Christine Song from Fullerton, California is the 2010 Teva Championship winner at The Golf Center at Kings Island in Mason, Ohio. From the extreme humidity to pouring rain, Christine was able to overcome all weather obstacles to pull out her second consecutive win.  The victory was just icing on the (birthday) cake as Song prepared to celebrate her birthday the following day.

“I really wanted to win two in a row,” Song said.  As she received her trophy she went on to thank all of those that put on the tournament and her parents for always being there for her.

Song, who was one tournament away from going to college, was very happy with her decision to go pro.  She was faced with a tough choice on whether to go pro or go to college and play golf.  “I had one more tournament to qualify to go to the Duramed Futures Tour.  If I qualified I was going to go pro, and if not I was going to go to college,” Song said.

Her plans for the rest of the week are to get in as much practice possible for the next tournament and hopefully pull out her third victory.  There is no rest when it comes to Song’s schedule.

- R. Lantry

Players and Ulmer & Berne Visit Hope Lodge

Duramed Futures Tour players and staff teamed up with one of their sponsors, Ulmer Berne Law Firm, to find a way to give back to the community. Both organizations came together to create a meal for the caregivers, workers and patients at the Cincinnati Hope Lodge. Hope Lodge is a facility that serves as a “home away from home” for cancer patients who have traveled to Cincinnati for treatment. It is a place for peer groups who share similar effects to come together and feel comfortable and share stories. Stu Schloss, a lawyer from Ulmer Berne Law Firm, led the team when preparing the meal. He has seven years experience in the catering business.

The meal included house salad, lemon rosemary chicken, roasted veggies, potatoes and berry shortcake with whipped cream for dessert. Stu explained that he went with items that were easy to put together so that he was not taking away from the players’ practice time. Player Sofie Anderson from Sweden proved that she not only has talent on the course, but in the kitchen as well as she put together Swedish meatballs for the meal.

Chef Stu was more than pleased with the outcome of the charitable event. “It was great to see the players giving back to the community,” Stuart explained, “I would definitely do it again.”

Cincinnati’s WCPO-TV, Channel 9, was there to film the night.  Click here for the video.

- R. Lantry

Teva Championship Trophy - One of a Kind

The one-of-a-kind Teva Championship trophy was created by 29 year old Carrie Battista. Carrie got her bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts at the Cleveland Institute of Art in 2006. It only took one class for her to realize that this is where her heart was. “It is just so exciting and satisfying” said Carrie. She also explained that, “glass blowing is something you work on and can’t touch it till it is finished, which is what makes it so exciting.” She currently works for Neusole Glass Works, the only nonprofit public glass studio in Cincinnati.

Carrie likes to make narratives with her pieces and to deal with imagery. “I wanted to create something that tells a story with golf,” Carrie explained. The colors were carefully selected and served a purpose. “The green in the trophy symbolizes grass, the blue symbolizes water and the sky and the balls symbolized the golf balls going down the hill,” said Carrie when explaining her color selection and the story behind her artwork.

Carrie admitted to facing some challenges when creating her one-of-a-kind artwork. “It made me go out of my comfort level,” said Carrie. After making the original trophy and displaying it for all to see, she received nothing but positive feedback. The only problem was they wanted her to make the same piece three times larger. Carrie had to push herself to think bigger. In the end, she was able to create a masterpiece that was much larger than her original. Carrie could not have been more pleased with the outcome and the challenge.

- R. Lantry

Pruett Wins Amateur Qualifier

Senior Rachael Pruett from Ball State University clinched the Teva Championship Amateur Qualifier after an exciting ending. Megan Bauer from Michigan, who shot a winning 72, declined her invitation into the tournament due to prior commitments. This opened the door for Rachael Pruett, Marissa Steen and Christine Meier who had a three-way tie with a score of 75. After a sudden death round, Pruett pulled out the victory with a birdie on the first hole.

Rachael Pruett did not begin the qualifier favorably. She was four over par after the first three holes including a double bogey on the third hole, but that didn’t keep her down. Nerves were not an issue when it came to Pruett. She finds that pressure situations give her more drive. “I knew I could do it” Pruett adds. Pruett finished the qualifier with three birdies and was very pleased to be playing with some of the greatest women golfers.

Rachael was named 2006 USGA Girls Junior Championship in Charlotte, NC in 2010, MAC 5^th Place Finish (All Tournament Team), and in 2008 finished 3^rd in the Cardinal Classic. Her lowest competitive score was a 71 at Indiana University Public Golf Course in 2010.

Rachael is entering her senior year at Ball State majoring in Exercise Science. Her long term goal is to go to Grad School and be an assistant golf coach in hopes of becoming a head coach. She would also love to one day qualify for the Duramed Futures Tour. In the meantime Rachael works for her father Chris Pruett who is also her Caddie. “I hope my boss – my father - will let me off work so I can get ready and come to the tournament,” Rachael said lightheartedly after being asked what her plans are for the rest of the week.

Rachael tries to stay away from superstitions when she plays. She does make sure that she has her sunglasses with her at all times while playing and marks her ball the same way each time. Her father, Chris Pruett on the other hand has superstitions of his own. “I cannot watch her when she putts. I always cover my eyes when she does,” said Chris, but later admitted he did watch her last putt that won her the qualifier. This is not Rachael’s first professional event as an amateur. She has played in the Indiana Open since her junior year in high school. Although there is no qualifier, there are still pros that play in this tour.

Rachael has many interest and hobbies other than golf. She loves to read and spend time with her family and friends.

- R. Lantry

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Teva Players Respond to Hope Lodge Need

Teva Championship players, parents and staff keep on giving.  While cooking dinner for Hope Lodge’s caregivers, staff and patients on June 8^th, Director Bob Ange informed Teva Championship representatives of the importance and scarcity of Bounty paper towels.  By law, Hope Lodge must use paper towels instead of cloth due to the health risks.  Being that Hope Lodge is sponsored by P&G,  they use Bounty paper towels as opposed to other paper towel brands.

Player Kelly Lagedrost decided to take things into her own hands.  “The community does so much for us.  It is always nice when we are faced with an opportunity to give back to them,” said Kelly.  Kelly took it upon herself to pass along the message to other players about the limited resources Hope Lodge faces.  She passed along the message by word of mouth, encouraging players to donate one roll of Bounty paper towels.

Kelly has collected an overwhelming amount of Bounty paper towels to donate to Hope Lodge, which will be delivered to them later this week.   It goes to show that these players not only inspire us by what they do on the golf course, but by their community generosity as well.

- R. Lantry

Amateur Qualifier Winner, Racheal Pruett