The Fashion-Caddy™ Blog: Fore Barrow Challenge: Team Blackwelder

{Mallory & Myra Blackwelder, LPGA }

This weekend, I had the privilege of playing in the Fore Barrow Challenge benefiting the Barrow Neurological Institute. This unique event paired one retired LPGA Tour player with a current tour player in a two-person team event.

The field of players for this event included multiple Hall of Famers, the current LPGA Player of the Year, Stacy Lewis, and the current U.S. Solheim Cup Captain, Meg Mallon.

My partner was my mom, Myra Blackwelder, who was the LPGA Rookie of the Year in 1980. We are the first ever mother-daughter combination to have had LPGA status.

Playing in this event with her was such a special experience that we will both remember forever. We had never played as a team before, other than when I played for her in college. But having her play as well was much different than just coaching me.

Because she has been busy teaching and coaching since her retirement, she hadn’t played a tournament before this weekend in about six years. Needless to say she was a little nervous on the first hole, but she played great!

The first round was a Chapman alternate shot format, which meant we both hit a tee shot, then picked the best one and played alternate shot in from there. Alternate shot is a difficult format because your shot is going to determine if your partner is in good shape for the next shot. We shot three-under in the alternate shot format, and then shot six-under on Sunday playing our own best ball. We finished tied for 8th in the event and had a great time.

My favorite part of the event was seeing how good the retired LPGA players still are. I played a few holes of the practice round with JoAnne Carner, who is 73 years old. She still hits it great and is so much fun to watch. These women have accomplished so much and truly paved the way for my generation to be able to follow our dreams. I am so appreciative of their hard work and all they’ve done for women’s golf, and I can’t wait for the event next year!

~Mallory