10/16/2009
The Trip of a Lifetime
By Barb Hanson
I was so fortunate to have the opportunity to accompany Minnesota's State Team to the USGA State Team Championship as their captain. I'm not sure what I did for them, but they certainly did a lot for me.
The USGA State Team Championship originated in 1995 and has been held every two years since then. Each state selects and sends three women who compete in three days of stroke play. Each day the two best scores from each team are counted. Minnesota has some good history in this event, winning it in 2001 when it was held at Woodhill Country Club in Wayzata and boasting four more top ten finishes in the eight times it's been held.
This year the tournament was held at Sycamore Hills in Fort Wayne, Indiana, a Jack Nicklaus Signature Course. We finished tenth out of 49 which was a little disappointing given our strong start (we were tied for fifth after the first round and in sixth place after the second round), but it was a good showing for a northern team.
Minnesota's team consisted of Leigh Klasse (St. Anthony), Claudia Pilot (Austin) and Alison Meyer (Duluth). You probably recognize Leigh and Claudia as perennial Minnesota champions, but you may not know Alison. She just graduated from Ferris State (Michigan) where she had a great four years on the golf team. She has been competing in MWGA events since she was in high school and won our Match Play this summer, as well as the 2008 State Amateur at Edina Country Club. Also in attendance was Lynn Anderson, who has played on the state team in the past and this year was serving as Leigh's caddie.
During the tournament I spent a lot of time walking, watching, listening and absorbing -- walking a gorgeous, finely-manicured course, watching beautiful, fluid and powerful swings, listening to strategies, stories and banter among friends, and absorbing a once-in-a-lifetime experience. As I mentioned before, I learned a lot.
Leigh taught us how to plumb bob a putt. Claudia said the technique really helped her when she shot her 70 on the first day. Leigh also modeled a consistently positive attitude as well as a consistently fluid swing.
I now think of Claudia every time I stand over a putt. She keeps her head so still! In fact, she doesn't move her head for a full two seconds after she strikes the ball. I'm trying to do the same.
Alison has developed routines both before and during a round that keep her focused and prepared. She never varied from her pre-shot routine. Lynn was our "Super Looper" and taught me a lot about how to analyze and notate a green as we played our practice rounds.
I really didn't know any of these women more than casually before this trip; I had met each of them over the years at MWGA tournaments but had never spent any time with them. I have to tell you they are four of the greatest! We laughed until we cried at Lynn's YouTube clips; we giggled every time Claudia came up with a song that fit the moment; we hurt for each other's disappointments; and we enjoyed lots of "together" time.
Yes, we were a little disappointed with the final outcome, but not with the experience. It was the best!
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