If you have ever hosted a big party, or been part of planning a big event, you know there are many steps to the process. All that happens behind the scenes leading up to the big day can sometimes get overlooked or in some cases when the event is over, can feel like it happened so fast. Indeed, it did happen fast in comparison to the time it took to pull off all the moving parts.
A successful event is never done without several people adding their talents, time, and expertise to the specific areas. It starts with securing the day, inviting the guests, and creating the lists of tasks to be done. If you are fortunate, you have a well-organized point person to guide the process. I must begin by thanking Andy Breon, my former assistant coach and now Tournament Coordinator and Event Manager for the Penn State Golf Courses. He provided the foundation to build a successful weekend for my team and Penn State, as we hosted fifteen additional teams to compete in the Nittany Lion Invitational. There is a reason some programs never host a home tournament because of the amount of time and work involved in making it happen.
My newly hired assistant coach, Carrie Sexton jumped in after only three weeks on the job and quickly provided the support I as well as our team needed, to operate the weekend without stress. I knew things would get done and done well. The support that we receive from the many volunteers that help with live scoring, setting up our hospitality tent, serving food and ice cream, picking up our lunches and just being there for our hundred and twenty-five guests, does not go unnoticed. That support would not happen without Traci Richardson and former golf coach, Mary Kennedy Zierke, coordinating and recruiting the help we needed.
It is a huge job that I am so thankful they have been willing to do for us. The golf course was looking "top notch" under the guidance of our superintendents Rick Pagent, Gabe Menna, and Scot Martell. We had a shotgun start each day and that is a big job to get the entire course ready prior to the early start. We are so thankful to them and their entire staff, not just for the weekend but also for the weeks leading up to our tournament and the extra effort it took to have the course in the best shape possible.
We also thank Dana a member of the staff that had the grounds looking exceptional by taking care of all the beds and gardens that surround the golf course. I have worked in and around the golf business for over thirty years and there are few golf staffs that measure up and team up as well as Director of golf Joe Hughes, golf professional Brian Short and their entire staff that work so hard to make our event extra special. We are so grateful to have them to help us each day. Including and not at all least of mentioning Shawn that takes care of us day in and day out. Also, behind the scenes are those that take care of getting the "news" out to the world about Penn State Women's Golf. John Hanna is our communications contact and did an outstanding job directing the live scoring and posting our results.
The marketing department under Rebecca Plescia, made sure we had our posters and provided the pizzas for all the visiting teams to take upon their departure home. Our staff assistant Christy Mcmullen made sure we were on time with all our orders and billing to be sure we had what we need for the big weekend. It is a full event taking place over three days. I tell my team it takes steps and layers each day to prepare to make great things happen. The team experienced that this weekend. We were down by one shot heading into our final nine holes. It took a focused effort to make some birdies coming in and pull ahead of the teams chasing us. Capturing the team championship did not rest on one or even two players on the team, it came down to each of them playing hard over three rounds!
The tournament was won by fifteen shots which is fitting if you break it down, one shot for each of the five players times three days! Do the math, it fits and yes is oh so fitting, for our "team" event! Yes, we won the Championship, yet I know that each of my players may be able to "wish" they had a shot or a hole back from the weekend, as elite players that is how we roll, however, I often remind them, people may not remember what you shot, but they remember who you are! A big Congratulations to my team; Mathilde Delavallade, Sarah Willis, Drew Nienhaus, Michelle Cox, Isha Dhruva, Taylor Waller, Vicky Tip-Aucha, Katie Scheck, Myranda Quinton, Jami Morris and Lauren Freyvogel, for showing up this weekend and representing Penn State with pride, respect and exceptional sportsmanship!
A big thank you to all the members of our "team" that helped make the 2022 Nittany Lion Invitational a huge success, we appreciate each of you so very much.
