Inside the Ropes

As the Solheim Cup kicks off this week, we’re still a little sad that Team VTech’s Karen Stupples who recently won the Wales Open a week ago didn’t make the cut for the European Team. She recorded a one-stroke win over South Korean Amy Yang at the Royal St David’s Golf Club in Harlech, finishing at 12-under-par 276, coming from two strokes back in the final round.

Karen Stupples

Our former British Open winner (2004) was a bit disappointed being overlooked by Solheim Cup captain Alison Nicholas after trying so hard. ”I was very, very disappointed at not being in the Solheim Cup. It was always a big goal of mine to be on there and I think to be perfectly honest, I tried too hard to get in. I knew I had to impress Alison to get into the team and I think I was just trying too hard. I’ve come here free of the burden of trying to be selected or trying to prove how good I am or what form I’m in and I think the real Karen Stupples showed up this week.”

We’re glad the real Karen Stupples is here and we look forward to seeing her and the rest of Team VTech in Portland next week for the Safeway Classic at Pumpkin Ridge!

In the meantime, good luck to all the ladies who made the Solheim teams and best of luck with competition this week.

As you may know this is our 5th year sponsoring players on the LPGA and days like yesterday continue to remind us why have elevated our partnership with Tour Pros and the LPGA Tour each year.

Paige Mackenzie invited us to support her Charity Shootout and play in  the 2nd annual event held at The Meridian Country Club in Auburn, Washington. Sunday night the Kickoff party was held at the Muckleshoot Casino - Tournament Manager and possible next Jimmy Buffer hosted the eve amidst what was an oddly busy casino on a Sunday night.  One of our guys suggested that it was busier than a casino in Vegas on a Sunday but I digress…

Monday we tee’d it up at 8am in the shotgun tourney. We were paired up with Julieta Granada, long time friend and LPGA ADT Championship winner in 2006 ( nice first prize: $1 million…). Julieta is actually one of the first players I met on Tour, she was playing with Kim Saiki-Maloney ( our first LPGA Pro sponsorship - we miss you Kim! ) at the old Takefuji Classic in Vegas.  Julieta was awesome to play with and took on a personal mission to work with one of our guests on his game during the round. We were blown away by the transformation of his game through the day and I think he has a new teacher/guru - great work Julieta! Now it’s time to fix my game…

Paige invited 11 of her fellow Pros to play in the event and the other 18 4somes played with Club Pros from around the NW.  It never ceases to amaze me how gracious the LPGA players are, and by the end of the day new friendships were made, good times were had and we all left looking forward to see them all and Team VTech next week here in Portland for the Safeway Classic at Pumpkin Ridge.