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Taking Time to Watch Their Daughters
FRIDAY | OCTOBER 5, 2007
For some Wolverine student-athletes, such as sisters Lindsay and Katelin Davis from nearby Dexter, Mich., attending the University of Michigan means being close enough to home that their family and friends can watch them compete. But for the many out-of-state individuals like Lydia Bentez Coln, from Dorado, Puerto Rico, those opportunities are more rare. All three had their parents in the gallery during the recent Wolverine Invitational at the U-M Golf Course. With Lydia's mom, Aida, vacationing from her real estate company, and Lydia's dad, Hector, taking time away from his work as a chemical engineer for Abbott Laboratories, the Colns made the seven-hour flight from San Juan to Ann Arbor. Arriving on Thursday, the family was able to spend some quality -- albeit limited -- time with Lydia prior to the start of the tournament. "Having them in town was great," Lydia said of her parent's visit. "I got to take them around campus for a little bit and they met my roommates for the first time. I'm sad that I couldn't spend more time with them, but I'm really glad that they got to learn a little bit more about Michigan and college life here."
Lydia's parents are not able to make the trip north very often, but when they do it is special. The conversation was limited during most of the tournament, but the smile on her parents' faces in the gallery was enough for Lydia. "I absolutely love having my parents watch," she said. "I know it is really hard for both of them to take off work and fly such a long way, and I really appreciate it."
The only hard part for Lydia was not being able to say a proper goodbye, as her parents had to leave at the turn during the final round to catch their flight. "It was hard seeing them go," she reflected.
Doug and Leslie Davis (pictured) live less than 20 minutes from Ann Arbor, giving them ample opportunities to see their daughters. "I am very fortunate to have parents that are able to make it to many of my tournaments," Lindsay explained. "I appreciate their unconditional support and encouragement. It is always nice to look over at your parents after a great hole and see them smile."
The younger Davis could not agree more. "I love to have my parents watch me play," said Katelin, who is in her first season after making the team as a walk-on. "They have always been my strongest supporters. When Lindsay and I are competing in the same tournaments, my parents will split up so we each get equal attention on the course. They enjoy switching back and forth after nine."
"Having two daughters playing brings on many different emotions, ranging from anxiety, excitement, fear and pride," said Doug, who was an All-Big Ten Conference golfer for the Wolverines in 1978. "To watch them play where I played 30 or so years ago is really neat." A View from the Gallery
SATURDAY | SEPTEMBER 29, 2007
A year ago at the Wolverine Invitational, she was inching her way toward her second career medalist honor. This year, however, she will not have a chance to win at all. Former All-Big Ten golfer and captain Brianna Broderick has one semester of classes remaining and, with her golf eligibility exhausted, has only one choice during U-M tournaments nowadays: watching from the gallery. "It's very different," said Broderick, who is assisting with the live scoring this weekend. "The first week of competition was really hard for me. It's hard seeing the girls play and not being part of that. I absolutely miss it. But it's been nice being on the coaches' side of things though."
Broderick has taken advantage of her last semester by continuing to work with the program as a "pseudo coach," helping out the program in any way she can. "I know how hard Kathy (Teichert) and Cheryl (Stacy) work now. I've always known they've worked hard, but seeing all the little ins and outs they do I am a lot more appreciative of what they do every day."
Knowing that she wants to be a coach in the future, Broderick is absorbing as much as she can right now. "Working with the coaches has really given me an insight to what it is like to be a coach. I knew from our travels what it was like a little, but now that I have been getting my own feet wet it's just been a completely different view."
Broderick is scheduled to graduate in December and has accepted an internship with the Kansas City Golf Association near her hometown of Richmond, Mo., so another transition is quickly approaching.
"I will always been a Wolverine at heart," said Broderick. "This weekend is just another step for me." And as she headed down the stairs of the M Room on her way to pick up another pile of scorecards, she added, "I will say this: it has been nice not having to get up for those early morning tee times!" | | 2007 Archive
Sept. 4-19 | |
