Thursday, June 15, 2000
Women's Met looks like one for the ages
Semi matchups pit aggressive youth, experienced vets
By Pete Holtermann
Enquirer contributor
Today's semifinals in the Women's Met at O'Bannon Creek Golf Club will feature two contrasting matches in terms of age.
Teeing off at 8:30a.m. in the first semifinal will be defending champion Darcy Isaac, 23, and Katie Rakel, 20. The second match starts at 8:38 and pits 42-year-old Lynn Thompson against Bernice Gallagher, 49.
“If there's a difference, it's that maybe the younger players are a little more aggressive, a little more quick to pull out a wood and try to hit the green in two on a par-5,” Isaac said.
On Wednesday, Rakel demonstrated that as she attacked the par-5 14th and got to the green on two shots. Her eagle putt missed by inches, but she won the hole and beat Patty Kuehner 2 and 1.
Taking the chance paid off for Rakel, but she said it's sometimes better to play more conservatively, like the veterans usually do.
“I think (younger players) go for it more, but older players are more experienced, and I think they have that as an advantage,” Rakel said.
Thompson, winner of the Met in 1980 and '81, knows the younger players can play longer than most others in the field.
“The younger girls are so strong and fearless. I think it's great,” she said. “They'll go for it, and if they pull it off, it's wonderful. If they don't, they just go find it and hit it again.”
Thompson, an O'Bannon member, got a little help Wednesday from her home course. She trailed Julie Harter early but had pulled even coming into No.14. Hitting from the rough, Harter misplayed her shot and wound up in the creek short of the green.
Despite a 25-minute rain delay, Thompson held on to win 2-up.
Gallagher also had to endure the rain delay. She was up two in her match with Lynne Gokey when the siren called in the golfers after they had teed off on 17. When play resumed, they halved the hole to give Gallagher a 2 and 1 win.
Women's Met results, tee times
Sports Stories
Bowden: McKeon blameless
Giants 6, Reds 2
Box, runs
Boone 'scared' by hit to nose
Brown: Dillon trade an option
BENGALS NOTEBOOK
