Week of Corning, New York
May 29, 2001

After our last tournament in Colorado, I enjoyed 10 days off at home in Bradenton-Sarasota. The weather was perfect without much humidity, and it was great to see the University Park staff and members. The course was in great shape, and very quiet later in the day when I practiced.

The plan was to play in the Ann Arbor Futures event and leave on Friday, May 18th. But the same week as Ann Arbor is the LPGA Corning Classic. Since this event is the week prior to the Women's U.S. Open, many players do not play, leaving several places open for LPGA members like myself who are not exempt. I entered and was the 8th alternate on May 15th. By the 18th, I was 2nd alternate, so we changed the driving plan from I-75 to I-95. Many of you who live in the northeast know that this is one very long drive. By the time we arrived in Corning, I was 1st alternate, and by 8pm Sunday, one more player had withdrawn, and I was IN. As first alternate I had planned on playing in Monday's 1 p.m qualifier, which lets in two more players who shoot the lowest score that day. This happens every week, but I did not have to compete for the spot after all.

I enjoyed my Tuesday practice round with Cindy Schreyer and Donna Wilkins, and even played a few holes before Wednesday's 8 a.m. shotgun start. Val and I visited the Corning Museum of Glass and enjoyed the day seeing how glass is heated, shaped and then creates beautiful pieces. We witnessed the making of a bottle, ornaments, and then saw the Steuben display. It is worth the time, very interesting, and made us aware of how glass plays a part in our lives that we tend to not even notice.

Thursday and Friday we were paired with Martha Nause and Smriti Mehra. The first day had a couple of highlights as I made eagle on the par 5 fifth hole, then followed with a birdie on the par 4 sixth. Friday was similar, but no eagle, and the 71-73 scores for the two days made the cut exactly. Since the cut takes only the first 70 players of the 144, 10 players tied at the 62nd spot, making the +1 scores not eligible to compete for the weekend.

It was not as much fun on Saturday, as I had 14 pars, but also 2 bogeys and 2 doubles. My 78 seemed even more as my playing partner Kelli Kuehne had 66. Sunday was similar with 76, including 13 pars, 3 bogeys, one double and a birdie. It was too bad after such a nice start to the week, but I was very happy to be a part of the LPGA experience again. It is very first class - from the hundreds of uniformed volunteers, the locker room with buffet lunch every day, the fitness and club repair trailers, the manufacturers who await all players on the range to try their newest products, and the television cameras for the Golf Channel. Corning crowds are huge, and the occasional roar resonates across the course.

It was a treat to have Joan Kinsella and Bonnie Phillips follow every hole every day. They are good friends from the Syracuse area, and we stay with Joan's brother and sister-in-law at their cabin while at the East Syracuse Futures event. Just like old times, a great event, with two of our most devoted fans. They have followed me for over 20 events throughout the years, and I thank them very much.

Also, Herb and Janet Dann were my housing hosts for many years playing at Corning starting in 1982. Their son Danny (who caddied for me during the summer of 1990) married Kay Cockerill, the former LPGA touring pro who now commentates for the Golf Channel and will walk with the U.S. Open leaders for NBC next week. Danny is Director of sponsor relations for the SF Giants baseball organization and they live in San Francisco. Herb is now retired from Corning Glass and Janet retired from Home Health Care Services and they travel the United States in their customized truck and fifth wheel. They have taken a break and were home for the tournament and their home is between renters. Their rig is in Idaho awaiting their return. Their daughter Lynn from the Boston area was here for the week too, and it was great to see her. It was a nice reunion at their home Saturday night.

We drove the 770 miles here to Germantown, Wisconsin to stay with my aunt and uncle: Glennie and Jim Barbera. Again, two of the nicest relatives one could have, and they have been devoted fans witnessing my first hole in one in college, coming to Hawaii with me, and then Jim caddying for me in 1991. They live very close to the Sussex, Wisc. Futures event this week and I am sure we will see some of my cousins and their children this week too. Mom will drive in from Grand Rapids to stay here with her sister Glennie for the weekend too, so another nice reunion.

Thanks for watching on the LPGA live scoring, and I appreciate the support.

Sue E.

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