TERRE HAUTE — Last weekend the Ladies Professional Golf Association held their U.S. Women’s Open at Interlachen Country Club in Edina, Minnesota. You might not have even noticed it, because there wasn’t a lot of news or fanfare. It was won by Inbee Park, who at 19 years, 11 months and 17 days broke the record set 10 years ago by another Korean, Se Ri Pak, as the youngest player to win the Open.
What did get a lot of notice and press, was that this was Annika Sorenstam’s last Open, unless she comes out of retirement in the future. She did leave the door open after her round, saying the Women’s Open is probably her favorite event, and if she could be coaxed into playing an event in the future, that would be it. Her first win on the LPGA tour was the 1995 Women’s Open, and it has been a special event ever since. This was also Inbee Park’s first tour victory, joining Jane Geddes, Laura Davies, Annika, Liselotte Neumann and Se Ri Pak in the group of other first-time winners at the Women’s Open.
If this was Annika’s last Open, even though she didn’t win, she made it memorable. On the 18th hole she thrilled the crowd by holing out for eagle, from 199 yards out with a 6-iron! She couldn’t see the ball go in the hole, so only knew the result from the crowd’s reaction. She told her caddie, “Oh good, that means I broke 80!” She shot 78, so she was dangerously close to that mark, which would have been a hard number for her to swallow at her last Open.
Annika has been a huge influence on women’s golf, and consequently the increase in earnings on the tour. She recorded 88 career wins, 72 of them on the LPGA and U.S. Women’s Open titles. As a rookie on the WPGET (now the European Tour) in 1993 she won rookie of the year, then the next year won rookie of the year on the LPGA. She won 10 major championships. She won the Rolex Player-of-the-Year award eight times, had the annual money-list title eight times, and won the Vare Trophy for the lowest scoring average six times. She was named Golf Writers’ Association of America Female Player of the Year eight times, and was named by the Associate Press as the Female Athlete of the Year 3 times (2003, 2004, and 2005). She was the first player to make over $22 million in earnings. She was on eight Solheim Cup teams, and won 2 European Player of the Year awards (2004 and 2005). She won 8 ESPY awards, including Best Female Athlete and Best Female Golfer. She holds the record for the lowest score recorded by any female in a single tournament round, a 59 in the 2nd round of the 2001 Standard Register PING tournament, and the record for the lowest scoring average for one season with 68.69 in 2004.
Not only did she dominate women’s golf from 1995 through 2005, she did it with class. She increased publicity for the women’s tour also by her charitableness and publicity through other venues. For instance, she appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and rang the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange! She has started a golf course design business, and she is especially happy with the opening of Annika’s Golf Academy at the Ginn Reunion Resort near Orlando. There, Annika has combined her love of golf and fitness in a luxury hotel environment to cater to individuals or groups who want to work on their game. Her own swing coach and fitness trainer are part of the deal! (For more information see www.theannikaacademy.com )
On May 13th, Annika announced her retirement at the conclusion of the 2008 season, ending with the Lexus Cup. At the age of 38, she is engaged to be married, and wants to be able to start a family. She will continue to be involved in women’s golf through the tournaments she sponsors, her clothing line, Annika’s Academy, and her charitable work The ANNIKA Foundation was established in 2007 to help children of all backgrounds reach their potential, through educational and financial resources. It will partner with programs that teach children the importance of living a healthy, active lifestyle through physical fitness and nutrition. It will specifically help aspiring junior golfers.
The LPGA Tour has benefited greatly by the participation of Annika. Keep an eye out for her for the rest of the season, and appreciate her while we can. Her class, her competitiveness and her smile with all be missed when she is no longer on tour.
Quote of the Day — “I don’t give up.” Annika’s remark to her fiancee’ as she walked off the 18th green after holing out for eagle at the U.S. Women’s Open.
Vigo County golf leagues:
Ft. Harrison Ladies 9-hole — Low gross: Betty Cox. Low net: Clarena Matthews. Low putts: Betty McKee. Play of the day: McKee. Chip-in: Lucy James.
Paitson's Roofing Eastside Ladies — Standings: Baesler’s Market 336, Daphne’s Beauty Salon 324, Turner Coach 279, Advanced Chirpractic 275, Coaches Corner 267, Deckmasters 258, Sandy’s Touch of Magic 255, Page’s Market 237. Low gross: Betty Swanson 36. Low net: Jeanne Sumansky and Jan Schurple 27. Play of the day: Betty Swanson. Chip-in: Faye Lynn King (6). Birdie: Sumansky (8).
