Playing through pain

During the 2016 Shop Rite LPGA Classic presented by Acer, I followed Susana Benavides, a young Symetra Tour golfer, as she struggled to a six-over-par finish for the first round. 

Her four birdies were more than offset by four bogeys and three double bogeys. Hitting out of the deep rough was an adventure every time she tried.

What I did not know until a post-round interview was that Benavides played with a stress fracture in her left arm, diagnosed only a few weeks earlier.

That's some real dedication to one's chosen profession.

Benavides is the only Bolivian on the LPGA/Symetra Tour circuit, and feels an obligation to represent her country in the sport as best she can.

Playing the ShopRite tournament wasn't part of her original schedule, but she seized the opportunity when it presented itself. Benavides was among the extra golfers brought in to help with the pro-am part of the tournament, because there are far more pro-am groups than the tournament player contingent can handle.

"I found out last night. I got a call, and they told me I was the first alternate, and I wasn't even on the alternate list. I was so nervous. I didn't sleep all night," Benavides said. 

That alternate slot turned into a playing spot, so she called Sky Seo, a buddy and fellow Symetra golfer who also played in the pro-am. The former University of Oregon golfer jumped at the chance to caddie for her friend.

Benavides graduated from Ohio State University with a degree in communications. She played on the Buckeyes’ women's golf team all four years, recruited to attend after two years at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. Benavides has been on the Symetra Tour for a few years now, trying to make the LPGA Tour like so many other ambitious young golfers.

Benavides said her stress fracture came from "just overuse – overplaying, overtraining, just too much." She also said: "I have to take off for eight weeks and I can't do that right now, so..."

She played in a Symetra Tour event the week before ShopRite, is going home to Bolivia for a week, and expected to return to Symetra Tour action the week after in South Bend, Ind.

Benavides said she received treatment from Cliff Steagall, a physical therapist with the Symetra Tour. "He's been great. It hasn't gotten worse, it's actually gotten a little better, but I still have it." 

The injury altered her approach to her usual warmup routine. "I think that without wanting to and without thinking about it, I did change, because every time I was hitting I was having pain, so I tried changing it a little without noticing, so now I'm having a hard time getting back to where I was," she said.  

I noted that her drives during the round were in the 220- to 230-yard range, and asked if that was normal. It isn't.  

"I'd say I hit it 245 on average, but I'm not looking at my distance, I'm not thinking so much about my shots. I'm just glad I'm able to finish the rounds. I don't want to push it too hard, and I don't want to be so tough on myself. I know I can do better, but right now I have to take what I have," Benavides said. 

Benavides' golf bag featured a Yoda putter head cover, and her driver head cover was a faithful replica of the BB-8 droid from the latest Star Wars movie. Perhaps her recovery will be hastened by recalling how to use the Force - or not.  

Benevides missed the cut at the Shop Rite, and again at the next Symetra tournament, but tied for 18th at that tour’s Tullymore Classic in Michigan July 3. Injuries have to heal on their own schedule, but Benevides’ determination to play through that process risked prolonging that recovery.

Most golf amateurs don’t face the same risk of overuse injuries as a struggling tour pro. There’s little or no reason to play through the pain if you don’t need to make a rent check by making birdies. Just take a break from golf and let yourself heal.

Eleanor Soltner Memorial Golf Outing Aug. 3

Rookery North golf course in Milford is again the site for the sixth annual Eleanor Soltner Memorial Golf Outing Wednesday, Aug. 3.

The popular fundraiser benefits the Delaware Hospice Center in Milford. Last year’s event raised nearly $23,000.

This year’s tournament also memorializes several other Cape Region golfers who have gone before us: Don Tiedemann, Bob Graham, Bruce Aden, Francis W. Barney Jr., George Elliott, Joe Hall and Ray Beck.

The 9 a.m. shotgun scramble start is preceded by registration, the practice range and a light breakfast. Lunch comes after the round, with a silent auction and the 1:30 p.m. award reception. Driving, closest to the pin and team prizes will be announced, along with the results of a putting contest.

The $100 per person fee includes the greens fee, cart, meals, refreshment cart and range balls. Sponsorship opportunities are still available.

For more information, call Bob Burd at 302-422-3501.

Demo Day at Baywood Greens 

The pro shop at Baywood Greens is holding a TaylorMade Demo day Friday, July 29, from 4 to 8 p.m. 

Considering how many of this year’s Cape Region demo days were postponed by bad weather, I should check the radar before heading over. 

Local club competition results

The Kings Creek Ladies 9 Hole golf association played a Low Net game July 13, won by Sandy Neverett. Jeanne Drake took second, and also won closest to the pin honors on the fifth hole. Kathy Nave finished in third.

The Sussex Pines Ladies 18 Hole group played a Low Gross/Low Net game July 18.  

Linda Townsend won first place gross, followed by Kathy Hudak in second and Joann Foster in third. In the net category, Sandy Harrison won first place, with Madelyn Macklin taking second and Hazel Pusey finishing third. 

The Kings Creek Ladies 18 Hole group played a team Shamble tournament July 18. 

Diane Shawver, Jennifer Falcone, Atom Irwin and Arlyce Dubbon won first place. Deb Ward, Denise Sills, and Denise Stewart combined with a blind draw of Irwin for second place. 

The third spot went to Ana Dittel, Faye Slatcher, Joanne Yurik and Carolyn Ortwein.