|
So it’s already July, I really can’t believe this year is going by so quickly. Time flies when you’re having fun! And what a year it’s been so far. I know it’s been quite some time since I’ve written, and I wanted to get back in touch with you all and let you know where I am, what I’m doing, where I’m going. Last you heard from me, I was launching a fundraising effort that was intended to help get me back on the path of my dreams of playing on the LPGA Tour. I had a wonderful response from many of you, and I’m hoping the response will only grow. I’m going to be trying some new things in hopes of boosting my financial backing for next year’s Duramed Future’s Tour. As things progress I will of course update you all and hope to bring good news along the way. For now, I want to share the past few months with everyone! For a year that I was going to be ‘taking off’, it sure has been eventful. I started off by taking this job at the Oregon Golf Association. An experience that has been so rewarding with getting back into the teaching world. I’ve made so many wonderful friends and had such a great time watching our junior program progress. It’s definitely taken me back to my roots. I’ve also competed more than I had originally planned. I traveled up to Bellingham, Washington where I played (and played pretty well considering) and ended up in a playoff for alternate positions to go to the Sectional qualifier for the U.S. Women’s Open. My family and I then went up to the Seattle area for the Washington State Women’s Open where I really saw a break through in my game. I hit the ball well, stayed mentally very comfortable, and even putt pretty well. Uncharacteristically, my short game let me down. I didn’t make many up and downs and when it came right down to it, that was the difference in finishing mediocre and winning it.
My proud moment of the tournament came on the 2nd day, 17th hole, 185-yard par 3, I ACED IT! With my dad on the bag and my husband and mom in tow, we watched my ball take one hop and land in the cup! (My trusty 5 wood, they say they come in groups!)
Following the Washington State Open I decided to take my chances and go see if I could get in as an alternate to the sectionals for the U.S. Women’s Open. Well as I stood in the Portland International Airport, I received a phone call from the USGA…. “we have a spot for you at the LPGA site in Maryland, can you make it?” Gee…. I thought, this sounds kind of familiar??? What the heck! So instead of making the quick trip down to San Diego and back, I flew cross-country to Maryland where I had my first experience playing (what I considered to be) my first LPGA event. 75% of the field was LPGA tour players, which was an interesting thing to compare my game to. Given, I haven’t worked on my game at all this year. And for that reason I didn’t go with any expectation other than to be able to come back having gained a great experience and knowledge that I wouldn’t have otherwise. After a whirlwind trip, 36 holes in 110+ degree temperatures, and apparently not enough water, I landed myself in an ambulance, on my way to the ER, diagnosed with heat exhaustion. I thought the umpteen million bottles of water and Gatorade I drank was more than enough, but I was told I nearly drowned myself. Lesson learned, I will not being going back east for another 36-hole qualifier when they are under an excessive heat watch. Lol…. I’ve been home now for the past month or so, competing in a few local pro-ams including Caddies For A Cure, which was a hugely successful event this year! Thank you so much again Ryan and everyone for the unique opportunity to participate! I’ll be looking forward to next year! For now, I am putting in a lot of time at work, (just got done running the Oregon Junior Amateur at Bandon Dunes) and trying to do what I can to really help the OGA make their mission a success. A lot of great things are happening and I feel extremely blessed to be a part of it all. My next stop is Oroville, California, for the Oroville Golf Foundation Tournament (near Sacramento). And, it looks like until I return to Florida for Future’s Tour qualifying, that will be the end of tournament golf for a bit. I’m still going to try and make it down to Phoenix for a couple of Cactus Tour events, but in reality my focus has to be on fundraising in order to make next year happen. To all of you who continue to support my dreams, I thank you and look forward to my next year and hopefully returning to this journey of becoming a tour professional. Don’t be strangers, it’s great to hear from you all! Take care and I look forward to keeping in touchJ
 |
