LPGA Hall of Famer Amy Alcott demonstates how to chip out of a sand trap during a clinic prior to the annual OGGF tournament at Avon Oaks. (West Life photo by Larry Bennet)

Alcott, Mucha clinic highlights OGGF tourney in Avon
By Laura Briedis
Sports
Published July 28, 2010

High school girls across the state were treated to a clinic from LPGA Hall of Famer Amy Alcott and LPGA Tour Pro Barb Mucha before competing in the Ohio Girls Golf Foundation Open last week at Avon Oaks Country Club.

A number of high school golfers from the Westshore competed in the annual OGGF event, with Magnificat finishing second in the team standings behind first-place Canfield.

The LPGA pros flew in from California and Florida, respectively, to share their golf wisdom with the younger generation here in Ohio to help motivate them and improve their game.

“When we both played golf in high school, we had to golf on the boys team because there were no girls teams,” Mucha said. “It is great to be at an event like this and see how much the opportunities in girls golf have grown over the past years.”

In the hard-fought tournament, only one stroke determined both the individual winner and team champion. Caitlin Kempton of Shaker Heights shot 79 to win top honors, followed by Allison Mitzel of Poland with 80 and Lia Labate of Magnificat with 82.

Six girls tied with a score of 83 to round out the top golfers: Caroline Kennedy of Bay Village, Corynn Kreig of Avon Lake, Ali Nageotte of Magnificat, Kaitlin Neumann of Avon, Amanda Orr of Canfield and Kelsie Teaberry of Warren JFK.

The team competition was also closely contested as Canfield won top honors with a score of 355, followed by Magnificat with a 356, Avon at 365, Bay at 386 and Perry with a 374. Other schools participating included Avon Lake, Brecksville-Broadview Heights, Cuyahoga Falls, Laurel, Nordonia and Warren JFK.

“Today shows that every shot does count,” said OGGF tournament director Tom Rider, who coaches the Warren JFK team. “When you look back on every stroke, you will see where you could have shaved one stroke which would have made the difference in winning.”

In the morning clinic, Alcott and Mucha shared tips on irons, chipping and putting.

“Tournaments are really won or lost by the short game,” said Mucha, a Parma native. “No matter how far you drive the ball, if you can’t get up and down without problems, you won’t win the event.”

Alcott, who has won 33 LPGA events, gave advice for girls who want to pursue a career in golf.

“It must be a true passion for a player,” Alcott said. “It’s a hard life, but rewarding in so many ways. And I liken a professional golf career to what Mark Twain said: ‘Find something you truly love to do, and then you won’t work another day in your life.’”

Also at the event, six girls were presented college scholarships: Steffanie Camarata of Canton (Cleveland State University), Melissa Hershberger of Hartville (Coastal Carolina College), Audra Kohler of Canton (Otterbein College), Stephanie Koval of Cuyahoga Falls (Lake Erie College), Amanda Orr of Canfield (Tiffin University) and Mariah Groner of Poland (Youngstown State University). Over the years, the foundation has awarded more than $86,000 to almost 100 girls.

The OGGF’s mission is to encourage, sponsor and support the game of golf for girls by providing college scholarships, golf training programs, and financial assistance to attend designated golf tournaments. Since the foundation was established in 1994, the number of girls high school golf teams in Northeast Ohio has grown from none to more than 250.