS and/or Bloomington Gold honors; all are premier examples of their kind, with unique and interesting features that set them apart and demonstrate the styling and technical advances that defined the first-generation Corvette.
One Man’s Lifelong Collection
One Man’s Lifelong Collection comprises six high-caliber collector cars that reflect the widely varying tastes of a lifelong private collector, whose hobby stretches back to the 1929 Ford (Lot F264) the gentleman built while still in highschool in the 1950s. He is known by his friends and family as an adventurous, flamboyant personality with a taste for quality and the unique, and this collection is just such a mixture, from the 1950 Packard he discovered with just 1,500 miles on the odometer, to a 1959 Plymouth driven a mere 396 miles; a classic ’32 Highboy, a showroom stock 1937 Pontiac and a rare AAR Cuda 340 Six Pack 4-speed. All are fresh and ready to enjoy, the legacy of one man, reflecting the individualist in each of us.
From the Heller Collection
Dan Heller was born into the thick of the Chevy vs. Ford rivalry, coming of age when the competition reached its peak in the muscle car era of the late Sixties. His father Gene, a successful Ford dealer, raised Dan on the virtues of good business and customer service, and in doing so passed on his reverence for the cars of the Blue Oval. Not only has Dan followed in his father’s footsteps in the family business; he has fed his passion by collecting and restoring the machines that first caught his youthful imagination. Each one was, at various points in Dan’s life, THE car to have. From a 1963 Falcon Sprint convertible like the one he drove in high school to the 1969 Shelby GT350 convertible he describes as the car of his dreams, each one has been restored to be the best. “We didn’t start on any car unless we knew we could do it right”, says Dan, “and every one is the best it can be. Now it’s time for new owners to be able to appreciate and enjoy them as I have.”
The 2011 event saw five days of high-energy crowds and eager bidding. Mecum Auctions announced that total gross sales (excluding buyer’s premium) for its 2011 Kissimmee Auction reached an impressive $39.9 million.
Nearly 1,500 cars went up for bid during the auction and the auction had a 73% sell-through rate. Mecum’s top seller ($975,000) was a rare wooden boat known as “The Last Riva” – a 1996 Riva Aquarama Special Hull #774 that was the last Riva hand-built wooden boat sold to the public.
“Our Kissimmee Auction continues to evolve each year into a larger and larger event with increased sales, greater attendance and enthusiasm, and more collectible vehicles crossing the auction block,” said President Dana Mecum. “We offered a wide variety of classic cars, motorcycles, wooden boats as well as automotive memorabilia. The collector world has definitely expanded into new markets, and the Mecum Auctions team is excited and prepared to lead the charge with our popular events that deliver something for everyone’s taste and budget.”
The Top 10 Kissimmee Auction Sales (all sales reflect hammer prices) were:
1. 1996 Riva Aquarama Special Hull #774 (Lot S182) at $975,000
2. 1963 Shelby Cobra DragonSnake (Lot S121.1) at $875,000
3. 1966 Shelby Cobra 427 Roadster (Lot F211.1) at $550,000
4. 1970 Riva Aquarama Series III Hull #416 (Lot S183) at $325,000
5. 1957 Ford Thunderbird DF Phase 1 (Lot F209) at $250,000
6. 1969 Pontiac GTO Judge Convertible Ram Air III (Lot S233) at $225,000
7. 1940 Packard Darrin Convertible (Lot S97) at $205,000
8. 2007 Chevrolet Budweiser #8 NASCAR (Lot S201) at $200,000
9. 1932 Ford Hi Boy Roadster (Lot S228) at $180,000
10. 1964 Mercury A/FX Comet (Lot F163) at $175,000
LEGOLAND Florida is getting into the holiday spirit with the first annual Christmas Bricktacular. Festive decorations and sounds of the season will fill The Beginning and Fun Town through the holidays, Dec. 8-31, followed by Kids’ New Year’s Eve on Dec. 31. With more than 50 rides, shows and attractions all dedicated to families with children age 2 to 12 and one of the widest selections of LEGO® products available, LEGOLAND Florida is the best place to celebrate the season and pick up the Christmas gifts that are on every child’s wish list – LEGO!
