Ayako Uehara (EYE-ya-ko YOU-eh-hara) Birthdate: December 22, 1983 Hometown: Okinawa, Japan Resides: Okinawa, Japan Rookie Year: 2013 Career-best Finish: 3 (2012 Mizuno Classic) Career Earnings: $466,313 ayako-uehara.com 2014 in a Nutshell • 27 events, 22 cuts made, $234,321 (64) • Season-best finish was a tie for fourth at the Mizuno Classic, finishing just one shot out of a playoff • Carded a career-low 63 in the second round at the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia where she finished with a tie for 16th • Finished 10th on Tour in putting average (29.34) Get to know Ayako A self-proclaimed environmentalist, Ayako goes on nature walks every afternoon after she practices Her friends would describe her as a bit “spacey” Lists karaoke as one of her favorite hobbies outside of golf, and says singing is one of her many special talents Her favorite on-course snack is Japanese rice balls Career Highlights • Finished in the top 65 on the money list each of her first two seasons on the LPGA Tour • Made her LPGA debut in 2013 with a season-low 66 in the first round of the ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open • Qualified for the LPGA Tour on her first attempt with a third-place finish at the 2013 LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament • Recorded 52 top-10 finishes and three victories on the JLPGA since joining in 2003 • Ayako was the 1998 Japan Junior Golf champion and the 2002 Japan Women’s Amateur champion