Rea Park Wednesday Evening Ladies 9-hole — Standings (as of July 2): Newton-Petty 15, Swalls-Mozley 14, Durand-Hyde 14, Pair-Bedwell 13, Padgett-Snow 13, Hamilton-Harden 11, Mann-Rusk 9, Honselman-Hiatt 8, Bocard-Luttrell 8, Cannon-Atterson 8, Meyer-Clements 8, Lanke-Johnson 8, McCord-Ugo 7, Horrall-Mahalek 4. Low gross: Sharon Hamilton 38. Low net: Hamilton 32. Chip-in: Madonna Johnson.
Mark’s Par Three Senior Men — Low gross: Marvin Mericle and Dennis Hayes 39. Low net: Lee Higginbotham 29. Closest to pin: Bob Artis (12). Longest drive: Mericle (18). Longest putt: Hayes (17). Standings: Old National Trust (first half winner) 365, Midwest Gas 334, Vigo Bowl 307, Sycamore Chevrolet 306, Tabco 293, Fuson Cadillac 292, Mattingly Collision 289, Dew Drop Inn 280.
Terre Haute Savings Bank Senior Men — National Division standings: Fore Seasons Golf Complex 336, SMC 322, Lough Bros. 316, Complete Kitchen and Bath 310, T.H. Savings Bank 304, Paitson Bros. and Page’s Market No. 1 303, Pizza Hut 224. Low gross: Paul Stanley 39. Low net: Charlie Williamson and Jerry McIntyre 30. American Division standings: Poplar Flower Shop 369, Page’s Market No. 2 355, Spring Clean Car Wash 322, VFW No. 972 292, Salt of the Earth 289, Pabst Painting 287, Callahan Funeral Home 252. Low gross: David Bays 40. Low net: Walter Piepenbrink, Dick Hunter and Frank Coverstone 32.
Rea Park Tuesday Women’s 18-hole — Low gross: Sharon Horrall 79. Low net: Beth Lowe 64. Birdies: Lorri Ugo (1), Susan Amerman (3), Sharon Hamilton (9), Carolyn Hyde (10). Chip-ins: Mary Jean Petty (8), Terry Mahalek (14).
Rea Park First Financial Bank Ladies 9-hole — Standings: VFW No. 2 248, Bratt Animal Hospital 214, Shepard’s Gas 213, Baesler’s Market 206, VFW No.1 202, Tabco 177. Low gross: Myrna Handley. Low net: G.Miller, Handley. Play of the day: Thelma Stone, Verla Talkington, Mary Newman.
Idle Creek Home Builders — Low gross: Dave Earley 37. Low net: Dan Mills 27. Longest putt: Jim Lowe (1). Closest to pin: Bob Mundy (3), Earley (8).
Idle Creek Ladies Tuesday Morning Scramble — First place team (36): Denise Rowlett, Katy Drummy, Jan Cuttr, Susie Colligan, Leah Phillips. Second place team (41): Candy Lovvron, Barb Alcock, Mary Cahill, Mary Brannen. Longest putt: Lovvron. Closest to pin: Rowlett (3).
Idle Creek Terminal Sports and Spirits Wednesday Evening — First place team (best ball format) (66): Dave Rowlett, Mitch Love, Nate Tompkins, Matt Love. Second place team (70): Denise Rowlett, Mike Nuckols, Scott Logan, Zach Wilhoyte. Closest to pin: Nuckols (12), Mitch Love (16).
On & Off the Course
On & Off the Course: Annika made a huge impact on women’s golf
- On & Off the Course
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Death Notice: Feb. 7, 2013
• Gary R. Wright
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Donna Lynn Strahla Bown
Donna Lynn Strahla Bown passed away early Friday morning, Jan. 25, 2013, with her children by her side.
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‘The Match’ pitting amateurs vs. pros recalled 62 years later
Quote of the Day: “I play golf with friends sometimes, but there are never friendly games.” — Ben Hogan.
Bubba Watson has had a busy fall. Not only did he play all the way to the final round of the FedEx Championships, and in the Ryder Cup, he also played in an event commemorating a very famous match played at Cypress Point in 1956, pitting two of the greatest golf pros at the time against two of the best amateurs.
