Miss "P"

In 1984 I picked up Sandra Palmer for the J&B Scotch Pro- Am in Las Vegas. We got along well and had a good tournament finishing tied for 6th.

I went on to Florida with her for the S&H Classic at the Pasadena Yacht & Country Club in St. Pete. We started out hot, 4 under for the first 5 holes and tied for the lead. Then we came to a non-descript par 5. In was fairly short with a couple bunkers around a figure 8 green that was on a 45 degree angle to the fairway.

Sandra started with a perfect drive, dead center. All that was left was a five wood approach. It landed just short, rolled through the green and stopped on the fringe short of the back bunker.

She was about 25 feet from the hole but had to stand in the bunker to play the shot. Deciding to chip, because of the fringe, she bladed the ball over the green. The next shot was a chili-dip, about five feet. Now Sandra was rattled. On the fringe in two and now needing to get up and down just for a bogey!

The next chip was a duplicate of the first. This time bladed into the bunker . Out comes the sand wedge. Unfortunately, it didn't make it out of the trap. She now was lying six. Finally getting on the green Sandra two putted for a smooth nine! 

In the lead one moment  and out of the picture the next. We tied for 28th for the event.

It just a fact of life that even the best players have their bad moments.

After the tournament Sandra asked if I would work for her full time. That par five deflated my expectations and I turned her down. 

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