Girls Go Golfing High-Fives Michelle Wie; a champion golfer & artist who personifies "coolio-panache," just saying!

Congratulations to Michelle Wie, who last week won the 2014 LPGA LOTTE Tournament in Hawaii, an important victory for Wie as well as the LPGA Tour.

It was just 11 years ago that my husband and I first met Michelle Wie. It was at the 2003 Shoprite Classic held at Seaview's Bay Course in Galloway, NJ. We were down there because we were golf fans. Also, my husband was the sports editor of the largest weekly newspaper in New Jersey. Both of us also happened to be volunteers with the local LPGA-USGA girls golf chapter in Hunterdon County.

Michelle was not enrolled in high school yet. It was so cool that a number of our junior golfers got to see her play and get their pictures taken with Michelle. The 13-year-old Wie was enthusiastic and had a 100-watt smile as she interacted with her fans. She played in this event on a sponsor's exemption and tied for 52d place. 

My husband had contracted me to be his photographer for the day. My badge allowed me in the press tent. Naturally, I had to be at Michelle's press conference. The room was packed and I waited patiently for everyone to ask their questions. When Michelle was done, I walked up to where she was still seated signing autographs.

I handed her a 2002-2003 USGA The Rules of Golf rules book. She looked at me quizzically and then shrugged her shoulders and got her sharpie ready saying," Why am I signing a rules book?"

I laughed, asked if she could give me some help with playing the shot and told her my little golf secret. And added,"Michelle, you are going to be a great champion and win bunches of golf tournaments some day. I am so glad my junior golfers got to meet you and watch you play."

Now, years later she seems to be on her way. She has dealt with an unbelievable amount of criticism stemming from her days when she played in the PGA tour Sony Open (only missing the cut by one stroke!) In 2006, my husband saw her in the 36-hole US Men's Open qualifier at Canoebrook along side David Gossett (He won a PGA Tour event.) There were 150 men there plus one woman. She beat both her fellow competitors that day shooting 68-75 and just missed qualifying for the men's open.  You remember the U.S. Open at Winged Foot? The drama unfolding down the stretch as Phil Mickelson tragically loses. Imagine if Michelle had been there from the start of the championship week. The crowds were spectacular following her during the qualifying round (see photo below)

Then there were the 4-1/2 years she was playing golf and earning her college degree in communications from Stanford.

Add to it some rules infractions along the way and the years when she totally lost confidence in her putting which put more pressure on all aspects of her game.

And while on the subject of rules, the unidentified woman kneeling above the bunker looking at the ball with a horrible lie pictured on the cover of that 2002-2003 USGA Rule Book Michelle signed was me!

Girls GO Golfing ALUMNI Finish High in 2-day Centennial Conference Event hosted by Stevenson University

GGG salutes Kara McNulty winning the 2-day event and to Amanda Beebe & Nicole Petrocchi for sixth-place tie!!!! Your former GGGers & Red Devil teammates are proud of you!
{Reprinted from Gettysburg University Athletics webpage}

McNulty, Bullets Keep Rolling at Stevenson

Kara McNulty '14 wins seventh title of the season

Back Row(from left): Nicole Petrocchi
Front Row:(white hat) Kara McNulty

Gettysburg won its third consecutive event of the spring.

Results

UPPERCO, Md.  – Senior Kara McNulty (Flemington, N.J./Hunterdon Central) and the Gettysburg College women's golf team continued their outstanding play this season with dominant efforts at the Stevenson University Invitational held at Piney Branch Golf Club over the weekend.

Gettysburg won its third consecutive event and sixth overall this season by leaving the rest of the field in the rear-view mirror. The Bullets carded a 697 during the two-day tournament, 50 strokes ahead of runner-up Bridgewater (Va.) College. Gettysburg posted its second-lowest team score of the season with a 340 on Saturday before finishing at 357 on Sunday.

McNulty steered the team once again, extending her own school record and breaking the Centennial Conference mark with her seventh tournament victory of the season. The senior logged two birdies on the par-71, 5,801-yard course on the opening day en route to a 79, marking her fifth round in the 70s this season. McNulty capped the tournament with an 81 and finished 11 strokes ahead of runner-up Marin Warring (171) of Bridgewater.

The victory was McNulty's 15 career title, extending her own school record. She broke the season wins record previously set by McDaniel College's Kelly Cramp in 2005.

McNulty had plenty of company at the top of the leaderboard as junior Lauren Sobotka (North Caldwell, N.J./Mount St. Dominic Academy) and freshmen Nicole Petrocchi(Whitehouse Station, N.J./Hunterdon Central) and Sarah Hansen (Cumberland, Maine/Greely) each finished in the top 10 for the third consecutive tournament. Sobotka recorded her lowest round of the season on Saturday with an 84 and closed with an 88 on Sunday to secure third place. Petrocchi posted an 87 on day one and a 95 on day two to finished tied with Amanda Beebe of Swarthmore College for sixth overall, while Hansen finished two strokes back in a tie for eighth with 184 (90-94).

