1. Lori Atsedes Shaken, But Not Broken After Car Crash
In her first tournament back after three weeks off, Duramed FUTURES Tour veteran LORI ATSEDES of Ithaca, N.Y., might be the first to utter the adage, "Beware of the wounded golfer." That's because when Atsedes arrived in Kentucky last week, still bruised and moving slowly from a car accident in Mason, Ohio nearly a month ago, she wasn't even sure if she would be able to walk 18 holes.
Atsedes carded a 3-over-par score of 75 in the first round of last week's Falls Auto Group Classic, added a 5-under 67 in the second round, and then posted a one-over 73 on the last day to finish tied for 45th at one-under 215. It was a huge step for the seven-time tournament winner on the Duramed FUTURES Tour and the Tour's Career Money Leader. And it was a huge boost to the player who had a near brush with catastrophe.
"I'm definitely lucky that I'm still here and able to play," said Atsedes prior to Friday's opening round. "I don't know what to expect of myself this week. Whatever happens, happens."
But what happened four weeks ago is still fresh in her mind. The player, with two other Tour members following in their cars, drove to the Cincinnati suburb around mid-day and found parking on the street to have lunch at a restaurant. Atsedes found the first parking spot and pulled in. As soon as she had put her car in park and unbuckled her seatbelt to get out, her van was rear-ended by a drunk driver.
"All I know is glass was flying and I hit my head on the steering wheel," said Atsedes. "Then I heard tires screeching and people screaming."
The man who had crashed into her van was trying to back up and leave the accident scene, but his car was stuck on Atsedes' van. As he attempted to leave, his wheels spun in place, eventually blowing out when they overheated. The police arrived and arrested the driver. Duramed FUTURES Tour players EMMA CALDERONE of Toronto, and LAURA BAVAIRD of Grosse Ile, Mich., stayed with Atsedes, who was in shock. They collected her belongings when the player's totaled van was towed away.
The accident happened one mile from where Atsedes' housing hosts lived. The host, Dr. Tom Kiefhaber and his wife, Jan, is a physician, so Atsedes went straight to his medical office, where she was x-rayed and treated. Miraculously, she had no broken bones, but she suffered a concussion, whiplash and deep bruising to her legs and shoulders.
In another small miracle, her golf clubs were unscathed, thanks to the wooden-shelving organizational system Atsedes had built in the back of her van to house her golf shoes, clubs and equipment and luggage.
"I think being a neat freak saved my life," said Atsedes. "The car hit me while I was completely stopped, so when his car slammed into the back of my van, everything went flying, but the wooden shelves stayed intact. It sounded like an explosion and all of the windows blew out, but the organizational system saved me a whole lot of hurt."
At impact, Atsedes' van was slammed into the car parked in front of her, moving that vehicle 30 feet forward. The sidewalk and street that day was busier than usual with emergency vehicles, tow trucks and chaos echoing down the street.
It was a difficult experience for the veteran. She had worked hard this season to reach the top 20 on the Tour's money list -- a ranking that would drop to 37th after three weeks. Atsedes tried to play the tournament that week in Mason, Ohio, but was forced to withdraw after six holes. She had no choice but to go home to Florida for three tournaments to regroup and receive physical treatments.
She was dealing with injuries and the uncertainty of being able to play. And even immediately after the accident, while she sat in the street waiting for help, she looked around and saw that her worldly belongings were as scattered and crushed as her hopes and dreams for the 2010 season.
"It was emotional," said Atsedes. "Everything I owned was in that van. But when I went back to look at my car in the salvage yard, I realized it was just a car – just a metal frame. I'm lucky to have my life. I was given the opportunity to come back to the game I love and don't want to leave."
Atsedes is still concerned about replacing her vehicle. The driver of the car had only $7,000 in insurance – hardly enough to help Atsedes regain her mobility to finish the Tour season. She plans to borrow a car from her father, and store some of the items that used to travel on tour with her at her parents' home in New York. She is also worried about the long-term effects of her injuries, admitting "things aren't the same."
"This was my first week of golf and I got up this morning and said, 'Why does everything hurt?'" said Atsedes last Sunday, following the Tour's final round in Kentucky. "But I'm a fighter. I was tired because my stamina is not good yet. I didn't give up."
