DEWITT’S NAGEL: “THIS IS THE TOURNAMENT I WANT TO WIN”
Elizabeth Nagel was born and bred in DeWitt, Michigan and is a proud Michigander. She will tee it up along with four other Michigan natives this week in Battle Creek. She is also one of five Spartans in the field.“I’m sleeping in my own bed, which is awesome and I’m driving my own car, no rental cars,” said Nagel. “My family is coming and I’m hoping to have my dad and brother share caddy duties. It’s going to be a family affair and you’re going to see a lot of Spartans this week.”
While the course plays long, the winning scores have been in double-digits all three years, including Laura Gonzalez Escallon’s two-day total of 15-under.
“The last couple years, the winning score has been around 10-under so it doesn’t play the easiest of courses on Tour, but I think that it’s (Battle Creek Country Club) challenging and fun. “The greens are rolling really true.”
The state of Michigan has become a hot bed for women’s professional golf. Between the LPGA and the Epson Tour, there are five events. The only other state that has as many when you combine the two Tours is Florida (four Epson Tour, one LPGA). Surprisingly to many outside the state, Michigan has more women’s professional events than California, Arizona and Texas.
“I always thought Michigan was a golf destination state because people would say ‘oh, I came to Michigan for a golf weekend’,” said Nagel. “The more the LPGA and the Epson Tour come, people are realizing how good the golf is here. All these southern girls come here and think we wear these winter parkas all the time and then they realize it’s nice here.”
Nagel has had a bit of an up-and-down season, but her best finish came a few weeks ago in the state at the Tullymore Classic when she placed T19.
“This is the tournament that I want to win of all of them and I think I can,” said Nagel. “You want to win in front of your family and it would be great to have the support on Sunday.”
GABRIELLA THEN FIRST PLAYED IN OPEN WHEN SHE WAS 14
Gabriella Then (Vista, Calif.), who goes by Gabby, first played in the U.S. Women’s Open in 2010 (Oakmont) when she was 14-years-old. She also played in the U.S. Open in 2011 and 2013.
“It was an absolute amazing experience, the whole process from playing in the 36-hole qualifier in Southern California to playing in the event in Pennsylvania,” said Then, who tees at 7:52 a.m. on Friday in the first round of the FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship. “I remember every single detail.”
The encounter she remembers most is when she met Arnold Palmer, who even watched her hit a few shots on the range.
“I was sitting in player dining and I remember hearing reports that Arnold was going to be there,” explained Then, who is a third Chinese, Indonesian and Dutch. “He was sitting two tables to my left surrounded with friends and family and I was so nervous to go up and meet him. I got a picture and an autograph and he was a genuine, genuine guy.”
Then has a classic picture of Palmer standing and watching her swing on the driving range that she posted when Palmer passed away last year.
“I remember him telling me to just take it all in and have a lot of fun,” said Then. “I was absolutely amazed that I was talking to The Arnold Palmer.”
The very same year that she competed at Oakmont, she sprang on the radar of the USC coaching staff and quickly committed to play college golf for the Trojans.
“The experience at USC was amazing, I was waiting for it since I was 14,” said Then, who was a
communications major. “I knew going through the college process would eventually help me in the long run when I turned professional. Four years at USC wasn’t enough, I enjoyed it a lot.”
Then will play in her seventh event as a professional this weekend in Battle Creek. Her best finish so far is a tie for 18th at the Island Resort Championship.
“I’ve been travelling with my former teammate at USC (Victoria Morgan) and that has really helped with the transition from college to pro golf,” said Then. “I feel like I have someone with me along the way that is going through the same things.”
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