SHOPRITE CLASSIC

SEAVIEW COUNTRY CLUB

ABSECON, NJ

My player this week is Amanda Blumenherst

Monday: Amanda who? I know that's what you're thinking but a call from a well placed cadero put out a request for an experienced tour caddie for this Duke freshman and, not having a regular bag set up, I accepted the challenge. But by the looks of this youngster's bio, she may have all the experience needed.

• Party on; It appears there's plenty more going on at The Villages (promoted by Nancy and Arnie) than shuffleboard and canasta. An abundance of night putting seems to have put this retirement community on the map.

Tuesday: Impressive is the most apt description of Amanda's game. Long and steady with few errant shots.

After the first hole, we dropped back to play with Morgan Pressel, who somehow wound up to be a single, which made it an enjoyable day for both. Having played many AJGA events together, reminiscing of days gone bye helped pass the time of this nearly five hour practice round.

• It's deep in here; Speaking of reminiscing, McGettigan's 19th Hole (adjacent to the first tee) is thee place to have a cold one and shoot the bull after play. Just as last year, Lori West (here to play in the pro-ams ) was working the room.

Dale Jones and Lori

• Best of buds; These two go way back as Lori was responsible for Dale coming out on tour. As she puts it, Dale was just divorced and, like many men in similar situations, needed help in the every-day things most wives take care of like buying your own clothes and such. Lori stepped right in and guided this unwitting soul into life on the road and he never looked back. Still credits her for the depraved condition he finds himself in today.

Wednesday: Waited for the last pro-am team turned then played the back nine. It was perfect timing as we had plenty of opportunity to chip and putt.

Thursday: Ditto on our practice nine, but this time we teed it up on the front prior to the first scheduled pro-am team. Again, our planning was impeccable as we had the course to ourselves.

• Meet my dad; Amanda is not here on her lonesome as her dad and coach, Dave Blumenherst, keeps a watchful eye.

Amanda and her dad, Dave

Friday: A couple errant swings cost us three strokes but still had a decent day. Shot +1 with even par looking like the cut.

• Surprise! Amanda's mom, Amy, flew in unannounced to watch her daughter tee it up with the big girls.

• We have good news; Patti Rizzo got the "You're in" call as she was about to board an airplane at the AC airport. Took Sae-Hee Son's spot.

Saturday: Another day where the birds failed to make up for the bogies. Shot +2 which turned into a disappointing debut for Amanda on the LPGA. With plenty of game and a winning attitude, look for this young lady to make her mark in a few years. 

• What's that hole doing there? For the past few weeks, notification of impending fines for not replacing divots have been posted and finally caught up with one tour looper. Yesterday, Jason Hamilton (Suzann Pettersen's cadero) was hit with a $100 amercement for failure to perform this rudimentary of tasks. While warming up on the range, I just couldn't pass up the opportunity to offer Jason a divot for the bag just in case he ran out. At one point during our round, I was holding $300 of turf pelts in my hands after Amanda hit her approach on the sixteenth. Would have loved to put them down on red if they would let me.