Atsedes knows that she is fortunate to be walking the fairways again, albeit a little more gingerly. And she is grateful for the outpouring of support she has received in recent weeks from family, friends and complete strangers.
"When people remember you and send you messages and notes, it's always humbling," she said. "I never take it for granted. I've met thousands of people over the years and you can feel them in your corner."
At age 46, Atsedes is something of a Cal Ripken, Jr., on the Duramed FUTURES Tour, typically playing in every tournament, year after year for 17 years on the FUTURES and five years on the LPGA. So when she disappeared from the roster for three weeks, friends and fans wondered what was going on?
"If I'm not in the field, people know something's wrong," she said.
And while the accident was a setback that certainly scared the veteran and prompted her to call her friends and tell them to "please never drink and drive, or even text-message and drive," the New Yorker is quick to add that she plans to find a way to finish out the season. She also has had plenty of time to think about that day in Ohio when her world could have changed forever.
"I've driven thousands of miles over the years playing in tournaments and wouldn't you know that I get hit while my car was in park?" said Atsedes, with a dry sense of humor. "But one more second, and I would have been out of that car. It could have ended up a lot worse. All things considered, I'm doing OK."
And as she has done for so many years, Atsedes is still in the game.
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2. Nineteen Tour Members Ready For This Week's U.S. Women's Open
They've heard the stories. They've read the history. They have even looked at the legendary Oakmont Country Club on Google Earth for a satellite view of its renown, 100-yard-long Church Pews bunker.
But 19 members of the Duramed FUTURES Tour will get their very own chance to test their skills and patience this week when the 2010 U.S. Women's Open Championship brings the best women golfers in the world to Oakmont, Pa.
"I'll buy four over par at the end of the week and sit in the clubhouse right now," said two-time Tour winner JENNY GLEASON of Clearwater, Fla., who played a practice round at Oakmont two weeks ago. "It's tough, it's good and you have to drive it in the fairways, and once you're on the greens, you can't fall asleep."
Competing in her second Open, Gleason said the rough was already long when she played the course. She estimates the rough is worth a half-shot to full-shot penalty. The greens were only running at 10.5 on the Stimp meter [measuring green speed] when she played, but are expected to reach 13.5 on the Stimp.
"It's old-school golf with greens that slope from front to back," added Gleason. "This is the biggest tournament of the year and the toughest tournament in women's golf. Oakmont is going to be different than any other venue in U.S. Women's Open history."
Tour member LUCY NUNN of Lawton, Okla., has been playing online videos of Oakmont Country Club and is excited about her first Open.
"I know the greens are going to be fast and I've been tempted to go putt on a tennis court," said Nunn, who will have fellow Tour member KENDALL DYE on her bag this week. "Win, lose or draw, I'm playing in the Open. It will be a great experience."
Like Nunn, Tour member TIFFANY JOH of San Diego has also used technology to check out Oakmont from afar while playing tournaments on the Duramed FUTURES Tour. The former UCLA All-American viewed the course from a satellite view on Google Earth.
"There are a lot of bunkers out there," said Joh, who owns two U.S. Golf Association titles with two victories at the U.S. Women's Public Links Championship (WAPL). "I'm excited about my first Open, but obviously nervous, too."
Born in Philadelphia, Joh returns to Pennsylvania this week with the goal of extending her success at USGA events, but unlike her two WAPL titles, this week features stroke-play at its most challenging.
"Anything that's a USGA event comes with extra incentive to play well," said Joh. "Those two USGA events I won were match-play and this week is a whole different animal."
Joh's former cross-town college rivals VERONICA FELIBERT of Caracas, Venezuela, and JENNIFER SONG of Ann Arbor, Mich., who both played collegiately at the University of Southern California, will also be in the 2010 Open field. Song earned two USGA titles last year with wins at the U.S. Women's Amateur Championship and the 2009 U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links. Last year's "low amateur," Song skipped the Duramed FUTURES Tour tournament last week in Kentucky to practice at Oakmont. Felibert said she opted not to skip last week's event because she "wanted to go into the Open in a competitive mood."
