SOME THOUGHTS FOR OUR GOLFERS IN ELK CITY, OK...

Most of you know that I have been gone since Thursday, and if you don't with this post, you now know, but it all happened too fast.

Anya & Coach Muflur during
a round in the Arizona desert.

First, Anya Sarai, my youngest daughter (22), who recently graduated from the University of Washington, and her team, qualified for the NCAA Championships (may 18-21), now being played at The Traditions Golf Club in Bryan TX. When I received the news, at first, I could think of taking off for a day and coming back the next day to help our club with the Member-Guest being played today.

Anya proudly posing with
the Washington Huskies
purple banner behing #18

But on Monday, three members of your Board of Directors, Joe Wynn, Ann Cowan and Grady Lantz had the (great) idea to encourage and give me more time in order to attend until the last round, which will be played today. My release for a longer period of time was approved and encouraged as well, during the monthly board meeting on Monday as well. Thank you all!

It is an opportunity that once given the chance, I could not turn down, first knowing that Ramona with Ann's help, would be there to keep things going smoothly for a few days: but also because not only is this the last NCAA Anya is eligible for (as she just graduated) and the only one her team qualified for during her studies there, but she has also expressed that she wants to pursue a professional career in golf after this event is over, so it will be her last amateur tournament as well. This release was a Christmas present well in advance!

As a father, I am most proud that she finished school (I am sure her sister Paola had a great influence and was a great example for her as well), while keeping a a pretty decent game. It takes a lot of your time to do both. In addition, Anya has defined her life not only through golf, but through worthy programs for which she has given countless hours of volunteer time to help young girls in many social issues that are less than perfect.

Golf Professional, Dave
Elaimy (volunteer coach
in mental performance)
with Anya. 

As far as her opprtunity to attend a Division I college and get free education, I am also most grateful to coach Marilou Mulflur, the 28 year veteran coach who knows more about golf, people and students than most people will ever recognize. This year, her program was publicly honored by the NCAA for being in the top 10 in the latest multi-year Academic Progress Rate (APR). This is the sixth consecutive APR recognition for the women's golf program there. Proudly, my daughter was part of the last four. Without coach Mulflur's determination and love for her team-students' well being, this would have never happened.

As far as the tournament, as we speak, the team has not played as well as they'd like to, nonetheless, they have improved every day (NCAA Championships), and hopefully do even better today, perhaps good enough to get to the top half of the leaderboard.

Individually, Anya (74,76,72) has done reasonably well and is currently sitting in a tie for 26th, only one shot back of a tie for 21st and two shots out of a tie for 15th. With a good final round today, she could get in the top 20 which I believe gives you "All American" status. That would be neat, an icing in the cake that I hope that she is able to get, not for bragging rights, but for her own satisfaction and also as a "thank you" to Coach Marilou Mulflur, the iconic figure in Seattle, WA., who made all this possible for Anya and our family, just like she did for hundreds of families through the years.

As Anya moves on, now Pittsburgh bound, she leaves a part of her in Seattle, with a bunch of great people who were part of her life for four years. A college experience is not only great for a person, but a privilege that not everyone enjoys. Thank you coach!

And you golfers in Elk City, OK,... I'll see you soon and have a great Member-Guest!

Note: (Anya finished with a 76, not what she would have liked, but she finished her college career in style, with a birdie!)