Winning in 1999 Is Benchmark in Nilsmark’s Career

Catrin Nilsmark is defending champion.

But of what?

The 23-year-old native of Goteborg, Sweden, won the Valley of the Stars tournament at Oakmont Country Club in Glendale last February.

Nilsmark begins play today in the tournament’s new incarnation, the Los Angeles Women’s Championship at Wood Ranch Golf Club.

As defending champion.

“I liked [Oakmont] and I would have liked to go back there,” she said. “But it’s not a big deal. You go wherever the tour takes you.”

Winning the tournament last year was the biggest deal of Nilsmark’s career. It is her only victory in five full years on the LPGA tour, in fact the only time she has finished higher than third.

She won a one-hole playoff 016

.Three stars are missing but a solid field tees off today against Annika Sorenstam, also from Sweden and the No. 1 women’s player in the world at the time. Nilsmark watched in astonishment as Sorenstam three-putted from four feet on the playoff hole.

Sorenstam isn’t playing in the tournament this year, which doesn’t bother Nilsmark.

“We love it,” she said. “It’s a good field, though.”

Nilsmark is coming off a third-place tie in the Subaru Memorial of Naples, Fla.

“I’m hitting the ball well,” she said.

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Wearing black and gray pants, sweater and cap Thursday, Nilsmark sported a more corporate look than most LPGA players.

Her husband can’t say the same.

Fredrik Nilsmark, who took his wife’s last name on their wedding day, has his shortly-cropped hair dyed bright orange.

The Nilsmarks have one child, Tuva Augusta, born in Oct. 1997.

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Dept. of busting a misconception: Several people have responded to comments about the strong wind at Wood Ranch by mentioning that the word Simi means wind in the language of the Chumash Indians who once populated Ventura County.

Not so, according to the historical research of Patricia Havens, who wrote “Simi Valley: A Journey Through Time.”

The thread-like clouds observed over the valley gave rise to the Chumash name, Shimiyi. Because the clouds mainly blew through the area during times of strong winds, the Chumash learned to steer clear of the valley when they saw them overhead.

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Tamie Durdin, a Pepperdine junior from North Adelaide, Australia, will play under a sponsor’s exemption.

Durdin, the best women’s player in Pepperdine history, tied for fourth at the NCAA championships last year, leading the Waves to a fifth-place team finish.

This is Durdin’s first LPGA event.

Durdin had a stroke average of 72.18 in five fall tournaments, ranking No. 2 in the nation, and won the University of Washington Invitational at Sahalee Country Club in Redmond, Wash.

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* Three stars missing but solid field tees off today. Page 10

* A look at Wood Ranch Golf Club course layout. Page 16