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| Anya & Coach Muflur during a round in the Arizona desert. |
First, Anya Sarai, my youngest daughter (22), who recently graduated from the University of Washington, and her team, qualified for the NCAA Championships (may 18-21), now being played at The Traditions Golf Club in Bryan TX. When I received the news, at first, I could think of taking off for a day and coming back the next day to help our club with the Member-Guest being played today.
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| Anya proudly posing with the Washington Huskies purple banner behing #18 |
It is an opportunity that once given the chance, I could not turn down, first knowing that Ramona with Ann's help, would be there to keep things going smoothly for a few days: but also because not only is this the last NCAA Anya is eligible for (as she just graduated) and the only one her team qualified for during her studies there, but she has also expressed that she wants to pursue a professional career in golf after this event is over, so it will be her last amateur tournament as well. This release was a Christmas present well in advance!
As a father, I am most proud that she finished school (I am sure her sister Paola had a great influence and was a great example for her as well), while keeping a a pretty decent game. It takes a lot of your time to do both. In addition, Anya has defined her life not only through golf, but through worthy programs for which she has given countless hours of volunteer time to help young girls in many social issues that are less than perfect.
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| Golf Professional, Dave Elaimy (volunteer coach in mental performance) with Anya. |
As far as the tournament, as we speak, the team has not played as well as they'd like to, nonetheless, they have improved every day (NCAA Championships), and hopefully do even better today, perhaps good enough to get to the top half of the leaderboard.
Individually, Anya (74,76,72) has done reasonably well and is currently sitting in a tie for 26th, only one shot back of a tie for 21st and two shots out of a tie for 15th. With a good final round today, she could get in the top 20 which I believe gives you "All American" status. That would be neat, an icing in the cake that I hope that she is able to get, not for bragging rights, but for her own satisfaction and also as a "thank you" to Coach Marilou Mulflur, the iconic figure in Seattle, WA., who made all this possible for Anya and our family, just like she did for hundreds of families through the years.
As Anya moves on, now Pittsburgh bound, she leaves a part of her in Seattle, with a bunch of great people who were part of her life for four years. A college experience is not only great for a person, but a privilege that not everyone enjoys. Thank you coach!
And you golfers in Elk City, OK,... I'll see you soon and have a great Member-Guest!
Note: (Anya finished with a 76, not what she would have liked, but she finished her college career in style, with a birdie!)