The Beginning is home to a truly spectacular, Bricktacular sight – a more than 30-foot-tall LEGO Christmas tree made with a combination of 270,000 forest green LEGO and DUPLO® bricks. The park’s first-ever tree lighting ceremony takes place on Dec. 5 with a special master of ceremonies. Through Dec. 31, a special family will be chosen to help light the Bricktacular tree each night. Santa Claus even makes special daily appearances in the historical botanical gardens making a picture perfect spot to capture family memories sure to be treasured for years to come. Kids’ New Year’s Eve on Dec. 31 let’s kids rock out and watch the sky explode with LEGO fireworks at just the right time for them, midnight KST (Kid Standard Time) – otherwise known as 7 p.m. EST. Holiday events are included in park admission.
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay celebrates the spirit of the season with the return of several holiday classics, then rings in the New Year with special entertainment and spectacular fireworks.
From Nov. 19 to Jan. 1, there’s a festive chill in the air when Busch Gardens presents Christmas on Ice, a limited-engagement ice-skating show bringing a graceful winter wonderland to life. NEW for 2011, this guest favorite is moving to the park’s Moroccan Palace, which will soon be the home of the all-new Iceploration, opening 2-2-12.
The Marrakesh Theater decks the halls with Christmas from the Heart, featuring inspiring holiday gospel and spiritual songs performed by a live choir. In Desert Grill, join a Christmas Celebration, the musical extravaganza featuring seasonal songs, tap-dancing toy soldiers and fun for the whole family!
Join Santa and his merry elves for breakfast at Desert Grill from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Saturdays, Dec. 3 and 10. Enjoy exciting and unforgettable photo opportunities with Santa and his holiday elves, followed by a fabulous performance of our traditional family favorite Christmas Celebration. Prices are $18 for adults and $12 for children. Each adult ticket purchase includes a FREE commemorative family photo.
The rest of the park is transformed into a holiday wonderland featuring a cappella carols by the Men of Note, spectacular poinsettias, festive decorations and classic music.
Then, count down to 2012 with the biggest bash this side of midnight. Busch Gardens gives the new year a wild welcome with the band None Other playing popular party hits all evening long in Gwazi Park, followed by fireworks at midnight for the ultimate New Year’s Eve Celebration on the 31st. For more information contact Florida Leisure’s concierge at www.FloridaLeisure.com or 1-855-274-1985
The ECHL announced on Tuesday that the Board of Governors has unanimously approved the Expansion Membership application of Orlando for admission to the ECHL.
Orlando will begin play in October 2012 when the Premier ‘AA’ Hockey League will celebrate its 25th season, making it the third-longest tenured professional hockey league behind only the National Hockey League and the American Hockey League.
The Orlando membership is owned by Orlando Pro Hockey Operations, L.P., an entity controlled by Joe Haleski, Bob Ohrablo and Jason Siegel. The team will play its home games at Amway Center, which is also home to the Orlando Magic of the National Basketball Association, located in downtown Orlando.
Opened in the fall of 2010, the facility is owned and operated by the City of Orlando on behalf of the Central Florida Community. The Amway Center was designed to reflect the character of the community, meet the goals of the users and build on the legacy of sports and entertainment in Orlando. The building features a sustainable, environmentally-friendly design and unmatched technology featuring 1,100 digital monitors and the largest high-definition scoreboard in an NBA venue, and multiple premium amenities available to all patrons in the building.
“We are pleased to welcome Orlando to the ECHL,” said ECHL Commissioner Brian McKenna. “The combination of a strong market, a world-class sports facility in the Amway Center and a strong ownership group led by Joe Haleski, make this a very welcome addition to our southern geography. With decades of combined experience, this seasoned management group is well suited for the challenge of starting and operating a successful team in this major market over the long term.”
“On behalf of our partners, we are excited to be able to bring professional hockey back to Orlando and Central Florida,” said Bob Ohrablo, Managing Partner of Orlando Pro Hockey Operations, L.P. “We look forward to thousands of fans joining us in downtown Orlando for each home game at the Amway Center. We will provide an exciting team in a fun atmosphere at family-affordable prices.
