THE OLYMPIC CLUB •

Vol. 102 No. 12 Dec 2014 PAT CORNETT Olympian Award for Athletic Achievement 4 OLYMPIAN AWARD FOR ATHLETIC ACHIEVEMENT DR. PATRICIA “PAT” CORNETT

OLYMPIAN AWARD FOR ATHLETIC ACHIEVEMENT

AN EXCEPTIONAL PERSON ON AND OFF THE COURSE by Kelly Hook, photos by Mike Mustacchi

r. Patricia Cornett is quite possibly letter from the California Scholastic Federation, one of the most well-rounded people informing her that girls were not allowed to in the world. On one hand, she is play on a boys’ team and, if they’d like to play, oneD of The Olympic Club’s greatest woman they would have to form a team of their own. amateur golfers and a former captain of the was there for her throughout her Curtis Cup. Looking at the rest of her golfing self-identified “bookish years” as a pre-med record, it seems like she must have dedicated student at Stanford University. At that time, almost all of her waking hours to the sport, they allowed walk-ons to the golf team and but that is not the case. She is also one of the she simply asked to be on it. By the end of her leading hematologist-oncologist educators fourth year, she was among the first six women and practitioners in the country. To top it all at Stanford to receive a scholarship. “Now, off, she has raised two wonderful children there’s no way someone could do pre-med along the way. and play college golf,” Cornett noted. “Their While speaking with Dr. Cornett, it schedules are so regimented. We could make becomes clear that no matter what else happens, our own. I remember being in the library every golf has always been her constant. She held her night until 11 o’clock as an undergraduate. first at 10 years old at a country club I took morning classes, so I’d lug my golf clubs near where she grew up in Salitas, Ca. By the to my class, go hit some balls and then go to the time she was 16, she was invited to play at an library for studying.” all-boys’ tournament where she then defeated All of that studying paid off because one of the boys. This subsequently prompted a Cornett graduated with All-American Honors

4 The Olympic Club | December 2014 DR. PATRICIA “PAT” CORNETT

before heading off to the University of Pennsylvania to finish her medical degree. In 1978 and again in 1988, she was asked to participate in the pinnacle of women’s golf: playing for her country at the Curtis Cup. Held every two years between , and the United States, it’s equal to the for men. In 2012, she became the captain of this Cup — a position selected a year in advance — and was put in charge of selecting the team, building camaraderie, planning their travel logistics overseas and coaching them during the tournament. She reflects on this invitation to lead that team as one of her greatest golf career achievements. That year, the team went to . “The elements are pretty amazing — between wind, rain and whatever else happens — so it can be quite challenging,” she ex- plained. “The year in advance is predominantly spent with logistics and scouting for the team. There can only be eight girls.” In order to determine who would be selected for her Curtis Cup team, Cornett analyzed player statistics and flew to various tournaments to watch them play. “I had these amazing printouts of how girl X does against girl Y. There are all sorts of stats and regulations that can be looked at, so it’s a very interesting process. In addition to looking at numbers on paper however, I also needed to determine character, which is best done in person. You can’t just go off the sheets because there are so many intangibles to assess and evaluate.” Once the team is assembled, the captain’s job is to determine the best pairings. This is often determined by personality types, so Cornett had her girls play together frequently The Olympic Club | December 2014 5 OLYMPIAN AWARD FOR ATHLETIC ACHIEVEMENT

