From the beginning of the WSGA internship road, there has been major anticipation for the eventual meet up with fellow intern, Bobbi Stricker. Bobbi was fresh off of a victory at the Wisconsin Sate Women’s Amateur Championship and was preparing to enter Q school. However, the real test of her skill would be in the 2v2 best ball matchup at University Ridge.
I had wisely selected local golfer and RGV Tour legend Paul Quella as my partner. Bobbi selected State Amateur runner up Emily Lauterbach. The Vegas odds had Bobbi and Emily in a landslide victory. Paul and I had other plans.
Women’s State Amateur Champion, Bobbi Stricker finds the green.
Paul Quella reacts to a rare mishit.
Lauterbach suffers a tough opening hole bogey
Stricker and Lauterbach took the home field advantage as the match was to be played on Wisconsin’s University Ridge course. However, Quella and Koenig managed to take control with a significant intimidation factor. Our presence caused several early mistakes by the front runners and the underdog duo quickly jumped out to a 3 up lead.
“Our plan is to let you guys get comfortable and then turn on the jets”
Paul and I were not fooled by Stricker’s comments. We saw right through their charade and we knew that Lauterbach and Stricker were on the ropes. We never relented. After a birdie on the 13th hole, the match was all but over. Facing a 3 down with 4 to play deficit, Stricker managed to roll in a clutch birdie on the 15th hole. Could the jets be firing?
Paul Quella quickly answered that question with a resounding statement on the match’s 16th hole. As Paul was facing a 40 foot put for birdie, I went over to my partner and quietly whispered “You know, if you roll this one in, the match is over, there is no way Emily makes her putt for birdie if you can this one.” Paul knew exactly what to do.
Paul proceeded to roll his putt directly into the back of the cup and Emily’s birdie putt slid by the right side of the hole. Just like that the match was over. Even with Stricker championship DNA engrained into her game, the mighty duo had fallen. Stricker and Lauterbach handled the loss in stride and endured the “loser locker room interview” with grace.
“What the hell is going on!?!”
“It stinks in here.”
With one victory in the bag, I decided to give Stricker another shot at redemption with a high kick competition at the University of Wisconsin golf training facility. It’s a pretty close competition but Stricker clearly has a future in the golf high kicking community.