Big Victory Makes Baena Glad She Didn't Quit
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+ SECTION C, PAGE 8 GOLF: JAMIE FARR CLASSIC THE BLADE: TOLEDO, OHIO t THURSDAY, JULY 7, 2005 + Big victory makes Baena glad she didn’t quit By DAVE HACKENBERG to make sure I gave myself a true ancient history. two triple bogeys and a double BLADE SPORTS WRITER chance.” “People told me that would be — cost me making the cut. That’s It wasn’t too long ago that Baena gave herself the ul- I’d had this great college career but my tournament,” she said. “I’ve the only cut I’ve missed. Marisa Baena was ready to run timate chance last weekend. all‘ I’d heard lately was, ‘You haven’t always loved match play and I “So I knew there had been up the white fl ag after struggling Seeded 60th in a 64-player fi eld, was excited when I saw a match- a steady climb. I knew I was mightily to knock down the fl ag- the 28-year-old ripped through won, you haven’t done this, you haven’t play event had been added to ready. I truly believed I would sticks. a fi eld of higher-seeded oppo- done that.’ I decided I was going to give the schedule. I’m a pretty good win soon.” Last December, Baena went nents to win the Women’s World putter, really good from inside Baena won just $35,600 last home to Colombia and had a Match Play Championship and it two more years and if it didn’t get fi ve feet. In match play, there year, making cuts just eight long talk with her father. Her the biggest payday on the LPGA are so many fi ve-footers to win times in 23 tries. She’s sure there sixth season on the LPGA Tour Tour aside from major champi- better I’d move on with my life. or tie holes. were fans in her native Colombia had been by far her worst, onships. Marisa Baena ’ “Winning was such a valu- who probably didn’t even know “It had been a long six years Baena won six matches, only able learning experience. Like she was still playing on the LPGA and I wasn’t achieving anything one of which fi nished short of Now I believe I can win again minor league, where she won Monday qualifi ers, it was 18 Tour. close to what I had hoped,” the 18th hole and two of which and again. I feel like a lot of great a tournament for the fi rst time holes, one shot at it, and I had to Now, she’s sharing front-page she said yesterday at Highland went extra holes. She swept things are coming. I’m as high as since playing at the University deliver. So I’m just going to take headlines with the likes of For- Meadows where, $500,000 richer through Natalie Gulbis, Grace an athlete can get.” of Arizona, where she was the it 18 holes at a time, grind it out, mula One driver Juan Pablo than she was a week ago at this Park, Jennifer Rosales, Karrie Not that long ago, she was “as NCAA individual champion in look at every day as a new day, Montoya and the occasional time, she’ll tee off in today’s fi rst Webb, Candie Kung and, in low as an athlete can get. I mean, 1996. and see if I can’t start putting soccer player and cyclist. round of the Jamie Farr Owens the fi nals, another longshot in I was thinking about quitting. Then she swept through a se- four rounds together.” “For the most part, people in Corning Classic. rookie Meena Lee. You can’t get any lower.” ries of Monday qualifi ers to get Her match-play title may have Colombia don’t understand golf “I’d had this great college ca- “I’m whipped, and my back But she started the year with into some early-season LPGA come out of nowhere to most at all,” Baena said. “But I was reer but all I’d heard lately was, and wrist are killing me,” said a new coach and some swing events and did well enough to observers, but not to Baena. on the front page of the most ‘You haven’t won, you haven’t Baena, who was granted an changes, and her decision to move into the top 90 on the mon- “I played my best major ever important paper in the country. done this, you haven’t done exemption from participating give her career a two-year win- ey list, which ended her qualify- at the McDonald’s LPGA, but I So this will certainly change my that.’ I decided I was going to in yesterday’s celebrity pro-am dow “gave me some peace and ing days. She barely qualifi ed for had a double bogey on No. 18 life back home. That was a very give it two more years and if it for a needed day of rest. “That lifted a huge weight off.” the match-play championship, the last day and it cost me a top- big check, I have to admit. So didn’t get better I’d move on with tournament was a grind. But I’m She warmed up by playing one resting at 63rd on the money list, 10,” she said. “I played great at I won’t be just another athlete my life. All that my dad said was excited to be here and to play. event on the West Coast Tour, a and the bad times soon became the U.S. Open, but three holes — struggling through life.” Pressel says she’s prepared TODAY’S TEE TIMES FIRST TEE after 5 rounds at Meadows 7:30 a.m.: Kelly Cap, Emily Bastel, Isabelle Beisiegel 7:40 a.m.: Kathryn Marshall, By MAUREEN FULTON Lee, but she was born in London Stacy Snider, Michelle Estill BLADE SPORTS WRITER FARR NOTEBOOK and was called Sarah there 7:50 a.m.: Angela Jerman, She couldn’t play 18 holes before her family moved back Pearl Sinn-Bonanni, Suzann yesterday, but Morgan Pressel to Korea when she was 4. Last Pettersen feels she has logged enough month Lee decided she wanted 8 a.m.: Dale Eggeling, Leslie course practice time to contend her old nickname back — for Spalding, Eva Dahllof in the Jamie Farr Owens Corning reasons similar to Birdie Kim’s. 8:10 a.m.: Minny Yeo, Brooke Classic. “A lot of people had a hard Tull, Nadina Taylor Pressel, a 17-year-old ama- time pronouncing my correct 8:20 a.m.: Anna Acker- teur who received a sponsor’s name,” Lee said. “Now it’s a lot Macosko, Kelli Kuehne, exemption for the Farr Classic, easier to remember.” Sally Little played at Highland Meadows 8:30 a.m.: Joellyn Erdmann- BOWIE BEST AT FARR: If Golf Club fi ve consecutive days Crooks, Angela Buzminski, Heather Bowie is to get her fi rst starting Friday. Although yes- Beth Allen win this year in her sixth sea- terday’s National City Celebrity 8:40 a.m.: Kris Tschetter, son on the tour, the Farr Classic Pro-Am was only for LPGA tour Candy Hannemann, Nicole could be the best place for it to members, Pressel got in some Perrot happen. Bowie has four top-fi ve putting practice and said she 8:50 a.m.: Nancy Scranton, fi nishes in the tournament. feels prepared for Johanna Head, Heather Daly- Last year, that fact might have her fi fth pro event Donofrio been too much on Bowie’s mind. of the season. 9 a.m.: Angela Stanford, Pat THE BLADE/LORI KING She failed to make the cut at the “This is my fi rst Hurst, Michele Redman Farr part of a subpar year. But time, but I feel 9:10 a.m.: Young Kim, Chris Jamie Farr was presented with this year, Bowie has fi ve top-10 like I’ve played Johnson, Reilley Rankin a glass putter and an artist’s fi nishes, more than she has had enough,” Pressel 9:20 a.m.: Dorothy Delasin, rendering of him yesterday. in any other season. Beth Bader, Aree Song said. “I put a little bit too much Pressel’s pres- Noon: Tammie Green, Brandie highest bidders could go home pressure on myself last year,” Burton, Marcy Hart ence has to put a Pressel happy. Roethlisberger gave a Bowie said. “Last year was a real- 12:10 p.m.: Giulia Sergas, scare into many thumbs up. ity check, and I think my expec- Danielle Ammaccapane, tour players after her perfor- “It was so generous of Ben,” tations are back where they need Mi Hyun Kim mance in the U.S. Women’s tournament director Judd Silver- to be.” 12:20 p.m.: Joo Mi Kim, Open two weeks ago. She was man said. “We’re very grateful.” Meena Lee, Sung Ah Yim tied for the lead going into the PRO-AM: A team headed by A KIM WITH VIM: Seven 12:30 p.m.: Hee-Won Han, fi nal day, and she fi nished tied LPGA pro Joo Mi Kim won the Becky Morgan, Se Ri Pak for second. players with the surname Kim low net division in yesterday’s THE BLADE/LORI KING compete on the LPGA Tour, but 12:40 p.m.: Sarah Lee, Jean “Every part of my game is in National City Celebrity pro-am Bartholomew, Siew-Ai Lim Christina Kim, the only Ameri- Paula Creamer’s swing has helped her to six top-10 fi nishes the right place,” she said.