“We would like to thank Mayor Buddy Dyer; the City Council; the ECHL, including Commissioner Brian McKenna and Board of Governors; the Amway Center management team; the Orlando Magic and the RDV Sportsplex for working with us to make this happen.”
“I am excited that the City of Orlando will once again be home to professional hockey,” said Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer. “The new Amway Center was designed with the goal of adding a hockey team and features amenities specific to hockey. We look forward to showcasing the new state-of-the-art Amway Center to hockey fans here in Central Florida and giving them an experience they will never forget.”
“This is a big deal and I’m delighted the first puck drop is less than a year away,” said Orlando Venues Executive Director Allen Johnson. “Having professional hockey back in Orlando will undoubtedly bring much excitement, draw new audiences and generate additional revenue for the Amway Center.”
“I couldn’t be more pleased to learn that Jason and his partners are bringing hockey back to the Orlando marketplace,” said Lou Lamoriello, President/CEO/General Manager of the New Jersey Devils. “In his six-plus years of employment with the Devils’ organization, Jason distinguished himself in every phase of his job responsibilities. Throughout our association, I was more than impressed with his work-ethic, leadership and integrity. I wish him well with his new venture.”
“Bob Ohrablo has a unique ability to learn a client’s business, then develop and execute a sponsorship program which directly meets their goals and objectives,” said Howard Dolgon, Owner/President/CEO of the Syracuse Crunch. “He is a tireless worker who never settles for mediocrity or second best.”
The ladies are back in town and this week sees the culmination of the 2011 LPGA season at the CME Group Titleholders tournament. The tournament is being staged at Grand Cypress Resort in Orlando from 17th to 20th November and will feature a field of 66 players who qualified as the top-three performers in each of 22 LPGA tournaments this year. Those players will compete for a total purse of $1.5 million in the unique season-long qualifying format with the winner earning a prize check of $500,000.
Yani Tseng & Nigel Worrall
Headlining the field and seeking her eighth LPGA title and 12th worldwide title of the year is 2011 Rolex Player of the Year Yani Tseng (pictured above) of Taiwan. Currently No. 1 in the Rolex Rankings, Tseng secured top-player status in early October at the HanaBank Championship in South Korea and will be honored with the LPGA’s Rolex Player of the Year award for the second consecutive year during this week’s CME Group Titleholders.
Among her 2011 milestones, Tseng became the first male or female golfer to win five major championships by age 22 when she emerged as the champion of the 2011 RICOH Women’s British Open. Prior to that victory, she won the tour’s second major championship of the year at the Wegmans LPGA Championship by 10 strokes, becoming the youngest female golfer to win four majors by age 22.
In addition, Tseng has dominated the race for the 2011 Vare Trophy, which rewards the LPGA player with the lowest season scoring average. That award also will be presented this week.
Tseng has recorded 40 rounds in the 60s this season and currently holds a 2011 scoring average of 69.56 strokes per round in 21 events. Hoping to win her second consecutive Vare Trophy, Na Yeon Choi is in second place with a season scoring average of 70.54 in 20 tournaments. If Tseng holds on this week and maintains a sub-70 scoring average, she will become only the sixth LPGA player in history to break 70 for a season-long average, joining Annika Sorenstam (1998, 2001, 2002, 2005), Karrie Webb (1999), Grace Park (2004), Lorena Ochoa (2006, 2007, 2008) and Na Yeon Choi (2010).
Hee Kyung Seo of South Korea, who also qualified for the CME Group Titleholders, will be honored during tournament week as the 2011 Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year. The rookie finished second in a playoff at the 2011 U.S. Women’s Open and hopes to end the season with a win at the LPGA’s final tournament.
Lexi Thompson & Nigel Worrall
Other headliners who have qualified for this week’s event include two-time winner Michelle Wie of Hawaii, LPGA and World Golf Hall of Famer Karrie Webb of Australia, 2011 Kraft Nabisco Championship winner and Rolex Rankings No. 8 Stacy Lewis of Texas, and Florida teenage wunderkind Lexi Thompson, (pictured above) who qualified this week by winning the Navistar LPGA Classic. Thompson also earned 2012 LPGA Tour membership for the Navistar victory.
