Amanda Blumenherst used to walk the
fairways of Sycamore Hills Golf Club, watch the
professional golfers hit balls and sign
autographs, and dream of the day she'd be one of
them.
So it was with a sense of pride, strangeness
and even trepidation that she arrived at the Mad
Anthonys Charity Classic for Children on the
other side of things.
"This is so much fun, but it's also bizarre.
It seems like it's come full circle. I was
watching this tournament when I was 7 or 8 and
now I'm inside the ropes. It's really exciting,
but it feels so strange how quickly time
passes," said Blumenherst, the Fort Wayne native
and reigning U.S. Amateur champion.
In some respects, Monday was her initiation into
the pro ranks. She unveiled her fresh
swoosh-adorned golf bag and apparel, courtesy of
a new sponsorship deal with Nike, and this was
her first time playing in a pro-Am as a pro.
Monday's Classic raised money for the
Children's Hope House on the Lutheran
Medical Campus, a non-profit organization
that provides low-cost lodging for families
of hospitalized children.
But the Pro-Am also provides a
significant amount of income for
up-and-coming golfers like Blumenherst.
"For a Mini-Tour player, these really
help in offsetting expenses," said Jenny
Gleason, who has played LPGA events since
2003 but is full-time on the Duramed Futures
Tour this season. "I try to play in as many
money pro-ams as I can, not only for the
charity but because the money does help.
Times are really tough. Not only are the
LPGA and Futures tours losing sponsors, but
so are individuals."
All of the 15 pro golfers at Sycamore
Hills, including Blumenherst, received
$2,500 for playing.
The two-best ball event was won by the
team of Komets player P.C. Drouin, Keith
Busse, Aaron Busse, Richard Brady and Jason
Redden, which shot a 117.
The celebrity players, who included 15
pro golfers, actor Danny Chambers and Drouin,
were charged with entertaining the paying
members in their group and the estimated
crowd of 1,000 spectators.
"It's a little nerve-wracking," said
Blumenherst, who grew up playing Sycamore
Hills until she moved to Scottsdale, Ariz.,
at 14. "People are coming out to watch me,
which is a little bit of a change. In
college golf, there are about five people
who come out to watch. This will be good
practice."
Blumenherst attended Duke, where she was
a three-time national player of the year.
She will play in her first sanctioned pro
tournament, a Futures Tour event, Thursday
in Decatur, Ill.
She can't wait.
"It's great that I worked hard over the
past several years. And I made it,"
Blumenherst said. "Now I'm a professional.
It'll be tough but it'll be a lot of fun,
too."
To which Gleason had some advice.
"Just be patient and have fun with it,"
said Gleason, who drove to Fort Wayne from
Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and then had to go to
Decatur for the Futures Tour event.
"The season's long and professional golf
is hard. It's living out of a suitcase. It's
great, don't get me wrong, but it's all
about what you make of it."
jcohn@jg.net
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