Inside the Ropes - Day One Blog
5/11/2012 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 NCAA Women's Golf East Regional.
6:45 a.m. – I'm on the road, again, but Willie Nelsen isn't serenading me. I really can't wait just the same.
6:48 a.m. – I am back off the road, as I have forgotten something at my home. I right my wrong, grab some breakfast as well, and set the cruise by 7:05 a.m.
10:15 a.m. – Sun has welcomed me to Penn State's Blue Course, as well as the first 12 teams playing the first round in the morning. I keep checking the weather and it promises rain will arrive in about 2 ½ to 3 hours. Argh. If the little windy icon wasn't enough for today's forecast…
10:45 a.m. – I step into the Walker Clubhouse, only to find a giant display for Ricky Fowler. I am sure the Oklahoma State contingent that is currently on the course is happy for the extra mojo. I also spot a sign with an English hiccup…
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11:58 a.m. – Erin Hawe is evidently playing as a twosome, paired with San Diego State's Alessia Knight. Maryland is without their No. 5 golfer today, which I find out later is due to illness. Since they're the first two off the tee for the afternoon, I have a feeling they're going to play quick. That means a few extra photos.
I catch some of the small talk that new opponents share during the round – grade in school and field of study are discussed at the No. 2 tee box. Both are communications majors at their respective schools.
12:49 p.m. – It's pretty windy right now. In fact, I think I just saw a bird hovering still in the air.
1:08 p.m. – I swap to Shamira on the 13th green after seeing Erin off the tee at No. 14. It's still windy. A glance to the sky has plenty of threatening clouds dancing around Happy Valley; here's hoping they stay away.
1:23 p.m. – They don't. The clouds full of blustery wind also pack big and blobby rain drops. My umbrella is in the trunk of my car, and Denise Morrow tries to lessen my wetness with a broken umbrella of her own.
2:29 p.m. – Rain and wind continue to give the golfers headaches, but the Golden Flashes are holding their own. Mandi Morrow fights out a par on the par-5 No. 18 to take the turn. As she crosses the road to make her way to the No. 1 tee box, she pauses to let a car drive past. At the helm: former Kent State standout and current Florida coach Jan Dowling. Both exchange waves and continue on their designated paths.
2:52 p.m. – At the turn, the team is +8, and the weather is gradually improving. Jennifer Ha can't get a birdie putt on No. 1 to drop, despite some body English. Curiously, it never seems to work.
3:23 p.m. – Fellow golf SID Jim Horten from Chattanooga tracks me down near the convergence of the No. 3 and No. 8 greens. This spring marks three straight postseasons our paths have crossed thanks to great college golf. We chat a bit before we return to covering of our tremendous student-athletes.
4:13 p.m. – Maybe battling the weather early on has taken a bit out of the team, but the scores are starting to sneak up. Mandi is holding steady. Mercedes Germino starts No. 6 out with two shots she wasn't happy with, but her third out of the sand had the perfect touch to set up a par.
5:12 p.m. – The first round is wrapped up, and I get quick interviews from Mandi (two-over 74 to lead the team on Thursday) and head coach Mike Morrow. The Golden Flashes are 17th overall, but with a solid round on Friday, can surely move up.
6:24 p.m. – I check in with Dean Wood, who is helping do some sports information work at the 2012 MAC Track and Field Championships. He's "pretty pumped with the photos" and gets cracking at a photo gallery. But not after exchanging a few jokes stemming from his home country.
Thanks for reading once again. Be sure to follow the Golden Flashes on golfstat.com the rest of the way - here's hoping "Moving Day" has Kent State on the upward trend.
Go Flashes!
Sheila
