Each year members of the LPGA*USGA Girls Golf of Phoenix step inside the ropes to experience first hand what goes on during an event. This year Katie Stinchcomb and Kalysta Kuebler will be your guides and give you an inside look at this year's JTBC Founders Cup.
See what Katie and Kalysta have been up to this week in Phoenix.
Sunday, March 20, 2016
Final Round JTBC Founders Cup
Kalysta here! EEEKKK! It’s the last day at the LPGA JTBC Founders Cup Scottsdale, Arizona. I met up with Katie in the morning and we got our special Caramel Frappuccino blended coffee to start our day – Makes us feel official! Then we headed over to the first Tee to help greet and start groups. It is Green & Tee girl day at the event. We were able to meet with a lot of players, snap pictures and autographs as they teed off on their first hole of the day but most importantly, we got to say “thank you for supporting Girls Golf!”
After being at the first tee for three hours, we finished our shift and went to grab some lunch – It was SO cool to have food trucks this year. Loved that! After lunch, we headed over to the golf channel booth to meet with Tom Abbott and Judy Rankin, it was such a great experience going in the Golf Chanel trailer with them and seeing how they do all the TV stuff – what a special treat! It was really neat and they're also very nice! All the stuff they do is definitely something I would love to do someday {after my LPGA career, of course}!!! During a commercial break, we headed out and left the booth and headed out towards the 16th hole to catch up and walk with Paula Creamer and Brooke Henderson as they finished off their last holes of the day.
As we walked with them we got to the 17th hole and Paula creamer made a super great long pot on the green the whole crowd cheered with excitement!!! It is fun to see the crowd react. She gave the little girls knuckles when she walked by which made them all very happy – there were other Girls Golf of Phoenix members on course thanking players too!! When we got to the 18th green we were able to get some interviews after the ladies completed rounds and finished in the official scoring area. We chatted with: Paula creamer, Brooke Henderson and Stacy Lewis.
Play concluded and Congratulations to Sei Young Kim! So exciting for her! We were able to interview Miss Kim on the green as she received her trophy!!! What an experience! The tournament and USGA also presented Girls Golf with a MILLION dollar check! WHAT!!!! So incredible to be there during this event it was amazing!
I am so grateful for our Phoenix chapter and Girls Golf National. Thank you to the Founders Cup team for this incredible experience! Katie and I loved it so much we had such a great time and I hope we get to do it again!
Until then, keep watching the LPGA players and never give up golf! It is the best sport in the world! Signing off until next time, with gratitude and love, Kalysta Kuebler
Kalysta Kuebler
2016 Junior Course Reporter
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Sunday, March 20, 2016
Final Round JTBC Founders Cup
I started off the day being a “tee girl” on the first tee. By having this job I had to greet all the players who were about to tee and begin the final round of the 2016 LPGA JTBC Founders Cup. It was really nice how even though many of the players were their “zone”, they still took the time to introduce themselves and say hi. My favorite person that I meet that morning was Brooke Henderson because she was very sweet and started talking to Kalysta and I like we were her best friend. That personability means so much to us! Another thing that I found really interesting, was how the announcers were always able to pronounce the players’ names – you can tell they have been doing this a long time. They even told a few of their secrets when they come across a name that scares them.
After all the groups had started, Kalysta and I were invited to go back to the Golf Channel booth (that is where the Golf Channel announces LIVE)!!! We went down there before they went live so that we could take a few pictures and talk for a bit. All the people in there were really comfortable around each other and were constantly joking around (especially Tom Abbott). It was so fun to see them in person and be real with each other. Then we got to listen in while they were live!! How cool is that?!? This was such an awesome experience coming to the Golf Channel booth. I hope to be back in there one day!
Now play is done, it’s the awards ceremony and closing ceremony. I especially enjoyed this because the pro that I played with in the Pro-Am was the winner of the tournament! I am so happy for Sei Young Kim!!! She even came to give me a huge after her round!! Once the trophy was awarded Kalysta and I were able to interview her! She was very gracious and answered all of our questions with honesty. I remember that forever.
I had beyond an amazing time being a Junior Reporter for the 2016 LPGA JTBC Founders Cup. It is a week filled with memories to last a lifetime. I couldn’t ask for anything more!
Thank you!
Katie Stinchcomb
2016 Junior Course Reporter
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Saturday, March 19, 2016
Round 3 JYBC Founders Cup
What a fun packed day at the JTBC Founders Cup!!! The day started with getting interviewed by Golf Channel on the practice range. I have to say, I was very nervous but they all told me I did great and gave good answers. It felt so cool to be the one being interviewed rather than the other way around. After this, Kalysta and I went around the range and putting green getting interviews from a few of the pros. This was such a blast and I really felt like I was a part of the Golf Channel crew (which is my DREAM)!!!
Next, Kalysta and I followed the leading group while walking inside the ropes!! It was really exciting to do this because Sei Young Kim, who was the 36-hole leader was who I played with in the Pro-Am. This was an amazing experience and she even remembered me which made me feel very special!!
The final thing that a couple other girls and I got the opportunity to do was walking with the hall of fame group. Each of these ladies were sponsoring a chapter in Girls Golf and if they were to win, the money would be donated to that chapter. Of course that means that I'm going to be rooting for Betsy King because she is supporting Girls Golf of Phoenix!!! It was very surprising how well they hit considering their age – true athletes. They were also SUPER sweet and made play really laid back. For the last hole, their caddies let us put on their bibs and carry the bags. I was expecting the bag to weigh a little bit more but it was still really heavy! I can't imagine holding it for 18 holes. The Hall of Fame Shootout was one of my favorite things we got to do this week!!!