"I'm excited and I'll get nervous when I'm there, but I'm ready," said Felibert, playing in her first Open. "I've heard it's a very special week."
Perhaps the Duramed FUTURES Tour member with the most insight into Oakmont is SARAH LYNN (JOHNSTON) SARGENT of Greer, S.C. Her father, former PGA Tour member Ralph Johnston, was one of eight players who broke par in the final round of the 1973 U.S. Open at Oakmont. The elder Johnston will return to Oakmont this year to watch his daughter play in the Women's Open and has shared plenty of stories with her about the course over the years.
"It's like the 'Old Course' of the United States," said Sargent, who will be playing in her second Open. "I don't care if the rounds take six hours. I'm at the Open and I might as well enjoy every minute of it."
Tour members at the 2010 U.S. Women's Open Championship are as follows: SOFIE ANDERSSON of Angelholm, Sweden; SHASTA AVERYHARDT of Flint, Mich.; ASHLI BUNCH of Morristown, Tenn.; CHRISTI CANO of San Antonio; ESTHER CHOE of Scottsdale, Ariz.; KIRBY DREHER of Fort St. John, Canada; MEREDITH DUNCAN of Shreveport, La.; VERONICA FELIBERT of Caracas, Venezuela; JENNY GLEASON of Clearwater, Fla.; TIFFANY JOH of San Diego; amateur JENNIFER JOHNSON of Carlsbad, Calif.; LAURA KUENY of Whitehall, Mich.; LUCY NUNN of Lawton, Okla.; PORNANONG PHATLUM of Chaiyaphum, Thailand; SARAH LYNN SARGENT of Greer, S.C.; JENNY SHIN of Torrance, Calif.; LIBBY SMITH of Essex Junction, Vt.; JENNIFER SONG of Ann Arbor, Mich.; and ALISON WALSHE of Westford, Mass.
For daily results and U.S. Women's Open coverage this week, visit duramedfuturestour.com, USGA.org, and LPGA.com.
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3. Jennifer Johnson Will Play Final Tournament As An Amateur
Amateur Duramed FUTURES Tour member JENNIFER JOHNSON, who would have been a sophomore this fall at Arizona State University, confirmed that she plans to turn professional following her appearance at this week's U.S. Women's Open Championship. Johnson has an amateur exemption into the 2010 Open as the runner-up at the 2009 U.S. Women's Amateur Championship.
She played in the Tour's event in Hammond, Ind., two weeks ago as an amateur, and told The Desert Sun on June 29th that she would be turning professional immediately after the Open. Her first appearance as a pro will be at the Duramed FUTURES Tour's Alliance Bank Golf Classic in Syracuse, N.Y., set for July 30-Aug. 1.
"I was thinking about it before going into the [Tour's Indiana] tournament and I wanted to play a tournament to see what it was like out there and what I was getting into," said Johnson, 18, of Carlsbad, Calif. "If I want to be a pro golfer for a living, I might as well do what my job would be. The option to get a college degree will always be there."
Johnson's amateur resume is packed with highlights, including an individual runner-up finish at the 2010 NCAA Women's Golf Championship, designation as the Pac-10 and National Golf Coaches Association Freshman of the Year, six top-10 finishes in college tournaments, and a spot on the winning 2010 U.S. Curtis Cup team.
Johnson called ASU coach Melissa Luellen after the Tour's Indiana tournament and told her she would not be coming back to school this fall. It was a difficult phone call, the player said, but one that she knew she was ready to make.
"I really liked ASU, but I wanted to do what was best for my game," said Johnson. "It's been a long-time goal of mine to turn pro and I felt like I was ready. It's good to just make the decision and move on."
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4. Ryann O'Toole Wins Kentucky Tournament In Playoff
Second-year professional RYANN O'TOOLE of San Clemente, Calif., won her second tournament of the 2010 season last week at the $115,000 Falls Auto Group Classic in London, Ky. The former UCLA collegian carded rounds of 68-69-65 for a 14-under score of 202, with a birdie on one extra hole in a playoff against Tour veteran ANGELA BUZMINSKI of Oshawa, Ontario.
Buzminski posted rounds of 66-71-65 to draw even with O'Toole in regulation at 202 (-14) at the Crooked Creek Golf Community course. O'Toole's $16,100 payday boosted her from 18th to the No. 6 spot on the Tour's 2010 season money list.
