The Ladies Professional Golf Association is the premiere organization behind women’s professional golf. While there are LPGAs in several countries, the United States-based organization is the best known and most influential.

The LPGA Tour gathers an elite group of professional golfers from around the world - from February to December every year - for the sport’s highest caliber women’s events. The tour provides the best opportunities for female golfers in regards to media exposure and cash winnings.

Now the oldest women’s professional sports organization in the U.S., the LPGA was founded by a group of 13 golfers in 1950. In 2010, the total prize money on the LPGA Tour was $41.4 million, awarded through 24 international tournaments. The tour remains strong even though the number of annual tournaments has declined in recent years with the loss of four competitions held in the U.S.

The LPGA’s major tournaments are the Kraft Nabisco Championship, the LPGA Championship presented by Wegmans, the U.S. Women’s Open and the Ricoh Women’s British Open that is held in conjunction with the Ladies European Tour.

Every November since 2006, the LPGA has held a season-ending championship. Through 2008, it was known as the LPGA Playoffs; in 2009 and 2010 it became the LPGA Tour Championship. In 2011, the tournament will be called the Titleholders.

It would be difficult to find anyone who has been more adept than Celita Schutz at matching the mental and physical elements of Judo.

The Westwood, New Jersey, native has over 35 years of experience in Judo including three times at the Olympics - 1996 in Atlanta, 2000 in Sydney and 2004 in Athens. Schutz is now President of Kokushikai, Inc. and is camp director of Kokushikai Judo Camp. She is training the next generation the physical moves and mental discipline that earned her an accolade-filled career in the U.S. and abroad.

“Judo is an individual full contact combative sport,” she said, “and because it is that the nature of it requires that you be very focused and aware of your body and your opponent’s body more so than in other sports that I’ve participated in. If you make a mistake you are the one responsible.”

Schutz took her first lesson at age 6 and was placing in national competition by 14. In 1993, Schutz took home her first major U.S. title. She won her first national championship two years later and added four more between 1997 and 2000.

But she holds her Olympic performances of highest regard.

“There really is nothing that compares to competing in the Olympic Games,” Schultz said. “There is a definite sense of patriotism, because you do want top do the best you can to represent your team and your country. Your family and friends, everybody’s rooting for you.”

Louise Fulton was a giant among bowlers who defined the sport’s best qualities and broke down social barriers as she advanced.

The first African-American woman to win a professional bowling championship, Fulton was posthumously elected to the International Women's Bowling Congress Hall of Fame in 2000. She was the first African-American to receive the honor and one of only six to be inducted.

A native of Kingstree, South Carolina, Fulton didn’t take up bowling until well into her adult life in Pennsylvania. She joined the Professional Women’s Bowling Association in the 1960s after its inception. Fulton’s first and only tour win came at the 1964 Princeton Open. Still, she managed a career high average of 194 with a personal best game of 279 and high series of 741.

Fulton was inducted into the National Bowling Association Hall of Fame, the Western Pennsylvania State Women’s Bowling Association Hall of Fame and the Pennsylvania State Women’s Bowling Association Hall of Fame.

Unfortunately, she didn’t live to see her induction into the Women’s International Bowling Conference Hall of Fame. Fulton died of cancer in 1988.

She is remembered still as a top competitor who broke down barriers for African-Americans.

Leanne Barrette has left an indelible mark on the world of bowling - in both career wins and professionalism - that has sealed her top spot in the annals of the sport’s history.

Barrette worked her entire adult life to amass an impressive resume that stands apart from many of her peers. She has been to the winner’s circle 23 times as a professional, won the 1999 WIBC Queens title and was named PWBA Player of the Year twice.

But its Barrette’s sportsmanship that truly makes her a stand-out in the sport. She was twice chosen by her PWBA competitors for Robby Awards that recognize sportsmanship and professionalism. But for Barrette, that is just part of who she is.

"It’s not like we’re hitting tennis balls back and forth at one another," she said. "It’s like golf. You post your score and if anybody beats it that’s the way it is. I’ve always felt like I’ve had to have a good image and a good temperament on and off the lanes. It isn’t anything I’ve had to try to do, that’s just the way that I am. I try to be respectful of others."

That attitude - along with a healthy competitive streak - has made Barrette a household favorite. She has made 96 television appearances, thanks to ESPN’s increased focus on the WPBA.

Karen Corr’s cue-stick career is a storied affair. Despite being only 31-years-old, the native of Ireland has found tremendous success in Snooker and billiards - accomplishments that are testament to her perseverance and can-do approach.

Corr began playing at age 14 and quickly showed up as a viable Snooker competitor in tournaments in her home country. At 21, she was World Snooker Champion and began playing full-time having won enough money to quit several odd jobs that paid her bills up to that point.

Even before she moved to the United States, Corr held the Snooker crown for five years and won two English Billiards Championships. But in 1998, Corr emigrated in search of more lucrative prize money and began playing 9-ball.

She qualified for the WPBA tour in 1999 and was named Rookie of the Year. By 2000, she was ranked second in the world.

Corr is now recognized as one of the best billiards players anywhere. Even so, she hasn’t let up and spends hour after hour training for tournaments where she remains a heavy favorite.

“You’ve got a tough opponent all the way through,” she said, of her competition. “They’re all hungry and they’re all capable of winning.”