I can't comment on how the tournament was played too much yet, since I was in Charlotte all weekend watching the PGA guys play, but I've got Paula's victory queued up on the TiVo. Another win for the young star in pink.

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

(Originally Published on kivus.com & johnkivus.com)

Over the past few weeks the news has been saturated with examples of young woman who no respectable parent would want his or her daughter to idolize. The stories of Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, and Britney Spears make one wonder if the current generation of young girls have anyone that they can look up to. After spending a weekend at the Pine Needles Golf Course, watching girls like Paula Creamer, Natalie Gulbis, Brittany Lincicome and the other young superstars of the LPGA, I’d say that parents should start flocking to these tournaments in droves. If parents are looking for role models for their young girls, they have to look no further than the LPGA.

I’ve been to a number of golf tournaments, from lower level tournaments like what used to be called the “Canon Greater Hartford Open” in Connecticut, to upper level tournaments like the Wachovia Champsionship in Charlotte, and even major tournaments like the US Open at Pinehurst a few years back. Through all the experience, however, I would say the atmosphere at the US Women’s Open at Pine Needles was the best I’ve witnessed. Though the people involved with putting on the tournament play a role in that, what really set this tournament apart was the attitude of the players. Whether it was the smiles to young children in the crowds, the acknowledgment of the gallery when the gallery showered them with congratulations, or stopping on the way from putting green to first tee to sign autographs, the ladies really went out of their way to show their appreciation.

Though their demeanor and attitude would be enough reason for young girls to have the ladies of the LPGA as role models, it cannot be emphasized enough that these girls are immensely talented athletes. Whether it’s the raw power of Britney Lincicome, the athleticism of Natalie Gulbis, or the finesse and talent of Paula Creamer, these girls are famous not because of some fluke movie or some inheritance they are due, instead they’ve worked hard, developed their skills and now exhibit their talent, skill and athleticism on a weekly basis. They are living embodiments of practice, hard work, and dedication and are prime examples of what a young girl should aspire to.

If I were to take a survey of my friends, or even males 18-35 in general, the number that would be enthusiastic about attending an LPGA golf event for a weekend would not be particularly high, regardless of the fact that young women like Paula Creamer are in fact, magnificently stunning in person. Though that particular demographic might not be drawn to the course, young girls and their parents should be. In an age when it’s hard to point our young people in the direction of good role models, for one weekend at the end of June, the Pine Needles Golf Course was bursting with them.

[ Kelly Cavanaugh ]

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

After having such a spectacular day on Saturday, I knew it was going to be tough for Sunday to live up to the expectations. Still, I loaded up my iPod and headed off to Pine Needles.

• I arrived at Pine Needles around 11:00. Figuring that I'd be near the time that Paula Creamer was going off, I made my way to the entrance and grabbed a pairings sheet.
• The pairings showed that I had about 20 minutes before Paul Creamer was set to tee off, so I made my way to the "18th Hole" bus and headed over to the corner by the 18th Hole & Hole #1.
• I walked over to the range to see if Brittany Lincicome was hitting, since she had been leading the tournament in driving distance, however she must have been doing something else to prepare for her round.
• I made it to the first tee just as Paula was giving her mother a quick hug and then walking over to the first tee, signing autographs along the way (something that you'd never see the pros on the men's tour doing).

Paula_Creamer_1001_large

• The gallery following Paula was quite large, which was to be expected, and I made some idle chatter with the police officer following her, since the officer recognized me from the previous day.
• 'I followed Paula through the first hole, but then secured a good spot on the second tee to watch Brittany hit her drive. It was a good decision on my part, as she absolutely crushed the ball.
• I walked ahead to watch Paula some, but found myself falling back to watch Brittany as she was having a tremendous round birdieing the first 3 holes and playing some excellent golf.
• I ended up floating between groups, spending more time following Brittany's group as the time went on, since she was playing better and Paula's gallery was three to four times larger.
• At the 15th hole, I decided I had enough golf for the day, and headed into the merchandise tent to pick up some gifts for my father and my sister (a hat and a t-shirt, respectively) and decided that my weekend at Pine Needles had come to an end.

Overall, I had a blast Pine Needles. It was a laid back yet energetic environment that was a great place to watch golf. Aside from the overt rudeness of the NBC television employees, my complaint list is pretty much empty. Thanks to the LPGA and the USGA for putting on such a quality event.

183109

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Here's a rundown of my first day at the US Women's Open

• I arrived at Pine Needles at about 11:45 and found my way to the entrance, which was oddly positioned at the 15th hole.
• After grabbing pairings sheet and taking a quick look of the course map, I decided that it was time to go hunt down the LPGA's reigning phenom, Michelle Wie.
  
• I wasn't really prepared for the layout of the course and I pretty much had to walk hole by hole from my starting position at 15, past 16, 17 & 18 before I finally crossed over to hole 1.
• I paused for a while on hole 18 because I noticed that group contained the #1 Women's player in the world; Lorena Ochoa. Since my little sister had always tried to model her swing after Lorena's I stopped and watched her hit a few shots.
• After spending a little time watching Ochoa's group, I jumped ahead to the Michelle Wie's group. To my dismay, Wie had already withdrawn from the tournament. It was not a total loss, however, as this group also contained Natalie Gulbis, a golf well known among males 18-35 from her appearances in magazines like FHM and her reality show on the Golf Channel.
  
