SID blog - A beautiful day
4/30/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
Kent State Assistant Director of Athletic Communications Sheila Blackman will be tracking her adventures "inside the ropes" during the 2012 MAC Women's Golf Championship.
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The Kent State Athletic Communications staff has a history of blogging during road trips, so in the spirit of providing some insight on the semi-glamorous world of sports information, I'll be keeping a blog during my time at the 2012 Mid-American Conference Women's Golf Championships at The Hawthorns Golf and Country Club in Fishers, Indiana.
Sunday, April 29
6:25 a.m. – Too excited for championship Sunday, I am up and at it. It's time to say goodbye to a comfortable king bed and a noted lack of toddler toys on the ground. I miss my sons, and I'm eager to see them when I get home. But before that, I need to be ready for a big day.
9:32 a.m. – The sun is well shrouded with a thick blanket of clouds, which are surely saturated enough to give some rain away. But drops haven't fallen yet by the time I get to the course.
I start walking toward the driving range, and I have half an hour before Mandi Morrow starts Kent State off on the No. 1 tee at 10:10 a.m. As I head into a wooded area, a bouncing rabbit crosses my path. I know cats are bad luck, and one of these isn't necessarily lucky for the former owner, but I have to think this encounter is a good omen.
I soon pass the head rules official for the tournament. I wish him an eventless day, to which he quips, "You're wishing me a pleasant day, right?"
Despite only having a lead by five strokes, things seem focused for the Golden Flashes. Smiles (Erin Hawe) and stoic faces (Jennifer Ha) are at the driving range, while over at the chipping green Mandi and Shamira Marshall exchange a handshake. It's game time.
10:10 a.m. – Mandi is on her way, finding the left side for the second time in as many days on the No. 1 hole. Unable to get to the green in regulation, a bogey again mars her scorecard on the first hole. I look over to Denise Morrow, official team mom to Mandi and wife to head coach Mike Morrow. We both hope she can quickly recover.
10:48 a.m. – A pair of pars for Mandi follow on No. 2 and No. 3, including a nice putt on No. 3 for the save, helps even out the shaky start. I see her off the No. 4 tee and catch Jennifer Ha, who has three pars to start her final round.
11:04 a.m. – "JHa" hits a fantastic third shot on No. 4, to which she nails the birdie putt. But she doesn't give me a hint of jubilation through the camera lens. Throw me a bone…
11:21 a.m. – Despite having the ball below her feet following her drive on No. 5, Jennifer makes par again. Nothing seems to faze her today.
11:39 a.m. – Coach Morrow didn't give me a number heading out today, so I set my personal goal at five balls. But I've found my first ball I can't pick up when Toledo's Georgina Hunt has gone wide right on the par-3 No. 6. I spot her ball, but she's unable to play it. And, after a great shot to get on the green, she three-putts to take a six. Jennifer makes par.
12:15 p.m. – I follow Jennifer to the eighth tee box before heading back to catch Shamira on No. 7. She's three-over through six, and she pars again. But on eight, a tough pin placement results in a bogey, moving her up to four strokes over par.
12:48 p.m. – Kent State fans are starting to get punchy.
12:55 p.m. – WAY TO GO, SHAMIRA! After landing in the sand on the par-5 No. 9, her approach is short and behind a four-foot ridge that elevates the green on the right side. But the senior calmly places her shot mere inches from the cup for a tap-in par. It was a big par save, and she knows it. I find a way to get one of her patented smiles on her face.
1:30 p.m. – Kent State's lead has inched out to 10 strokes as the contenders make the turn. But a wind sweeps in, causing doubt in my mind and forcing a look at the weather. Interestingly, the rain that is in the area is dissipating around Fishers, Ind. Mercedes Germino makes par on No. 10.
1:48 p.m. – It's birdie time. Mechy makes a long putt on No. 11 as she continues to move up the leaderboard. She's within striking distance of the lead, and she's playing well. I check the stats on my phone, and see Mandi is playing steady (two-over through 12), Jennifer is rocking it (one-under through 13) and the team is gradually adding to their lead.
2:11 p.m. – But just like that, things can change. Mechy's second shot on No. 13 goes to the left, bounces twice short of the green and rolls into the water hazard. She cards a double-bogey six.
2:23 p.m. – But just like that, things can change. Mercedes grabs a stroke back with a birdie on the ensuing hole and remains in the hunt.
2:48 p.m. – Things are officially interesting. Ball State freshman Jenna Hague, who is in the final group with Kent State's Erin Hawe and Toledo's Piyathida Chaiyapan and is also battling for individual medalist honors, makes her first-ever hole-in-one on the par-3 No. 15. Pandemonium ensues in the tee box. It was a pretty cool moment to witness:
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3:12 p.m. – I'm with Erin the rest of the way, and with a double-digit stroke lead with just three holes to play, Kent State's 14th consecutive MAC title is all but wrapped up. The drama remaining is if Mechy will be the MAC medalist; she's in with a two-over 74 and an eight-over 224, on pace to be tied with Toledo's Chaiyapan and Ball State's Hague.
3:42 p.m. – Both Chaiyapan and Hague make birdie putts to finish seven-over and force a playoff. Hague then converts a birdie putt to win the individual medalist honor.
4:35 p.m. – It's awards time, and Kent State is reeling them in. All five starters earn all-MAC honors, marking the seventh time the Golden Flashes have had five all-MAC performers. Mercedes is named MAC Golfer of the Year (13th in 14 years for Kent State) and Jennifer garners MAC Freshman of the Year honors (ninth for Kent State). Mike Morrow is named the MAC Coach of the Year for the 10th time in his 14-year career.
But before all the accolades for the Golden Flashes, the MAC women's golf family said farewell to longtime Northern Illinois golf coach Pam Tyska. It was a moment that showed not only the tight bond among the players and coaches of the MAC, but everything right about college athletics – honoring a great person for her dedication in mentoring student-athletes. Best wishes, Pam – and remember, don't sweat the petty things.
5:20 p.m. – I finish up shooting photos and video, and the team is soon back on the road to return to Kent. I stay back to finish my recap and get as much done as I can before I need to hit the highway as well. It was a crazy, hectic, frenetic and exciting weekend, and I was glad for the beautiful opportunity to share it with the women's golf team.
My iPod agrees.
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Final stats:
Miles traveled – 728.9 miles
Miles walked – 24.4 miles
Stranded golf balls recovered – 27
Honey Twist pretzels eaten – 49
Trips to Handel's in Fishers, Ind. – 2
As always, it's a great day to be a member of the Golden Flashes family!
Sheila