Round One Results Just in from Stevenson Invitational Hosted by Dickinson College

Former Girls GO Golfing Alumni Kara McNulty, Nicole Petrocchi and Amanda Beebe have first through sixth place covered at the Stevenson Invitational.

Full Round One Results click-on Dickinson College below!

Dickinson College

Keeping Up With Former GGGers:McNulty & Petrocchi at Gettysburg and Beebe at Swarthmore

Next up is the Stevenson Invitational hosted by Dickinson@Piney Branch GC, Hampstead, Md. Check back here later tonight or tomorrow for results!!!
Below are some recaps from the Gettysburg University Athletics site featuring some Girls Go Golfing (GGG) alumni: Kara McNulty, Amanda Beebe and Nicole Petrocchi. 




Next up is the Stevenson Invitational hosted by Dickinson@Piney Branch GC, Hampstead, Md. Check back here later tonight or tomorrow for results!!!

Grey Cup 

Results

ABBOTTSTOWN, Pa.  – 

It was business as usual for the Gettysburg College women's golf team and senior Kara McNulty (Flemington, N.J./Hunterdon Central) at Sunday's Grey Cup as the host Bullets took the team title by 27 strokes and McNulty claimed her 14th career individual championship.
 
Competing in a field of primarily Centennial Conference institutions, Gettysburg recorded its fifth team victory of the season. The Bullets carded a 347, well ahead of runner-up McDaniel College's score of 374.
 
McNulty extended her season record with her sixth title in eight events. One day removed from claiming the Blue Cup at Hanover Country Club, McNulty carded an 81 to win the Grey Cup by five strokes. She was two-over par at the turn and just missed her fifth round in the 70s this season after posting a triple-bogey on No. 18.
 
Four Bullets finished inside the top five with freshman Sarah Hansen (Cumberland, Maine/Greely) taking third for the second consecutive tournament. Hansen posted an 88 thanks to a strong effort on the back nine which saw her birdie No. 11. First-year Nicole Petrocchi (Whitehouse Station, N.J./Hunterdon Central) logged a top-six finish for the sixth consecutive event as she tied with junior Lauren Sobotka (North Caldwell, N.J./Mount St. Dominic Academy) for fourth. Both players carded an 89 on the afternoon.
 
Sophomore Kate Schwartz (Laureldale, Pa./North Warren Regional (Pa.)) rounded out the lineup with a 98 to place 16th. Competing as an individual, freshman Lynn Hatcher(Easton, Md./St. James School) shot a 97 to tie for 14th.
                  
Gettysburg next competes in the Stevenson University Spring Invitational on April 12-13 at the Piney Branch Country Club.

McDaniel Invitational

 Complete Results

ABBOTTSTOWN, Pa.  – 

The second round of the McDaniel College Spring Invitational was canceled due to unplayable course conditions at The Bridges Golf Club, giving Gettysburg College senior Kara McNulty (Flemington, N.J./Hunterdon Central) her 12th career individual title.
 
McNulty finished with a seven-over par 79 during Saturday's opening round on the 5,831-yard course. Despite poor weather conditions, the senior logged a dozen pars, including eight en route to a 37 on the back nine. The round was McNulty's school-record fifth in the 70s and one stroke shy of her personal best. She has finished first or second in all six events she has competed in this season, including four titles.
 
As a team, Gettysburg placed second overall with a combined score of 359. New York University finished out in front of the Bullets by 16 strokes.
 
Freshman Nicole Petrocchi (Whitehouse Station, N.J./Hunterdon Central) posted an 88 to finish fifth, tying her season-best finish. Fellow first-year Sarah Hansen (Cumberland, Maine/Greely) ended the tournament in 14th after carding a 94 on Saturday, while junior Lauren Sobotka (North Caldwell, N.J./Mount St. Dominic Academy) was 18th with a 98. Sophomore Kate Schwartz (Laureldale, Pa./North Warren Regional (N.J.)) rounded out Gettysburg's lineup with a 108 to tie for 25th.
 

Junior Amanda Beebe Swarthmore(Whitehouse Station,N.J./Hunterdon Central) 

posted a 100 to finish tied for nineteenth.

Tee times at 8:15 a.m. both days.
Saturday's weather: Upper 40s, rainy, 10-15 mph winds, poor conditions
Sunday's second round canceled due to unplayable conditions.

GIRLS GO GOLFING ASKS:Why Not Have Nicklaus, Palmer and Player "Tee it Forward" at The MASTERS?

Gary, Arnie and Jack in their prime.