Come to think of it, all four were some of the best golfers of all time. This year’s event was celebrating The First Tee’s exceeding $100 million in pledges to reach 10 million new young people. It wasn’t televised and kept very quiet; only 225 people were in the gallery.
One of the people in the gallery was Mark Frost, the author of a book titled “The Match,” which is about that match played 62 years ago that was re-enacted in modern terms last week. The pros in 1956 were Ben Hogan and Byron Nelson and the amateurs were Ken Venturi and Harvie Ward. It was supposed to have been a private affair, built around a wager by two millionaires, George Coleman and Eddie Lowery. -
ON AND OFF THE COURSE: Golf from the wrong side of the brain
Imagine this scenario: a woman, small in stature (possibly freckled), walks into a hospital emergency room and says, “I have an emergency, I need a doctor quickly!” The admitting nurse, ever trying to be helpful, asks what the emergency is.
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Farmers looking at widely varying yields
Combines will roll through fields this weekend, bringing in the harvest from a summer with nearly no rain.
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ON AND OFF THE COURSE: Golf debut in London would have been nice
As the Olympics get underway in London this weekend, I was thinking it’s too bad that the Olympic committee decided too late to add golf as one of the sports for this event; instead it will be added to the 2016 Olympics in Rio De Janeiro.
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ON AND OFF THE COURSE: Getting to Hoosier country’s best golfing venue part of the fun
If you are looking for Indiana’s premier golfing destination, then you should look no further than French Lick.
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ON AND OFF THE COURSE: Indiana's Pete Dye courses worth the drive
You’ve probably heard of the Robert Trent Jones Golf trail throughout Alabama, but you might not be aware that Indiana has its own “Pete Dye Golf Trail” comprised of seven courses.
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ON AND OFF THE COURSE: Fathers typically a big influence on golfing sons
Some events fall naturally into place around holidays. The Fourth of July always falls somewhere during Wimbledon, giving all of the Yanks in attendance something to be boisterous about, to the chagrin of their hosts; The Masters often, but not always, ends on Easter Sunday, which is fitting since golfers find it such a reverent occasion.
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ON AND OFF THE COURSE: Memorial just one of many visions of Jack Nicklaus
When Jack Nicklaus was a young man, the golfer he most admired was Bob Jones.
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ON AND OFF THE COURSE: With some tricky rules, golf is not a walk in the park
Golf is not a casual sport, even though it has a term called “casual water.”
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On and off the course: Sycamores seeded sixth heading into MVC golf tourney
It wasn’t too long ago that Indiana State University didn’t even have a women’s golf team.
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ON AND OFF THE COURSE: A hard ticket to come by
This is the weekend of the Masters Tournament, the first of the four major tournaments.
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ON AND OFF THE COURSE: Some things on golf course are worse than steep putts
It’s not often that anything gets more scary on a golf course than a steep downhill putt, but on some courses around the world, things a little more on the supernatural side might give you a bigger fright!
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ON AND OFF THE COURSE: The shot heard round the world
I don’t know if the Golf Channel will show a “Best Shots of 2011” highlight reel, much like ESPN does for baseball or football.
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ON AND OFF THE COURSE: The Red, White and Blue visits the Isle of Green
In 2006, the Ryder Cup was held in Ireland at The K Club in County Kildare.
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ON AND OFF THE COURSE: Fall may be coming but golf season is far from over
Once the major tournaments are over with, what’s there to look forward to in the world of golf?
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ON AND OFF THE COURSE: Golf… simplified!
Golf is not a simple game. A golf course is made up of 18 holes, all different. There are par-3s, par-4s and par-5s; they all vary in length and elevation, and each has its own challenges. There can be water hazards, trees, sand bunkers, tall grass, hills, valleys — and then, if that’s not enough, there’s probably wind too.
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On and Off the Course: Northern Ireland builds on golf history
Northern Ireland is only about 5,452 square miles in area and has a population about the same as West Virginia, which is about 1,880,344.
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ON AND OFF THE COURSE: Women’s Open at the Broadmoor
This is the weekend of the U.S. Women’s Open, and this year it’s being played at The Broadmoor, East Course, in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
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ON AND OFF THE COURSE: The Fort Golf Course: A Walk in the Park…
Indiana has some pretty spectacular state parks, but one of them gives you the ability to “spoil a good walk” by chasing a little white ball.
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ON AND OFF THE COURSE: Father’s Day is a good day for golfers
Most people consider the time around Christmas to be the gift-buying season.
