Aramco Team Series empowers athletes and company’s diversity and inclusion initiatives

Some of the world's best golfers competed in the Aramco Team Series (ATS) last week in New York. United States' Lexi Thompson won the individual competition and shot 11 under par. The event attracted an elite field of women golfers, including headliners Nelly Korda, Magdalene Sagstrom, and Brooke Henderson, among other top players.

“We are very pleased that our sponsorship of this series is giving women's golf the attention and support it deserves,” said Ibrahim Q. Al-Buainain, vice president of Sales, Trading and Supply Planning at Aramco, who presented the trophy to Thompson.

The event also featured a Pro-Am that paired one pro with three amateurs. Aramco Americas' Gary Northcutt, director of Finance, joined pro Anna Nordqvist's team.

“Watching Anna's repeatable, pure swing and listening to her tips around the green that can help my own game, was the experience of a lifetime,” said Northcutt.

Inclusion and accessibility in golf

A panel discussion, moderated by the course's General Manager Brian Crowell, highlighted the importance of inclusion and accessibility in golf. Panelists were Rania Biltagi, Director of Public Affairs, Aramco Americas; Clemmie Perry, Founder of Women in Color Golf and Girls on the Green Tee; Alex Armas, CEO, Ladies European Tour; and pro golfer Lydia Hall.

Present at the panel were members of Aramco Americas Business Golf pilot program. As part of a diversity and inclusion initiative, ten rising female leaders in the company learned golf fundamentals and strategy earlier this year. The Business Golf program culminated in a visit to ATS for a clinic with the pros, meetings with course managers, and a behind-the-scenes tour.

“Golfing expands women's opportunities to network, builds strong business relationships, and helps establish better work/life balance,” Biltagi said.

This is the second year of the Aramco Team Series.