How cool would it be to see Jack Nicklaus playing at Augusta National putting on the 17th green again the hole that propelled him to the 1986 championship and his sixth green jacket? Or Arnie and Gary walking up the 18th fairway arm in arm in the first round of the 2015 Masters?
Nicklaus is an advocate of the "Tee it Forward" program that encourages amateur players to play from the shorter tees. You know, if you can't hit the ball 250 yards off the tee, then don't play courses that measure 6,800 yards. Pick shorter tees and "Tee it forward!"
With 30 of the 46 Masters champions still alive, why not offer Nicklaus, Palmer, Player and Raymond Floyd a chance to play round one of the Masters from 6,000-6500 yards? They all played in Wednesday's Par 3 Tournament to the delight of the galleries.
The annual start to the Masters is nice, with Nicklaus, Palmer and Player hitting honorary tee shots on the first hole, then retiring to the clubhouse for interviews. But it would be way cooler to see those three walking the course and playing the holes that made them legends.
Currently, there are a handful of former champions who play in the Masters (from the official 7,435 yards) but don't really have a chance to stay in contention. It won't be all that long before Ben Crenshaw, Craig Stadler, Tom Watson, Ian Woosnam, Sandy Lyle, Mark O'Meara, Larry Mize, Bernard Langer and even Fred Couples (as the ageless Boom-Boom often gets in contention despite his over 50-status) will face the dilemma that Gary Player struggled with not so long ago. Will they be content to hit 3-woods into half the par fours and battle just to break 80? Or will they decide to drop out of the Masters and perhaps participate in the Par 3 Tournament on Wednesday?
Imagine it being 2020 with all those players opting to participate in a one-round Honorary Masters Tournament played at 6,000 yards on opening day Thursday. Fans would get to see their idols on the course, hitting shots into the greens with 8-irons. And most of the legends would be able to shoot in the 70s, or perhaps lower.
Why settle for pitching the ball around the Par 3 Tournament, when they could opt for 18-holes in the first round of the Masters? On the course that made them famous!
It would be a dream for the players and the fans.

Nicklaus & Wie Putting Styles:PERFECT TOGETHER!

Jack Nicklaus putting in the 1963  Masters

( this post was originally posted March 28 but due to technological problem it just got published now.)

I always watch the LPGA whenever they are televised. And now with DVR, it is super convenient!

Itz been bugging me lately, that one announcer in particular continues to berate Miss Wie over the use of her particular putting style.

The same style worked for the best player in the world who happens to hold a record 18 major titles.

JACK NICKLAUS!

Compare the pictures above and you will see that a JACK by any other name is a MICHELLE.

Keep on rockin', Michelle! GGG loves your attitude!

Obesity Associated with Lower Academic Achievement in Teenage Girls, Says New Study

It seems like every week new research is released about the far-reaching negative effects of childhood obesity. Now, British researchers have found a correlation between obesity in teen girls and poor performance in the classroom. 

Since the 1990s, the United States has seen an alarming increase in childhood obesity rates. In 2012, 21 percent of all American children are obese. While adult obesity rates have doubled since 1980, from 15 to 30 percent, childhood obesity rates have more than tripled. Rising obesity rates have significant health consequences, contributing to increased rates of more than 30 serious diseases. 

Researchers in both the U.S. and the U.K. have become progressively interested in how obesity might affect students' academic achievement, says John Reilly, specialist in the prevention of childhood obesity at the University of Strathclyde, and the study's lead author. Reilly says few studies have examined the same students over several years, or been able tease out obesity's effects from the influence of social factors, such as socioeconomic status. 

The current study analyzed data from nearly 6,000 adolescent students in the U.K., comparing their body mass index from ages 11 to 16 with how well they performed in standardized tests during those years. About 71 percent of the students surveyed were of a "healthy weight" at the start, the researchers said, and about 15 percent were obese. 

The academic exams, which tested the students' English, math and science abilities, were given three times at ages 11, 13 and 16. After adjusting for factors like socioeconomic status, IQ and menstruation cycles, the researchers found that, on average, girls who were obese at age 11 performed worse at age 11, 13 and 16 than girls deemed to have a healthy weight. Being obese at 11, the scientists found, was enough "to lower average attainment to a grade D instead of a grade C," by age 16. 

Though the study followed British teens, Reilly says the findings are likely also applicable to students in the United States, where the proportion of children between the ages 12 and 19 who are obese grew from 5 percent in 1980 to nearly 21 percent by 2012. "The similarities between the environment, the culture, [and] school systems between the U.S. and the U.K. are more similar than may be obvious," Reilly says. 

"There is nothing about this [study] that is specific to the U.K.," agrees David Katz, the director of Yale University's Prevention Research Center, who wasn't involved in the study 

"Girls are much more affected by obesity in terms of mental health and well-being than boys are," he says, adding that stigma's negative effect on things like self-image, self-esteem and even depression may be lead girls to skip school more often, leading to poorer grades. 

"The issue with girls," Katz says, "is that they're much more subject to the peer pressure and ridicule associated with obesity." 

Learn more about the research and read the full report here.