Four years ago, Megan Khang arrived at the Kingsmill Championship as an amateur hoping to snag a spot in the tournament through the Monday Qualifier. As her group approached hole 13, a storm was brewing and the horns blew to evacuate the players off the course.
Khang didn't know exactly what to do or where to go, which is understandable as she was only 17 years old at the time, but a man by the home near 13 hollered that she and her father, Lee, could come in for safety.
It was the beginning of a relationship that still stands to this day. That's how Khang met her host family in Williamsburg, Cliff Weddington and his girlfriend, Jenn.
"I remember when they blew the horns, these two families on the corner were like 'come inside, it's OK' so I asked Candie (Kung) if it is OK to go in and she said 'I don't see why not' so we went in," explained Khang, who is 8-under through two rounds this year. "My dad got to talking to one of them and they said if I was a pro next year I should stay with them and I have for the last three or four years. I love coming back to them."
It helps that they just got a new bulldog named Dolly Parton.
"I love dogs so it's perfect," said Khang. "They are very understanding of what I'm here for and it makes coming here that much better."
While Khang's story is certainly unique in how fate led to a great place to stay, it's not uncommon to learn of long standing player-host familiy relationships at the Kingsmill Championship. Jaye Marie Green has had the same host family for four years, Natalie Gulbis has been staying with the same family for 11 years.
After a bogey-free Thursday, Khang made six birdies and two bogeys on Friday morning to turn in a second straight 67.
"I'm feeling pretty good right now, the week off definitely helped," explained Khang, who has played in 11 of 12 tournaments this year. "I was able to go back home and work on our swing with my dad. I just tried to stay patient out there with the weather being the way it is."
She started the year strong with a 12th place finish in Thailand and a T5 at the Bank of Hope Founders Cup. Since, she has missed the cut in three of her past five starts.
"My swing is slowly coming back up and I'm feeling pretty confident right now," said Khang. "My dad is always a phone call away."
During the week off, Khang said the father-daughter duo worked mostly on the position of her backswing.
In just two plus seasons on the LPGA, Khang has racked up seven top 10 finishes. She is in position for another and maybe even a bigger prize.
"I love coming to Kingsmill, especially since it is on the east coast it's better travel for me," said the Rockland, Massachusetts native. "I try to never miss this tournament and I hope not to in the future either."
It's a lesson that sometimes a weather delay isn't the worst thing in the world. In this case, it turned into a lasting friendship.
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