Grzebien
cashes in for the first time
By KEVIN McNAMARA
Journal Sports Writer
WESTERLY - If only professional golf
would always come this easily for Anna Grzebien.
The Narragansett High School/Duke
University product began her pro career yesterday at the Weekapaug Golf Club
and emerged victorious in the CVS/Caremark Charity Classic New England Women's
Open. Grzebien shot a 3-under-par 105 over the tourney's rain-shortened 27
holes to win by five shots and claim the $1,365 first prize.
Grzebien, who is headed for
"I didn't think about it while I was
out there. It was just another tournament that you want to win,'' she said,
"but at the end of the day, it's better taking a check than a piece of
wood you hang on a wall.''
This is the fourth year that the PGA of
New England has sponsored a women's open, all of which have been played at the
beautiful, 9-hole course that borders Winnapaug Pond. Susan Bond, the pro at
Weekapaug, won the event in its first two years and was instrumental in landing
CVS/Caremark as a sponsor this year. Bond tried to act as the unkind host when
she birdied four of her first nine holes to grab an early 3-stroke lead on
playing partner Grzebien. But the 22-year-old bounced back on the back nine to
finish the morning 18 holes with a 68, two strokes ahead of Bond and three
ahead of Beth O'Kelly.
The players rested for a half hour and
then played nine more holes under sunny skies and breezy conditions. Grzebien
finished with a workmanlike 1-over 37 to win with relative ease. Bond had a
costly double-bogey six on the first hole of the afternoon round and checked in
with a 40, but still held onto a second- place tie with amateur Susan Choi.
Bond won $970, while Laura Shanahan Rowe (plus-3, $800) was fourth and O'Kelly
(plus-4, $570) was fifth.
"I hit a couple of poor shots that
got me into trouble but I thought I played solid,'' said Bond. "I knew I'd
have to play well with Anna here. She's got game.''
Grzebien's charge to the win began on the
second of the day's three trips around the links. As Bond was bogeying the
10th, 11th, and 12th holes, Grzebien picked up four strokes and captured the
lead for good. She made par on the 10th hole, nearly drove the green at the 301-yard
11th hole and made birdie, then parred the 12th. Grzebien then reached the
par-5 14th hole (440 yards) in two and made her only eagle of the day.
The final nine holes were fairly
uneventful after Bond made a six on number one with a three-putt. Grzebien made
a 15-foot birdie putt on the fourth hole but a wayward sand shot cost her a
shot and a bogey at the par-5 fifth. Another bogey at the seventh hole (a
missed four-footer) wasn't good but Grzebien parred the last two holes to win
comfortably.
"Everything is starting to come
together with my game,'' she said. "When the putts fall, I can go low.''
Winning her first pro event came with
some butterflys. "You feel like other people expect things but I deal with
my own expectations. There was a little extra pressure doing it here,'' she
said.
1, ANNA GRZEBIEN, Point Judith 68-37
(-3); 2, Susan Bond, Weekapaug 70-40 (+2); 2, Susan Choi (a); 75-35 (+2); 4,
Laura Shanahan Rowe 75-38 (+3); 5, Beth O'Kelly 71-41 (+4); 6, Tara Joy
Connelly 75-39 (+6); 6, Kammy Maxfeldt 78-36 (+6); 6, Lynn Valentine 77-37
(+6).
9, Valerie Blinn, Crestwood 77-38 (+7);
9, Marissa Kulig 77-38 (+7); 9, Marjorie Jones 76-39 (+7); 12, Amber Weller,
Potowomut 76-40 (+8); 12, Christy Grzymala 77-39 (+8); 14, Tara McKenna 81-36
(+9