Rookie JODI EWART of North Yorkshire, England carded a final-round 70 to finish 3rd at 12-under 204, while two-time 2010 tournament winner CHRISTINE SONG of Fullerton, Calif., posted a 4-under 68 to finish fourth at 10-under 206.
Rounding out the top five was the duo of rookie ERICA MOSTON (68) of Belmont, Calif., and veteran MARCELA LEON (70) of Monterrey, Mexico, who tied for fifth at 9-under 207.
O'Toole won the weather-hampered Mercedes-Benz of Kansas City Championship earlier this spring in Leawood, Kan., but the event was shortened to 18 holes when the Leawood South Country Club course was rendered unplayable following heavy rains.
"This feels like a real win," said O'Toole, of winning the tournament over 54 holes, plus one extra visit to the par-five 18th for the playoff. "And I had to grind it out against a veteran player."
O'Toole is also a contestant on the Golf Channel's current "Big Break Sandals Resort" show.
The Tour is idle this week, resuming competition July 16-18, at the ING New England Golf Classic in Bloomfield, Conn.
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5. "Race For The Card" Continues At Falls Auto Group Classic
The Duramed FUTURES Tour's annual "Race For the Card" entered its 11th week at the conclusion of the Falls Auto Group Classic in London, Ky. The "Race For the Card" spotlights movement on the Tour's 2010 season money list as players compete for positions among the top-10 money winners. Players finishing in the top 10 at the conclusion of the tournament season will earn membership on the 2011 LPGA Tour.
At the conclusion of the Kentucky event, players occupying the top 10 spots on the money list are as follows: 1. CHRISTINE SONG of Fullerton, Calif., $58,000; 2. CINDY LACROSSE of Tampa, Fla., $53,677; 3. ANGELA OH of Maple Shade, N.J., $40,279; 4. GERINA MENDOZA of Roswell, N.M., $39,742; 5. PORNANONG PHATLUM of Chaiyaphum, Thailand, $35,301; 6. RYANN O'TOOLE of San Clemente, Calif., $32,963; 7. ESTHER CHOE of Scottsdale, Ariz., $30,924; 8. MO MARTIN of Altadena, Calif., $27,505; 9. JANE RAH of Torrance, Calif., $26,093; and 10. HANNAH JUN of San Diego, $23,471.
Tournament runner-up ANGELA BUZMINSKI of Oshawa, Ontario improved from No. 64 to 20th on the Tour's season money list, while third-place finisher JODI EWART moved from 59th to No. 23. Tour veteran MARCELA LEON of Monterrey, Mexico, also made a move, improving from 87th to No. 41 with her tie for fifth last week while ASHLEY PRANGE of Noblesville, Ind., moved into the top 50, jumping from 62nd to 49th on the money list.
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6. Alumna Song-Hee Kim Grabs Another Top-10 Finish On LPGA Tour
Duramed FUTURES Tour alumna SONG-HEE KIM of South Korea, lost in a playoff in last week's Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic presented by Kroger. Kim fired a final-round score of 66 to jump into a four-way, two-hole playoff at Highland Meadows Golf Club in Sylvania, Ohio, but settled in a tie for second. The 2006 Duramed FUTURES Tour Player of the Year and five-time winner now has 16 top-10 finishes in her last 19 LPGA starts.
Top alumnae finishers in last week's Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic presented by Kroger are as follows: T2nd – SONG-HEE KIM of South Korea and CHRISTINA KIM of California, both at 270 (-14), $68,808 each; 6th INBEE PARK of Nevada, 272 (-12), $33,362; T7th MEENA LEE of South Korea and KATHERINE HULL of Australia, both at 273 (-11), $24,795 each; and T10th KRIS TAMULIS of Florida, ALENA SHARP of Canada, STACY PRAMMANASUDH of Oklahoma and KRISTY MCPHERSON of South Carolina, all at 274 (-10), $16,936 each.