In addition, Florida natives and Rolex Rankings No. 3 Cristie Kerr and No. 10 Brittany Lincicome, along with fan-favorite Christina Kim of California, also qualified for the event. They join the final three qualifiers from last week’s Lorena Ochoa Invitational, Americans Juli Inkster and Natalie Gulbis, and Beatriz Recari of Spain.
Several Orlando residents will have the opportunity to commute from their homes and sleep in their own beds this week. Rolex Rankings No. 7 Paula Creamer of California, No. 22 Maria Hjorth of Sweden, No. 35 and LPGA and World Golf Hall of Fame member Se Ri Pak of South Korea, No. 2 Suzann Pettersen of Norway and top-ranked Yani Tseng of Taiwan, all will be making the short drive to work this week from their home driveways. Both Creamer and Pak hope to join Hjorth, Pettersen and Tseng as tournament winners this season at the last event in Orlando.
Suzann Pettersen & Nigel Worrall
A number of top performers from this year’s 2011 Solheim Cup also have qualified for the CME Group Titleholders this week, including Europe’s Suzann Pettersen of Norway, Caroline Hedwall of Sweden and Spain’s Azahara Munoz. Also joining the list of top Solheim Cup point-getters is American LPGA rookie Ryann O’Toole of California, who was a 2011 captain’s pick.
Of the 66 qualifiers, Tseng leads all players in the field with multiple season wins. Tseng enters the CME Group Titleholders with seven 2011 LPGA victories. Karrie Webb, Suzann Pettersen and Brittany Lincicome each have two wins this season.
While this week’s CME Group Titleholders is an inaugural tournament, the Titleholders name dates back to the Titleholders women’s golf tournament held from 1937 to 1966, and one additional year in 1972 in Southern Pines, N.C. The tournament was originally staged at Augusta Country Club in Augusta, Ga., prior to the formation of the LPGA in 1950. Past Titleholders champions include LPGA founders Patty Berg, Louise Suggs and Babe Zaharias.
So if you’re in Orlando this week… a day at the golf to see some of the best players in the world is probably the done thing! Get there!
Here’s some video from Lexi Thompson’s press conference…
Locals and visitors to Central Florida are invited to be a part of the excitement throughout Thanksgiving weekend as NASA’s Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) mission carrying the car-sized Curiosity rover launches aboard a massive Atlas V 541 rocket on its way to explore the red planet. The launch is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 25, at 10:25 a.m., the day after Thanksgiving, with special events and launch-related activities taking place throughout the week and beyond.
A limited number of guests are invited to witness the historic MSL launch from select designated locations within Kennedy Space Center, for just $20 plus the cost of admission (required). Or, guests may watch the launch from Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex for the cost of admission, which is $43 + tax for adults and $33 + tax for children ages 3-11. Guests may purchase an Annual Pass and enjoy unlimited visits for one calendar year from date of purchase (with the exception of Dec. 25) for just $13 more – $56 + tax for adults and $46 + tax for children ages 3-11.
Throughout the launch week and beyond, Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex will host a variety of special events and launch-related activities. Beginning Nov. 21, the Visitor Complex welcomes a Mars Rover Exhibit, featuring a trio of full sized, high fidelity rover models from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) including: Sojourner, Mars Exploration Rover (MER) and the newest member of the family, the car-sized MSL rover, Curiosity. The exhibit, located in Exploration Space: Explorers Wanted, will remain at the Visitor Complex through March 2012.
Nov. 22 through 26, children of all ages are invited to the LEGO® Build the Future play area. Guests will be admitted to the play area for 45 minutes to build their vision of the future out of LEGO bricks. For a glimpse at LEGO activities, visit www.legospace.com.
On Nov. 25, Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex welcomes back special guest Bill Nye of the Emmy award-winning TV show, “Bill Nye The Science Guy,®” who will speak to guests at the IMAX® Theater at 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. to discuss the MSL mission and Curiosity rover. Seating for Nye’s presentations is available on a first-come, first-serve basis, so early arrival at the IMAX Theater is recommended.