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ON AND OFF THE COURSE: Playing with lead a difficult task
As exciting as last week’s Masters was, with six players being tied for the lead at one point on Sunday, it was very difficult watching Rory McIlroy fall apart to shoot an 80.
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ON AND OFF THE COURSE: Masters a rite of spring
This is Masters weekend, the grand kickoff to the golf season for a lot of golfers. Sure, there have been tournaments on TV, because the professionals have been playing in Hawaii, California, Texas, Dubai, and other areas not so affected by winter as we are here in the Midwest, but to me, watching The Masters is a rite of spring.
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ON THE OFF THE COURSE: Some history on the Ryder Cup
I fell asleep in way too many history classes to ever qualify as a history buff. However, since I have grown up a bit (not much), I enjoy learning about all kinds of history. I often have questions about how something began, or how something came to be.
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On and Off the Course: Purdue's Kampen Course a gem in Indiana's rough
About a month ago, Indiana was still heavily mired in heat and humidity, making outdoor activities such as golf less appealing than usual. At that time it felt like the repressive heat would never go away, it would never rain again, and all of the grass was just going to continue to wither and die. And the month prior to that we kept getting rained out of golf events!
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On and Off the Course: Successful golfers know ... focus is the key
I have a good friend who coached his daughter’s basketball team for a number of years, and told me that his theme with the girls was always “focus”, until it was ingrained in their brains. Now when they play high school ball, if they hear “focus” yelled from the stands, they know the source.
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On and Off the Course: Technology adds even more fun to the course
You’ve hit a drive into some brush in an area marked as a hazard, but you can’t find the ball to prove it is there. And no one actually witnessed it go in the hazard. You just think that’s where it probably is. What is the rule for this situation?
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On and Off the Course: Anthony Gonzalez First Tee Classic a worthwhile charity event
On Monday, I worked as a volunteer for the Anthony Gonzalez First Tee Classic, Golf Tournament and Auction at Eagle Creek Golf Course in Indianapolis. It was an absolutely beautiful day, with clear blue skies, just a few wispy clouds here and there and a high temperature of about 76 degrees.
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On and Off the Course: Trends show golf in decline
You don’t have to watch the news or read the paper to understand that America is struggling on the economic front. The evidence can be witnessed at the local golf course.
- More On & Off the Course Headlines
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Death Notice: Feb. 7, 2013
Raw: Aftermath of Deadly Attack in London
Raw: New Video of Deadly Oklahoma Tornado
Jodi Arias: Death Penalty Would Cause More Pain
IRS Official Pleads 5th Amendment
Florida FBI Shooting Has Boston Bombing Links
Okla. City Mayor: Up to 13K Homes Hit by Tornado
Police Ram House to End Hostage Standoff
Garcetti Elected Los Angeles Mayor Over Greuel
Lawyer: Feds Investigating Susan Powell Case
Looking for Love? Take the Prague Metro
Today in History May 22
Paperless Scanner, Vision of the Future
Raw: Aerial View of Moore Tornado Damage
Raw: Costa Rica Volcano Roars to Life
Former Rep. Weiner Running for New York Mayor
Families Begin Returning to Their Homes in Moore
Raw: Students Clash With Police in Chile
First Person: Baby Falcons on a New York Bridge
Raw: Japan's WWII Atrocities Under Fire in Seoul
Okla. Teens Get Video of Deadly Tornado Overhead
AK-47-wielding thug may be the most bumbling crook ever
Oklahoma Survivors, Heroes Survey Damage
Trout's cycle a boost for Angels
Kim Kardashian Flaunts Pregnant Bikini Body in Greece
NBA star pledges $1M to help tornado recovery
Shakira's Shocking Talent
Morgan Freeman falls asleep on air
GRAPHIC: Blood-Soaked Machete Killer Caught on Tape
Elin Nordegren Furious With Lindsey Vonn For Parading Kids in Public
Camera Captures Climber As He Loses Grip And Falls
Helen Mirren Meets with Dying Boy in Queen Elizabeth's Place
Crowd Chants '¡Si, Se Puede!' After Passage of Immigration Bill
DWTS Crowns a Winner
Demi Moore a Rocks Bikini at Harry Morton's Family House
Anthony Weiner: I'm running for New York City mayor
Kate Middleton's Dress Flies Up
VIRAL: Baby makes epic soccer goal
The Hangover Baby All Grown Up