• I decided to follow Gulbis' group for a while, though occasionally floating back to Ochoa's group or jumping ahead to watch Erica Blasberg, who was having a very, very solid round.
  
• During the course of following the groups, I found out the plan for the 2nd / 3rd round break. Apparently, they were going to let all the golfers finish, then shut down the course for 2 hours, and then start back up with groups going off both the first tee and the 10th tee.
• After watching Ochoa's group drive on the 9th hole, I figured there was no point on just watching them finish and then sitting around while the rest of the groups came through the 9th hole. So instead, I kept walking back and forth between the 8th hole and the 9th hole, following groups for a number of shots as they went through.
• It was during this period that I witnessed Kelly Cavanaugh's "11th Hour' (a.k.a 18th Hole) bogey that cost her a spot in the 3rd round. Here's the full rundown: [ Tough Final Hole for Kelly Cavanaugh ]
• After the final group went through, I made my way back to the main gate, figuring that's where I could get a set of the new pairings sheets when they were released. I sat down under a tree, turned on my ipod, and waited, for about an hour and half, before the pairings were released.
• The latest pairings showed Paula Creamer teeing off in about 15 minutes, off the 10th tee, so I made my way back over there.

186158

• I made it to midway up the 10th fairway before Paula started her 3rd round. A few young girls next to me couldn't figure out which one was Paula, because Karen Icher was wearing pink while Paula was decked out in Carolina Blue. They seemed quite pleased when I pointed her out to them.
• I started following Paula from that hole forward, moving and shifting with a gallery of probably around 60-70 people. The viewing angles at Pine Needles are far from ideal, but it was a fairly small gallery (for the size of Paula' fame) so I got to see a number of golf shots up close.
• I followed Paula through the back nine and noticed the number of people following her was shrinking. At about hoel 15, they put up a "Weather Advisory" warning, but I figured seeing one of the world's best golfers this close was worth risking it.
• When she made the turn (from 18 to 1 in this case) the gallery had dwindled down to about 15-20. From this point on, it was quite simple to get great angles to watch the golfers make their way around the front nine.
• Though Paula looked like she was making a move, after birdieing the #1, she ended up bogeying two and the wheels came off the cart a little bit. For the rest of the round she appeared to have some minor troubles with the flat stick and could never really put together enough good shots to make a charge up the leaderboard.
• The plan was to finish up following Paula for the full 18, and then work my way back through some of the other groups to the exit at hole. At hole 13, however, they blew the horn for darkness.
• As I watched the girls gather their things, I felt the first drop of rain. I knew I was in trouble and began a light jog back towards the 15th hole. It wasn't long, however, before the heavens opened up and I was caught in a driving rain storm. It poured down for the 10 minutes it took me to reach my car, but had pretty much subsided by the time I got there.
  
• I crushed a protein bar and soda i left in a cooler in my car, and then headed home. I had a smile on my face from a tremendous day at the course.

That's my rundown of my Saturday at the US Women's Open. Stay tuned for Sunday...

185613

[ Saturday Morning ] | [ Saturday Wrap-up ]

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

It was another really, really great day at Pine Needles for the final rounds of the US Women's Open. I'll have a whole lot more to say about the tournament later, but let me take my hat off to everyone involved, especially the players for putting on a tremendous show all weekend.

186832

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Getting things in order to head back to Pine Needles for the last day of competition for the US Women's Open. Looks like Paula Creamer couldn't finish the charge I thought she was starting during her round yesterday. On the other hand, Lorena Ochoa looks poised to really take control of this tournament, though Cristie Kerr won't go down without a fight.

191754

[ Saturday Recap ] | [ Heading to Pine Needles ]

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

I just go back from a long, long day out at Pine Needles golf course. Saw a whole bunch of the wold's top players, such as Lorena Ochoa and Natalie Gulbis. I finished off the day following Paula Creamer for 16 holes of her third round when play was called due to darkness. Phenomenal event. Looking forward to heading back tomorrow.

106598

[ Head to Pine Needles ] | [ Day 2 Recap ]

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

I'm off to Pine Needles for the day to see the US Women's Open. Paula Creamer finished with a birde and ended up +4, while Michelle Wie has just started her second round. Going to be interesting to see how playing 2 full rounds today effects some of the players.

66848

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

It was another weather shortened day at Pine Needles, which, judging by the way the course was playing, might not be that bad for some of the ladies. Currently leader Angela Park has yet to tee off at all for her 2nd round, so she'll be out there at 8:03 to get it started. On the other hand, Paula Creamer is nearly finished her round and sits +4 for the tournament. Will not having to play 2 whole rounds in one day help or hurt the Pint Panther?

I'm looking forward to being there to see the events unfold in person tomorrow...

60156

[ Day 2 Midday Update ] | [ Day 1 Recap ]

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

It's 1:00 and a number of players are half way through their 2nd round at the US Women's Open. There are a few people makes moves, but a number of the bigger names aren't teeing off until after 4. Paula Creamer looked like she was making her move earlier today, but is now still hovering at 4 back.

Creamer5

Read and post comments | Send to a friend