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Story and Photos by: Greg and Beverly Wise
Senior LPGA Champion Trish Johnson Victorious Again at French Lick Remembering the first time that Trish Johnson (London, England) played the Pete Dye course at French Lick Resort, she mentioned that “I shot an 82, but I loved this place.” “It was really weird actually,” said Johnson. “My rookie appearance here on The Dye Course and I did everything like a rookie. I came in and I thought this is utterly ridiculous. It’s like I’ve never ever played golf before and 82 was the result.” What now seems so long ago as a rookie… Johnson captured her second Senior LPGA Championship on Sunday, shooting a final-round 69 to finish one-stroke ahead Becky Morgan (Monmouth, Wales). “I was commentating last week so I didn’t exactly know how I’d play,” said Johnson. “But I’d practiced well the week before. I was trying to be a little less technical on this course, so it was actually good that I had a week off.” The renewed mindset paid off as Johnson led through the first two rounds, but it wasn’t the easiest of roads to victory. A hot putter from Morgan had Johnson two down at the turn. With her nose to the grindstone, Johnson carded two birdies on 11 and 12 to get back into a tie for the lead. A double from Morgan on the 16th spelled the end of her day and left Johnson needing just a par on the final hole for the title. Most of the time the walk up 18 is enjoyable, but with so much on the line, Johnson was feeling the magnitude of the moment. “You know when you’re so des-
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perate to win something and you haven’t done it for quite a long time, you don’t know how you’re going to feel and it’s horrible. I mean it really was horrible,” said the Johnson. The smart play led to a five on
the final hole and earned Johnson the victory. Becky Morgan in second, Lisa DePaulo (Austin, Texas) and Barb Moxness (Edina, Minn.) settled in a tie for third at -4 overall. “The Riley Kids,” The Big Winner for the Week – and the Riley Children’s Foundation The overall winner again this year was the Riley Children’s Foundation… receiving a check for a cool $200,000 in donations from the 2 “Sold-Out” Pro-Am events. The silent auction with hundreds of items with a highlight of a $10,000 bottle of Bourbon signed by Folds of Honor Veterans… as well as numerous golf vacations around the country. French Lick pulled out all the stops for an event filled week with the Riley Kids. The reaction of the LPGA players on the first tee, when they were introduced by the Riley Kids. Emotions were on edge with some kids that made testimonials that connected their own personal success and recovery Golf Central • Volume 22, Issue 6
