Inside the Ropes

This past weekend, the LPGA and Team VTech returned to the Blackhawk Country Club for the  CVS/pharmacy LPGA Challenge. In-Kyung Kim was there to defend her championship title, which she earned by holding off Angela Stanford by three strokes in 2008. If she won a back-to-back, she would have joined Juli Inkster as the only player to do so. Unfortunately, other players had winning in mind as well. 

The opening round saw 132 of the world’s best playing for a purse prize of $1.1 million.  Tour veteran Sophie Gustafson took the lead in the first round shooting a 7-under-par 65. Finishing the 1st day two strokes ahead of Na Ri Kim, Angela Stanford, and Sophia Sheridan. Lorena Ochoa came back from a few disappointing starts in the past tournaments to fire off a 68 to finish 4-under-par to put her in a five-person tie for fifth. Defending champion In-Kyung Kim finished 1-over-par 73, 8 strokes back from the lead. Team VTech had some strong plays today as well. Both Alena Sharp and Diana D’Alessio finished tied for 20th at 2-under-par 70, Karen Stupples T64 at 1-over-par 73, and Becky Morgan and Amy Hung were T80 at 2-over-par 74.

On day two,  Gustafson maintained control of the leaderboard with 10-under-par 134 with a one stroke lead heading into round three. Close behind are Maria Hjorth, Lorena Ochoa and Shanshan Feng (the only tour players from China), each with 9-under-par 135. 

Sharpy was even today, remaining at 2-under-par 142, but moving down to T32. Stups shot 2-under-par moving up to 1-under-par, 143 and T39, along side Team VTech teammate, Dee, who shot 1-over-par but remains 1-under-par. Becky Boots stayed even to remain at 2-over-par 146 and T67. 

All four girls made the cut and moved into the final round during the weekend. They competed against 79 players this weekend for $1.1 million in prize money. 

At the end of day two saw the withdrawals of Johanna Mundy, Jane Park and Jiyai Shin. Shin, who is currently holding the top spots in three categories: money, Rookie of the Year and Rolex Player of Year may have hurt her chances of winning all three. To win Rookie of the Year and Rolex Player of the Year is something that hasn’t been achieved since Nancy Lopez in 1978 and would surely make her a household name. But we’ll wait and see.

On day three we saw number one ranked Lorena Ochoa go neck and neck with Gustafson as they finished tied for 1st with 16-under-par 200. Angela Stanford and Sun Young Yoo are 6 strokes behind in second with 10-under-par 206. Morgan Pressel, Leta Lindley, Amanda Blumenherst, and Christina Kim have moved up into the top ten. 

Team VTech’s Alena Sharp keeps consistent and is the sole person holding the 24th spot on the leaderboard with 5-under-par 211. Great job Alena!! Dee is T49 at even-par 216. Stups is T59 at 1-over-par 217, and Becky is T65 at 2-over-par 218.

And after four days of great golf, Sweden’s Sophie Gustafson comes out on top as the winner of this year’s CVS/pharmacy LPGA Challenge. She holds of Lorena Ochoa by 4 strokes to win at 20-under-par 268. Rounding out the top ten were Amy Yang, Sun Young Yoo who took part in the P&G sudden death shoot out with Angela Stanford and Jiyai Shin, Amanda Blumenherst, Maria Hjorth, Angela Stanford, Katherine Hull, Reilley Rankin and this year’s British Open winner Catriona Matthew. 

Team VTech’s Sharpy finished strong tied for 24th at 5-under-par 283. Dee finished T53 at 1-over-par 289, Becky Boots  at T64 at 3-over-par 291, and Stups rounding it out T67 ay 4-over-par 292. 

A great tournament, a great weekend and a great outing for our girls! This week they head to Alabama for the Navistar LPGA Classic. Check back to see how the girls do this weekend. 

Team VTech takes time out of their busy tour schedule to get a little personal. Here’s a quick glimpse into their lives, on and off the green. If you thought these girls only ate, drank and slept about golf 24/7… Think again…

Growing up in Flanders, NJ, it wasn’t hard for Diana “Dee” D’Alessio to take an interest in athletics. Her father and mother both played golf and her grew up with five half-brothers, Joe, Patrick, Bart, John and Tom. (Joe and Bart also play golf and John is just starting).

Though Dee participated in several sports in her youth  (tennis, softball, basketball, and field hockey), her first passion was competitive horseback riding. But that all changed at age 13, when she walked away from the saddle and picked up her clubs.

“I was 13 and it was raining so I couldn’t go ride my horse. I turned on the TV and an LPGA tournament was on so I started watching. They were playing in Hawaii. I had played a bit before watching the event, but really didn’t think it was something I wanted to do. But watching the tournament made me decide I wanted to become a professional golfer. Betsy King, Beth Daniels and Nancy Lopez were neck and neck coming down the stretch. It was very exciting. I thought to myself, they’re playing a sport, spend most of their time outside and you can make money! What else could I want?! So right then and there I decided that I wanted to be on the LPGA and here I am.”

When Dee first started, there wasn’t a thing she didn’t like about golf. Since then, she’s had her fair share of frustrations with the game and annoyances with putting. But no matter the obstacle, she couldn’t be happier with her career choice. “When people find out that I’m a part of the LPGA, they have great respect for my accomplishment,” explains Dee.  “Admiration is the best word for it.” Not only is she a proud member of the LPGA, but a first year member of  Team VTech and she “loves it”. “ I’m very happy to be a part of Team VTech,” says Dee. “VTech has supported women’s golf for many years and it makes me thrilled to be a part of a something like that.” 

When you’re on a team, you learn a lot from those around you. From new languages to new foods, its hard not to pick something up from friends you work and travel with. What’s best part about being on a team? “The girls who are on it with me!” Dee exclaims. “We have a lot of fun being the VTech girls. I love hanging out with them!”

A few things Dee has learned so far:

-Sharpy’s taught me how to say “EH” like all Canadians.

-I’ve learned how to drink Guinness from Becky.

-From Stups, I’ve learned that Marmite on toast with cheese is really good!!

Season’s far from over so be sure to check back for more Tee Time with Team VTech.