DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., - Penny Zavichas, a 39-year Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) member who teaches in Pueblo, Colo., is the recipient of the 2001 Ellen Griffin Rolex Award, which is given annually by the LPGA Teaching and Club Professional (T&CP) Division. Zavichas, who is best known for the development of the Craft-Zavichas Golf Schools, is a former LPGA Tour player, a master professional of the LPGA T&CP Division and instrumental in the early development and growth of the LPGA T&CP Division.

"I feel very blessed and truly honored to receive this award," said Zavichas, who is the niece of LPGA founder and LPGA Tour Hall of Famer Babe Zaharias. "This is an incredible achievement for me. It is very special to be a part of the history associated with Ellen Griffin. I am very lucky to have a job that I love. I love teaching and I still have fun with it. When it's not fun anymore, that's when I'll hang up the spikes, but that won't happen for a while."

Zavichas, who was introduced to the game by her aunt, began her extensive career in teaching and golf education in 1962 when she joined the LPGA. She played competitively on the LPGA Tour (1962-71) and served as the chairperson of the LPGA National Teaching Division during her last two years on Tour (1970-71). As chairperson, Zavichas wrote new testing materials, tightened qualifications and coordinated LPGA T&CP Division/Professional Golfers' Association (PGA) of America workshops. She credits Griffin's teaching methods as an inspiration to her success.

"I knew Ellen when I first started teaching, and I was always impressed with how gentle she was toward her students," Zavichas said. "I always loved to hear her speak, and I will always value her leadership and trailblazing. As teachers, we cannot go wrong if we follow her lead."

In 1967, Zavichas became a Class A member of the LPGA T&CP Division, earned her LPGA master professional status in 1978, and has since increased her membership status to master life. Zavichas, who has taught golf for more than 30 years, has long been recognized for her expertise in teaching. Her achievements and accolades include: LPGA National Teacher of the Year (1973); the Pueblo (Colo.) Image Award (1988); and the LPGA Central Section Teacher of the Year (1992). She has been inducted into the "BIG BABE" Hall of Fame in New York (1992) and the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame (1996).

She also is a humanitarian who has devoted countless hours to help raise money for charities. Zavichas has made major contributions to each of the following: the American Cancer Society (1974-95); University of Minnesota Children's Cancer Research (1991); the Minnesota Multiple Sclerosis Society (1991); Minnesota Multiple Dystrophy Golf Clinics (1992); the Courage Classis/Courage Center in Minneapolis (1994); and the Babe Zaharias Cancer Tournament (1995).

The Ellen Griffin Rolex Award, instituted by the LPGA T&CP Division in 1989 to honor the late Ellen Griffin, recognizes an individual, male or female, who has made a major contribution to the teaching of golf and who emulates Griffin's spirit, love and dedication to students, teachers, teaching skills and the game of golf. Griffin, who passed away in 1986, was one of the best-known women's golf teaching professionals in American history.

Past recipients include: Peggy Kirk Bell, 1989; Linda Craft, 1990; Shirley Englehorn, 1991; Harvey Penick, 1992; Goldie Bateson, 1993; Carol Clark Johnson, 1994; Joanne Winter, 1995; Ann Casey Johnstone, 1996; Dr. DeDe Owens, 1997; Shirley Spork, 1998; Betty Hicks, 1999; and Gary Wiren, 2000.