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CLEAR Temp: 61 °F Wind: CLM at 0 mph Thursday, June 5, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend May 24, 2003 Fowler has designs on taking her game to the next level Tee Talk By TIM TROWER Mail Tribune You’ve heard the story: A woman golfer, at the top of her game, is in the midst of trying to pull off a rare feat. No, not that one. Abby Fowler. The former South Medford player who recently completed her sophomore year at Xavier University in Cincinnati has one qualifying round — 36 holes in one day — looming between her and a spot in the U.S. Women’s Open July 3-6 at Pumpkin Ridge outside Portland. Advertisement OK, so it’s not Annika Sorenstam competing against the guys. But it’s still pretty big stuff for someone who admires Sorenstam and who aspires to someday play on her regular tour, the LPGA. "It’s a professional event," says Fowler, who made it through local qualifying two weeks ago at Columbia Edgewater Country Club in Portland. "This is just a step toward what my goal is in golf. It would be a big deal. I’m hoping I can go down, put up a couple of good scores and, hopefully, make it in. I’d be in awe, that’s for sure." Fowler’s day of reckoning, otherwise known as sectional qualifying, is June 9 at Lake Merced Golf and Country Club in Daly City, Calif., just south of San Francisco. Though the number of berths out of each of the eight sectionals nationwide hasn’t been determined, Fowler expects about 100 players to advance. Fowler finished in an eighth-place tie in local qualifying, shooting the best front nine, an even-par 36, in the field of 40 but dropping five shots on the back side for a 77. "I just kind of got on the bogey train and couldn’t get off," says Fowler, a 2001 South graduate. "I missed the fairway a couple of times on the back, and it cost me because the rough was thick and deep. I saw girls in it all day. When you got in it, it was almost an automatic bogey." Columbia Edgewater measured 6,400 yards but played more like 6,600 because soggy conditions prevented roll. Some drives even backed up. "That might have been to my advantage," says Fowler. "I was a little longer than some of the girls." She has markedly improved her distance off the tee in the past year, thanks to strength work with trainers at Xavier, and is continuing the fitness program through the summer. Fowler figures she averages about 235 to 240 yards with her driver. A long drive came in particularly handy in the final round of the Colonial Athletic Association Championships one month ago. Fowler shot a school- and championship-record 69, giving her a 237 total and a sixth-place finish. It was a barrier she’d been close to breaking. "I knew it was there," says Fowler, who did not advance to regional play. "It was kind of a confidence booster. I’d always been around that area. Making putts is what it pretty much comes down to." And long drives. On the 17th hole, a par 5, Fowler undertook the gamble of cutting off part of a dogleg right by trying to clear a stand of trees. "I had nothing to lose," she says. She busted her tee shot, cleared the trees, then got a little cart-path love on the other side. When she arrived at her ball, she was in the middle of the fairway, 150 yards out. An impeccable 6- iron approach left her with a 4-foot eagle putt, which she drained. She made a routine par on the final hole for the magic number. "Now I know I can do it," she says of breaking 70. "A lot of it’s in my head." Oh, and that other woman at the top of her game? How can you interview a woman golfer this week and not get her thoughts? "A lot of people have asked me what I thought about it," Fowler said shortly after Sorenstam finished a 1-over-par opening round Thursday. "I think it’s awesome, really cool that she’s doing that. It just shows that she can play with them. A lot of people don’t think she can. Men like Vijay Singh. That was ridiculous. I think she’s good enough." Perhaps one day soon, Fowler will see Sorenstam’s game in person. THE FIRST TOURNAMENT in the name of former North Medford football coach Rod Rumrey proved a success last Saturday, attracting 100 players and raising what could amount to two $1,000 scholarships for Black Tornado athletes next year. A contingent of Roseburg coaches joined the fun, including football’s Thurman Bell. In a post-barbecue address, he characterized his relationship with Rumrey as closer than most people realized, sort of like brothers who go at it competitively. He then gave Rumrey an Indians visor, which spent the duration of the afternoon resting atop a picnic table rather than Rumrey’s head. Have a local golf story idea? Reach sports editor Tim Trower at 776-4479, or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. 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