Current Duramed FUTURES Tour players competing in last week's LPGA Tour event and playing on the weekend finished as follows: LIBBY SMITH of Essex Junction, Vt., T56th at 1-under 283; ALISON WALSHE of Westford, Mass., T62nd at even-par 284; ADRIENNE WHITE of Red Deer, Alberta, Canada, CINDY LACROSSE of Tampa, Fla., and TANYA DERGAL of Durango, Mexico, all T-72nd at 2-over 286; and LISA STROM of Huntersville, N.C., and ASHLI BUNCH of Morristown, Tenn., both T-81st at 6-over 290.
For complete results and more information about the Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic presented by Kroger, visit LPGA.com.
In other news from the LPGA Tour, five alumnae and one current Duramed FUTURES Tour member were the top five qualifiers last week for the RICOH Women's British Open. These players may compete in the LPGA's fourth major championship later this summer. They are: alumnae JEAN REYNOLDS of Georgia, 137; MARISA BAENA of Colombia and LISA MELDRUM of Canada, both at 138; MISUN CHO of South Korea, ALLISON HANNA of Oregon and current Tour member LIBBY SMITH of Vermont, all at 139.
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7. Tour Alum Charlotte Mayorkas Wins Event In Canada
CHARLOTTE MAYORKAS, a Duramed FUTURES Tour alumna, won a one-hole playoff to capture a victory at last week's $60,000 CN Canadian Women's Tour event at Blue Springs Golf Club in Acton, Ontario. Mayorkas and Canadian Stephanie Sherlock of Ontario, were tied at one-over par 145 after 36 holes. In the cold and windy final round, the pair returned to the 390-yard, par-4 18th for an extra hole, where Mayorkas scored par to win and Sherlock recorded a bogey.
Mayorkas, 26, of Las Vegas, carded rounds of 73-72. She earned $10,000 (Canadian) and gained an exemption into this year's CN Canadian Women's Open on the LPGA Tour. The tournament will be held at St. Charles Golf and Country Club in Winnipeg, Aug. 23-29.
Duramed FUTURES Tour members finishing in the top 10 in the Canadian event were: T4th LISA FERRERO of Lodi, Calif., 3-over 147; T8th CHRISTINE CHO of Elmhurst, N.Y., and Y.J. JIN of Houston, both at 6-over 150; and T10th RYANN O'TOOLE of San Clemente, Calif., and ISABELLE BEISIEGEL of Broken Arrow, Okla., both at 7-over 151.
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8. Golf Channel's "Big Break" Third Episode Airs Tonight
Fans of the Golf Channel's "Big Break" series will tune in again tonight for the third episode of the current "Big Break Sandals Resorts" show. And as the show unfolds, elimination challenges will continue as players attempt to hang on to the end.
Eight members of the Duramed FUTURES Tour are still alive in the event, following the premiere-show departure of ELENA ROBLES of Redondo Beach, Calif. The show airs tonight (Monday) at 9 p.m. Eastern. Check your local listing.
The 13th "Big Break" show features an all-female cast. Nine of the 11 cast members are current members of the Duramed FUTURES Tour, with one alumna, CHRIS BRADY of Charlotte, N.C., also in the cast. This year's "Big Break" show was filmed at Sandals Emerald Bay in Great Exuma, Bahamas. The show features a 10-episode series. In addition to cash and prizes packages, the latest "Big Break" winner will receive an exemption into an LPGA Tour event, as well as a tournament exemption on the Ladies European Tour.
Filmed on location in February, the competition will be staged on the Greg Norman-designed Sandals Emerald Reef Golf Club at Sandals Emerald Bay. Watch for weekly updates on duramedfuturestour.com following each show, detailing the weekly results of Duramed FUTURES Tour members.
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9. Quote Of The Week
"My dad told me that practicing for the greens at Oakmont is like putting a ball down the basement stairs and trying to stop it on the second step from the bottom."
-Duramed FUTURES Tour member SARAH LYNN SARGENT of Greer, S.C., who asked her father Ralph Johnston, a former PGA Tour player, for practice advice heading into this week's U.S. Women's Open Championship at Oakmont Country Club. (Johnston finished T-13th at the 1973 U.S. Open at Oakmont.)
Contact: Lisa D. Mickey, Duramed FUTURES Tour, +1-386-214-9726, or lisa@duramedfuturestour.com
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