Nevada police are investigating the death of 25-year-old professional golfer Erica Blasberg, whose body was found Sunday inside her home in a suburb of Las Vegas.
No cause of death has been disclosed and it’s not immediately clear if foul play was involved, according to authorities.
Keith Paul, a spokesman for the Henderson Police Department, told FoxNews.com that authorities responded to a 911 call and were dispatched to Blasberg’s three-bedroom home at around 3 p.m. on Sunday. Paul said the emergency call came from someone inside her home, but he would not identify the caller.
“Our detectives are working the case and we’re not talking about the investigation while it’s ongoing,” Paul said.
The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) confirmed Blasberg’s death in a release on Monday.
In her only start this season, Blasberg tied for 44th two weeks ago at the Tres Marias Championship in Morelia, Mexico.
Callahan said that he was devastated to learn of the passing of Blasberg, Sports Network reported.
“To most of the world, Erica was known as a professional golfer, but she was more than that,” he said in a statement.
“She was a loving daughter to her parents and a compassionate and loyal friend. Erica had a good heart, was extremely kind and very thankful for what she had in her life.
“She lived out her dream of playing professional golf on the highest level on the LPGA Tour, allowing her to help inspire others. We are proud of Erica for everything she accomplished.
“This is a painful loss, we feel it in our hearts and we will miss her. Erica would want those close to her to celebrate the life she lived. We ask that you keep Erica and her family in your prayers.”
Greg Allen, the former coach at the University of Arizona, remembers a fiery competitor whom the Wildcats affectionately called “Skip.” When Blasberg showed up to her first workout as a freshman in 2002, the trainer asked the team to warm up by skipping around the track. Blasberg didn’t know how to skip.
“Every kid in America knows how to skip,” Allen said, laughing. “We stuck that name on her.”
Blasberg was a decorated collegian, winning six tournaments in two years. She was named Golfweek’s 2003 Player of the Year after finishing the season No. 1 in the rankings. She also was ’03 NGCA Freshman of the Year, Pac-10 Player of the Year and competed on the victorious 2004 Curtis Cup team.
The California native turned professional in June 2004, posting four top-10s in eight starts on the Duramed Futures Tour, including a victory at the Lacona Savings Bank Futures Golf Classic. She qualified for the LPGA later that fall.Erica Blasberg, an LPGA player, died early Monday morning in Henderson, Nev., according to her agent, Chase Callahan. The six-year tour player was 25 years old.
In her only start this season, Blasberg tied for 44th two weeks ago at the Tres Marias Championship in Morelia, Mexico, after having Monday qualified.
Blasberg was a solid ball-striker with a repeatable swing learned from her father, Mel. Allen remembers one time in particular when Blasberg couldn’t wait to compete. During her freshman year, Mel was staying at a hotel 10 minutes away from Blasberg’s dorm. She stayed with her father that night, got up early in the morning and headed to the course. It wasn’t until she couldn’t get inside the gate that Blasberg realized it was 2 a.m.
“That was classic Skip,” Allen said. “She couldn’t wait to get to the golf course for breakfast to tell us what she had done.”
Blasberg shot 68 that day to the win the Arizona Wildcat Invitational.
She struggled on the LPGA, never finishing higher than 94th on the money list. Her career-low 64 on the LPGA came at the Welch’s/Fry’s Championship, back when she competed as an amateur on a sponsor exemption. Blasberg tended to keep to herself on tour, with Allen noting that it as hard for anyone to “get close to Skip.”
While Blasberg never made the professional splash she hoped for, she did enjoy her stint as the face of Puma Golf, appearing in a television commercial. She also represented Cleveland Golf and Casio.
“She was part of our family for two years,” Allen said. “I can’t believe she’s gone.”
FoxNews.com’s Cristina Corbin contributed to this report
May 11, 2010
Sports