Bill Nye is the Executive Director of The Planetary Society, the world’s largest space interest group, as well as a scientist, former Boeing engineer, stand-up comedian, author, inventor and man on a mission: to help foster a scientifically literate society. He is the host of three currently running TV shows including “The 100 Greatest Discoveries” on the Science Channel, “The Eyes of Nye” on PBS and “Stuff Happens” on Planet Green.
On Nov. 25-26, guests may take part in the Scientists in Action live webcast and ask questions of MSL scientists as well as attend live presentations by visiting Mars scientists.
NASA’s Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) mission features the car-sized Curiosity rover, equipped with the most advanced payload of scientific gear ever deployed to the surface of Mars. After an eight-month journey, MSL will land on Mars in August 2012. The innovative and precise guided entry and powered sky crane descent employed to place Curiosity on the Martian surface has made many of Mars’ most intriguing regions viable destinations for the first time. In the 23-months (one Mars year) after landing, Curiosity will analyze samples drilled from rocks or scooped from the ground as it explores, assesses and characterizes its landing region site with greater capabilities than any previous Mars rover. Much like a robotic field geologist and mobile geochemical and environmental laboratory, Curiosity will provide NASA scientists with new data for understanding Mars as a potential habitat for life, past or present.
To purchase MSL Launch Viewing tickets, visit www.kennedyspacecenter.com or call 866-737-5235. Due to the anticipated popularity of launch viewing opportunities, reservations are strongly suggested.
This weekend sees the 36th Festival of the Masters at Downtown Disney. This vibrant event showcases fine art, food and entertainment and has become a classic event on the Orlando calendar. There’s some amazing artwork from over 150 award winning artists and new this year is a very special festival showcasing the stunning work of some of the Disney artists at Pleasure Island.
Apart from signature artists there’s a lot to see and do and all the family will have a great time wandering around the Downtown Disney area. There’s plenty of interactive areas as well as a chance to learn how to illustrate a Disney character, see some fabulous street painting as well as pose for a picture with a performer from Cirque Du Soleil’s “La Nouba.”
Of course, no art festival would be complete without a little competition and this year there are several categories for artists to compete in including Best of Show. Other categories that guest judges Professor John Dishman, Bonny Lhotka and Sally Viskochil will be deciding will be clay, digital art, drawing, printmaking & graphics, glass, jewelry, leather, fiber & paper, mixed media & collage, painting, photography, sculpture, watercolor and wood. More than $50,000 in prize money will be at stake and the Best of Show will win $5,000.
Other highlights of the festival include the Festival of Disney Masters, the Michaels Design Team showing you how to create some amazing art, D-Street and the House of Blues Folk Art Festival. Make sure you get along to Downtown Disney …
Construction at Fantasyland inside the Magic Kingdom theme park continues at a rapid pace. The new and expanded area is scheduled to open in phases, starting next fall, 2012. Here’s some timelapse video showing you the progress so far…
The works of Irish artist Graham Knuttel have found homes among Hollywood royalty like Sylvester Stallone, Whoopie Goldberg and Robert DeNiro. On Nov. 11, 2011, one of the renowned artist’s works will find a home at Walt Disney World Resort.
His latest commission — a painting for Raglan Road Irish Pub and Restaurant at Downtown Disney — will be unveiled during the opening day of Festival of the Masters, one of the Southeast’s most highly regarded juried art festivals since 1975. While the painting will be on permanent display at the pub, Knuttel will exhibit a collection of many new pieces at the Nov. 11-13 festival and will appear at Raglan Road “Meet the Artist” events Nov. 12 at 2 and 3:30 p.m.
Known for his bold, bright canvases of stylized figures, Knuttel’s Raglan Road painting is based on a poem, “On Raglan Road,” written in 1946 by lovesick poet Patrick Kavanagh and recorded in song by Ireland’s greatest folk musician, Luke Kelly. The pub scene in the painting pops with more than two dozen unconventional Knuttel figures that include Kavanagh, Kelly, Irish rockers Bono and The Edge and writers James Joyce and Brendan Behan. Looking closely, admirers may discover a photo of a child wearing mouse ears.
Nearly 150 award-winning artists who create paintings, jewelry, sculptures, photographs and more will show off their works at the festival. There’s also live entertainment and family-friendly activities each day. Hours are 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sunday. Admission and parking are complimentary.
