Holly Bell is going to give birth this summer. So is tournament competitor Brenda Corrie Kuehn.
Because of Bell’s unique job as director of marketing for Pine Needles, she frequently mixes and mingles among the Championship players and officials. And she’s attracting attention, not because she’s going to have twins, but because volunteers, fans and members of the media think she is Kuehn.
More than a few people have congratulated her on her pregnancy and have wished her well in the tournament. So far, two volunteers have asked for Bell’s autograph (she didn’t give it).
Volunteers have told the media she is Kuehn, so she is fielding requests for interviews, and fans have been giving her the thumbs up and the “you go, girl” cheer.
She tells them that she’s not playing, which she suspects is creating all sorts of havoc among the volunteers and the fans who have approached her.
Bell’s having great fun with all of the shenanigans. One could say that the moral of this story is, “If you are pregnant and on the golf course, you must be Brenda Corrie Kuehn.”
Back for More
After collecting a signature from 1997 Women’s Open champion Alison Nichols, Jodi Karhoff was excited about her autograph collection. In fact, she was excited about simply being a part of the 2001 version of the Championship.
Karhoff hails from Peggy Kirk Bell’s home town of Findlay, Ohio, and this trip to Pine Needles represents a return of sorts. In 1996, she came down with six volunteers to work as a tournament volunteer. This year, she’s here with nine others. She is working in the tournament finance office and is on vacation this week from her job as an auditor with the state of Ohio.
So far, she has collected autographs from Annika Sorenstam, Si Re Pak, and Jill McGill. She is a big Laura Davies fan. Back during her first tour of duty in 1996, Davies personalized a golf ball “to Jodi” with her autograph. It was her tournament highlight.
They Know Golf Now
Cynthia Mink and Katie Hester drove 10 hours from Altamonte Springs, Fla., to work in the Merchandise Tent. They spent the first four days of their visit just setting it up.
They just decided to travel north to be a part of things and to visit friends.
“We don’t know a thing about golf,” Hester said. “I’ve never even set foot on a golf course.”
Mink chimed in, “We’ve been here four days, and we know an awful lot about it now.”
Another thing they know is how much they have come to enjoy the Sandhills.
“We’ll definitely come back,” Mink said. “It’s beautiful here. Everyone’s been so nice, the shoppers, the volunteers, the townspeople and the hotel people.”
Down But Not Out
One security officer won’t be chasing any bad guys.
Jack Barron is a benched guard, displaying a cast on his right foot, a nasty injury he suffered when he fell off his roof at home. A retired teacher, Barron had dipped his toes in the political arena, and ran against Ellen Crews in the Democratic primary for the N.C. House of Representatives.
He emerged from politics unscathed, but attempting to reroof his screened porch almost did him in. He had put down new plywood on the roof and was inside his house when a storm came up. As he hurriedly completed the task of covering it, he stepped on the edge of the roof, the plywood flipped, and so did he. He broke his heel in the landing.
Undaunted and always smiling, he maintains his vigil at the Media Center.
Hoping for Greatness
Jessie Poole, 9, of Galax, Va., is already dreaming of greatness. She’s off to a good start.
She attends golf camp regularly and is a part of the Blue Ridge Junior Golf Tour. With 70 points, Jessie is the tour leader in her division for girls 11 and under. She is happy to play in all sorts of weather, and she would like to be a professional golfer someday.
Her father, Barry, brought her to the Open to give her some exposure to the pros. They are on the lookout for Annika Sorenstam. An avid soccer player too, Jessie was also looking forward to seeing Mia Hamm in person.
Advice From a Champ
Annika Sorenstam expressed admiration for 13-year-old Morgan Pressel, the whiz kid of the Open.
“When I was 12, I had just started playing golf,” Sorenstam said. “At that time, I could not have imagined being in a tournament like this.”
She admitted that when she was 13, her handicap was 63.
“This is just the beginning of many great years for her,’” Sorenstam said. She offered the young contender some advice. “Enjoy the week, and enjoy the experience.”
— Compiled by Teri Saylor