and then set up a rating system so girls could mostly it’s the camaraderie — the friends report about how they felt when playing with that you meet playing the game. In golf, you teammates, both in alternate shot and best can play with anybody and have a great time, ball. In the end, Cornett decided to mix up the regardless of skill level. Not to mention there’s partners, believing that an aggressive player and always a challenge.” a steadier player would work well together. With golf, the biggest challenge for However, in an unfortunate turn of events, most people is simply getting out there and Cornett’s experience as the captain did not playing. For Cornett, who oversees the internal go quite as planned. Before the tournament medicine residency program, 15 fellowships started, she was riding in a and the and the undergraduate medical education in driver moved a bit too close to a grandstand. the Department of Medicine at University Her foot was sticking out and caught on the of California at San Francisco (UCSF), in edge, breaking her ankle. The U.S. team lost addition to treating patients at the Veteran’s the Curtis Cup that year on the final day and Administration, it’s about staying active in the Cornett feels strongly that the ankle situation game and hitting when you can. might have been a clincher for them. “So I kind of have that oversight role, and While reflecting on her Curtis Cup then I do my clinical work out at the Veteran’s experience, she shared a few lessons learned. Administration. During my busiest times, I “It was interesting to be in a cast for a few sometimes work up to 12–16 hours a day, seven weeks following the tournament. Lots of time days a week.” to reflect,” she recounted. “I made a mistake in As a hematologist-oncologist, she’s like how the players were lined up the last day. I’ve a detective — analyzing blood samples to seen this kind of thing in the , too. determine certain illnesses. Additionally, she They were ahead by two points going into the takes care of patients with very serious illnesses, singles and I knew the other team was going sometimes supporting them at the end of life and other times “I think [golf is] the greatest game. You can play being able to add for a very long time at a highly-competitive level, years to their life or but mostly it’s the camaraderie — the friends even cure them. that you meet playing the game.” “My work is both challenging and to line up strong and put their weaker players rewarding. I’m glad golf has been there through last. I made the mistake of saving my strongest all of it. Sometimes when the workdays get player for last because I wanted someone who intense, there’s nothing better than being able could handle the pressure. But, we’d already to go out and hit a few balls. There are also days lost by the time that could have made a when golf gets intense, during tournament prep difference. Once the other team began winning, for instance, and then I’m glad I have my work the crowd became their additional teammate.” to go back and focus on intensely.” While losing this tournament certainly As Cornett points out, golf can also be a wasn’t ideal, Cornett’s love for the game of golf great way to network during your career. “This Top: Dr. Patricia Cornett mastering a jet ski on a family trip to Cabo. Middle: Cornett and her daughters, Annemarie runs deeper than any one competition. “I think is a wonderful sport for stress relief, competition and Theresa, in Cabo in 2007. Bottom: Cornett and her it’s the greatest game. You can play for a very and more, but you can’t forget the benefits of daughter Theresa with their dogs. Family photos courtesy long time at a highly-competitive level, but networking, too. When I first came to UCSF, of Mike Iker, Cornett’s husband. 6 The Olympic Club | December 2014 my department chair learned that I played golf. exceptional,” said Erika Corradi, a family GOLF CAREER It might have taken me years to get to know friend. “To me, it is remarkable that she has ACCOMPLISHMENTS him, but he invited me out to play and the been able to balance a full medical career, ƒƒ 8 USGA Women’s Opens chiefs of service at two neighboring hospitals mentor interns and young golfers, play amateur also joined us. So I was in the company of golf at such a high level and raise two amazing ƒƒ 21 USGA Women’s Amateur, my boss and very few people my age would daughters with her husband, Mike. This honor 2 semifinal finishes otherwise have met them,” she said. “We started is truly well deserved. Pat represents, in all ƒƒ 24 USGA Mid Amateur playing on a regular basis and, because of golf, ways, what it means to be an Olympian.” Championships, 1 runner-up I was given the fortunate opportunity to build When asked how she felt about the award, finish, 2 semifinal finishes that friendship.” Cornett said, “I’m humbled to learn I’ve ƒƒ 7 USGA Senior Amateurs, “The Olympic Club is the greatest club that I have ever seen... 1 quarterfinal finish The devotion to amateur athletics, welcoming environment ƒƒ 3 San Francisco City and commitment to excellence is unparalleled in the U.S.” Championship wins

Now, Cornett is one of only 10 master been named alongside so many prestigious ƒƒ 2 time winner California Amateur clinicians at the Department of Medicine at athletes and wonderful people. The Club Championship UCSF. Under her leadership, UCSF is one holds a special place in my heart. We briefly ƒƒ 4 National Collegiate of only five hospitals to win the Center of mentioned that story from when I was 16 Championships, one 3rd place Excellence in Primary Care Education award. and received a letter from the California and one 8th place finish That professional award also came around Scholastic Federation, saying girls couldn’t the same time that Cornett was ranked #7 play on the boys’ team. Just two years ago I ƒƒ 2 International Women’s British in ’s “Top 100 Golfer Doctors in had the chance to play competitively with Amateur appearances with America.” She was one of only two women men again through The Olympic Club. I 1 quarterfinal recognized on the list. played with a gentleman from Green Hill ƒƒ International: 2 Curtis Cup The Olympic Club is proud to have and ended up beating him. Afterwards, appearances Cornett as a member and honor her as we were sitting around and I was kind ƒƒ 7-time Olympic Club President’s the 2014 Olympian Award recipient. “The of apologizing and he said, ‘You know, Cup Champion Olympic Club is the greatest club that I I had the chance to go somewhere else have ever seen,” Cornett commented. “I’ve and play today, but when I saw who I ƒƒ WGANC and played many a club across the country. The was playing against, I had to come up 54-hole champion devotion to amateur athletics, welcoming here and play against you. Thought it ƒƒ WGANC Tournament of environment and commitment to excellence is would be the most wonderful thing in Champions, runner-up 3 times unparalleled in the U.S.” the world, and it was.’ That day was Both on and off the course, Cornett has really special to me and a testament ƒƒ USGA-named Curtis Cup Captain made a tremendous impression on the Club, not to how far the game has come. The for international event in Scotland only by raising the level of play but also through Olympic Club is part of that her overall gracious temperament. progression and I’m so “My good friend Pat Cornett is a woman proud to play here.”  of extraordinary strength, intelligence and kindness. I could speak about any one of these qualities and she would stand out as

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