June 6, 2007

Washington, D.C. - Georgetown Head Women's Golf Coach Patty Post has played in professional tournaments before. She has played on the Futures Tour, which is considered the "pipeline" to the LPGA Tour. As recent as three weeks ago, Post played in her first event on the LPGA Tour.

On Tuesday, at Bulle Rock Golf Course in Havre de Grace, Md., Post found herself next to one of the legends in women's professional golf. As she hit on the driving range Tuesday afternoon, Post looked up to find that Nancy Lopez was hitting next to her.

Not one to let the excitement of being next to a legend in the sport get to her, Post went about her business. Later on Tuesday evening, while she was shopping at a local Target, Post heard someone say hello and looked up to find it was Lopez, who was out herself.

"It was pretty wild," Post said from her hotel the day before Wednesday's practice round for the McDonald's LPGA Championship at Bulle Rock. "Earlier in the day, I was hitting next to her and we said hello. Then, I'm at Target and I see her. It was a pretty neat experience."

Post hopes the experience will get even better this week, as she is one of more than 100 golfers set to tee off in the marquee event for the LPGA Tour.

Post qualified for the LPGA Championship after winning the Northeast LPGA T&CP section championship and she is the only active college coach competing in the championship this week. Competing in an LPGA event is not new for Post, as she qualified for, and played in, the Sybase Classic last month in New Jersey.

The opportunity to play in the LPGA Championship, however, is something new. "I'm really excited," Post said. "I tend to get pretty excited anytime I play, but I'm trying to keep my emotions in check this week."

When she won a qualifier to compete in the Sybase Classic last month - Post is the only LPGA Teaching and Club Professional player to reach an LPGA event this year through a Monday qualifier - Post turned to her team to help her out.

"My husband usually caddies for me when the opportunity arises." Post says. "He caddied for me in the Monday qualifier that allowed me that opportunity." Post's husband, Brendon, Director of Golf at Clubgolf Performance Center in Gaithersburg, Md., had a schedule full of lessons for the week and couldn't be on the bag for the tournament.

"Ironically, (sophomore) Chelsea Curtis had asked to caddy for me this summer in the US Women's Open if I were to qualify. When I called her up regarding caddying in the Sybase I believe her response was, `Are you serious?"

Curtis couldn't get to New Jersey until Friday so Coach Post called her next player in line, sophomore Carly Hunt. "The girls were so supportive and encouraging on the course," Post said. "I hope they were able to look around soak it up and enjoy the experience. Hopefully, they put themselves in my place. I know I had dreams of being on tour as a young golfer, but I am not sure I truly believed the moment would ever happen."

For the Hoya women's golfers, the chance to be with their coach during a big-time event like the Sybase Classic was something they will not forget. "It was interesting to learn that it is a lifestyle out there, not just a couple rounds of golf," Hunt said. "It was great to be exposed to the career."

"The bag was really heavy," Curtis joked, "but seriously there is a big difference between the LPGA professionals focus and confidence when compared to amateurs. I can't really explain it, but it was noticeable."

The opportunity they had is also something they hope to share with their teammates. "Putting is a BIG deal," Hunt said. "I am much more aware of the amount of time necessary to practice and focus to become that proficient. I would tell the team to set goals and believe that you can achieve them no matter what the obstacles."

"We all need to work on our putting, chipping and short game," Curtis said. "I noticed a difference in their pace and tempo with regards to their pre-shot routine, full swing and short games that I would like to incorporate into my game."

The experience of caddying for an LPGA event is something that Post hopes her players will be able to carry with them through the summer and once the college season begins next year. It was a thought not lost on both Hunt and Curtis.

"It was very cool," Hunt said. "I think it will help me achieve my goals by adding focus to my game and setting higher, but achievable goals."

"I really enjoyed caddying," Curtis said. "It was the first LPGA event I have ever attended and it was great to be inside the ropes. I think anyone can learn by watching others that are better than you. I thought it was a great learning experience."

Post hopes that her words of wisdom for the team - to "believe, dream big, and go after it with hard work and effort" - will carry through just as it has carried her to the LPGA Championship this week."