Golfers go to bat for a friend

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- In the past, we have learned that when it comes to qualifying for the LPGA Tour nothing is for certain -- just ask Kelli Kuehne or Beth Bauer. Both were heralded coming out of college and both missed earning cards on their first attempts. Angela German almost slipped into the same category without even having had a chance to tee it up in last week's final at the Legends Course at LPGA International.

Ever since falling off a set of monkey bars as a child growing up in Colorado, German has dreamt of playing on the Tour. Well, maybe she didn't envision playing professionally right away, but ever since doctors prescribed golf as a rehab for her injured shoulder, she was hooked. After an illustrious career at the University of Georgia, where she played on a National Championship team, the next natural step was trying to qualify for the Tour. While preparing for the Curtis Cup this summer, some three weeks before the deadline, German sent out her application and $3,300 entry fee check.

THE SHAG BAG The saddest story of the week belongs Paula Marti, who earned a card, but didn't earn exempt status. The former University of Florida standout was 5-under par after three days, but a final round 78 left the Italian shelled-shocked. The sight of her sitting motionless on the practice putting green for 45 minutes afterward was reminiscent of Bauer two years ago. ... BYU grad Carrie Summerhays followed in her father's footsteps (senior tour player, Bruce) qualifying for the tour on her first attempt. ... Lisa Strom made an incredible hole in one during the first round. The 185-yard 5-iron into the wind on No.7 was just enough to propel her onto the tour by one shot. ... Lisa Hall and Susie Parry also recorded aces, but both failed to make the cut. ... Last week I had the pleasure of sharing accommodations with Georgina Simpson and her father, Jeff. I had never heard of the English lass, but she impressed even me with four birdies to start her final round. After earning an exempt card her father said, "I have only ever dreamt of days like this." ... Hilary Homeyer got her exempt card and will now receive double congratulations at her wedding next month. "Now I don't have to hear, 'Oh you were so close, but'," said Homeyer, who finished No. 133 on the 2002 money list. ... The biggest name to lose her card was Canadian A.J. Eathorne, who has fallen victim to the duck hooks. ... Nineteen-year-old Catherine Cartwright also struggled this season and lost her playing privileges at Q-school with a final round 80. Can anyone say she should have gone to college?. ... If you were wondering what happened to Elizabeth Bowman this week, the news is that her wedding dress fits perfectly. The 31-year-old is getting married to Brad Benson on Nov. 3. Bowman decided to take a year off from golf and dedicate herself to the marriage -- which is something that deserves a standing ovation.

A few weeks later German and her mother, Shirley, were wondering why they hadn't heard from the LPGA. A phone call to the organization's headquarters in Daytona Beach, Fla. revealed some news that must have made German feel worse than shooting a final round 80. She and her mom learned that the application had never been received and the deadline had passed.

Shirley cried, "Oh, no!" Angela quickly saw flashes of Futures Tour competitions running through her brain, but had a enough sense to remain calm. "Mom was devastated, but I was like, 'It'll be OK, mom. Just breathe,'" said Angela. "While I was saying that all I could think about was that I was not going to be on the LPGA."

Despite sending the application via priority mail with delivery conformation, German was out. The first stage was the next following week in Venice, Fla. and she didn't have much recourse.

"I had sent several applications for tournaments before and never had a problem," German said. "I wouldn't have made it an issue if I had sent it in five days before the deadline, but I sent it in three weeks ahead of the due date."

The thought of not being able to qualify and having to wait a year was tough to swallow. German was also playing the best golf of her life. Besides being on the victorious Curtis Cup team, she had also garnered the low amateur at the Women's U.S. Open in Hutchinson, Kan. "To sit out an entire year would have been very penalizing," said her father Jim. "Right now she is playing well, but over the course of a year anything can happen."

Lucky for Angela, she befriended a few veterans at the Open and was granted a second chance for the first stage in Palm Springs, Calif. Despite setting a precedent, Commissioner Ty Votaw listened to players Meg Mallon and Beth Daniel and gave German a shot at the second qualifier. "To have players like Meg and Beth go to bat for me was unbelievable," German said. "I really wanted it more because of all the people who went to bat for me."

Even with the reprieve, German had only one chance to finish in the top 30 at Palm Springs. She didn't disappoint, finishing eighth and advancing to last week's finals. During the gut-wrenching four rounds in Daytona Beach, German showed she will be the best American hope to win the Rookie of the Year next season. With a final round 69 last Friday, German finished tied for seventh with Soo-Yun Kang of Korea, earning one of the 23 exempt cards.

"I'm just thankful I had a chance to play and be here," German said. "Luckily, I had my A game because this has been an awfully tough four days." After the final round, German tossed her ball to her father, who will put it on the family trophy case.

"I'm on the LPGA," German said in a surprised tone. "It is so hard to believe that I can actually say that. It's been my dream since I was about 13."

As for the first application, it was never found.

"It will probably show up one day when we least expect it, like right after I make my first cut or something," German said. "When it does show up I'll probably burn it because I never want to go through that again."

Tom Hanson, a regular contributor to Sports Illustrated's Golf Plus section, is a longtime caddie on the LPGA Tour. Click here to send him a question or comment.

 

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