Katie Stinchcomb
2016 Junior Course Reporter
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Friday, March 18, 2016
Round 2 LPGA JTBC Founders Cup
It’s Friday!!! Today wasn’t really a jammed packed day for me, so I enjoyed going on the range and taking pictures of the pros practicing. I also sat at the Girls Golf booth with my Mom and Miss Christina, and a couple of the other ladies and watched all the little girls come up to the table and get really excited about the game of golf! I met a lot of Canadians!!! I am a Canadian (as well as American) so it was fun to chat with them. The booth is a great way to market Girls Golf and chat with lots of event attendees.
I also had a private tour of the Trailer where they repair any clubs that are broken. Paul the fitting and club guru was very nice, that was a fun experience.
I wanted to get some footage of the Pros warming up and practicing so I went to the practice putting green… When I tried to go inside the fences, the big Security Guard stopped me and said, “excuse me young lady but you cannot be here” and I just flashed my badge {super cool badge} and then he was like, “Oh, Ok, I’m so sorry young lady, go ahead, your credentials are better than mine”! HA!!!!! That is so fun – Thanks Founders Cup team for my cool badge!! I feel so important! It really is a blast and I am so thankful. I am excited about Saturday and Sunday. I have my interview microphone ready and I’m gonna interview some golf stars! Signing off for now! Talk to you later!
Kalysta Kuebler
2016 Junior Course Reporter
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Thursday, March 17, 2016
Round 1 LPGA JTBC Founders Cup
Happy St. Patrick's Day! Day 2 on the job at the 2016 LPGA JTBC Founders Cup was filled with meeting new people and learning new things. We started with the “What’s FORE Lunch” luncheon – a great networking event. It was a meeting for business ladies in the community and a great way for them to connect. We did a fun activity to learn about each other and strengths by coming up with a business plan for a new business. I have to say I got a little scared when the hostess, Tracy Hupko, gave us this task but surprisingly, once we started, the ideas come out really easy. All of the people who attended this luncheon were extremely nice and creative. Another thing that I think everyone there enjoyed was the lunch itself and I must say the cookies were absolutely delicious - YUM! Overall I thought the “What’s FORE Lunch” luncheon was a great way to start off the first day of tournament play.
After lunch, we got to do today was go inside the Golf Channel control room. The room was filled with tons of TV’s for the producers to pick which shot they wanted to show on television. There was even this one section of the room where there had to have been over 200 buttons all managed by one guy! That has to be a tough job!!! I could tell they have been doing this job for a very long time considering how comfortable they were around all this equipment. Now whenever I am watching the golf channel, I will think of this experience.
Then we got to catch a great group plying. I was able to follow a group on the back nine including Lydia Ko, Jessica Korda, and Paula Creamer. After the nine, Lydia was sweet enough to do a quick interview with me. (See attachment below to see my interview with Lydia). It was a great experience and she was super nice.
It was a day filled with new people and new things and I look forward to the days to come.
Katie Stinchcomb
2016 Junior Course Reporter
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Thursday, March 17, 2016
Round 1 LPGA JTBC Founders Cup
I was soooo ready to start day 2 as a Junior Course Reporter at the 2016 LPGA JTBC Founders Cup. It's Green Day!!! So far we have set up the Girls Golf booth with fun activities and cool games. Then Katie and I headed over for a "What's FORE lunch?" (a business networking lunch for local business ladies with the Founders Cup team). The food at the lunch was very good and my favorite part the amazing cookies {hehe}.
Later that day, we went to the media center and got to stop and write. Then we left to go to The Golf Channel booth/hub out in the middle of the golf course. We got to see all of the controls and set ups. That was super cool.
After we got back, Katie and I went to Starbucks in the lobby – phew, that was needed. Then out of the blue, we followed Paula Creamer, Lydia Ko, and Jessica Korda – Wow, what an honor and a super cool group. On one of the holes, the game got backed up and so they had to wait to tee off and so Lydia, Jessica and Paula pulled out their snacks and started sharing food and laughing and chatting it up until they could play again! It was really cool to see them just chillaxin! We followed them inside the ropes until the end of the round and we were able to get an interview with Lydia Ko - that was super cool! She is so nice and kind and took the time to talk to us young reporters! Thanks Lydia!!! Overall, a fantastic, super fun day, and can't wait to do it again tomorrow!! So this is Kalysta signing off until then – see you on Round 2 at the 2016 JTBC Founders Cup!!
Kalysta Kuebler
2016 Junior Course Reporter
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Wednesday, March 16, 2016
By Kalysta Kuebler
Hi, Kalysta HERE!! This experience is amazing… Today was the Pro Am Tournament at the 2016 JTBC Founders Cup Tournament and I was so excited to participate in this fun day!! Today I got to interview many ladies inside of the ropes!! That was so fun!! Early this morning, I got to hang out with Larry Fitzgerald, Carson Palmer and Cheyenne Woods! WHAT???!!!!!! SO exciting! Walking the fairway with these legends, it made me sooooo happy! Apparently, they are way taller in real life. On the TV, everyone looks the same height, button real life they are wayyyyyyy bigger, true athletes. WOW! They are also very nice a pretty good golfers as well – It was fun to walk with them and fell what it is like to be in the limelight.
On the range, many of the LPGA players were deep in their practice sessions, working away, mingling with their caddies, and of course giving me an interview here and there. A few of the ladies that I had a chance to interview were: Jessica Korda, Cheyenne Woods, and Giulia Molinaro. I wish all of these wonderful ladies luck this week!
Lastly, today we filmed a commercial for the Golf Channel! You will get a chance to see a bunch of Phoenix Girls Golf Members in it on Thursday during the live coverage. Keep your eyes open, should be fun! I really enjoyed that part of my day and made me think even more about have a career in TV!
I am excited to blog during the tournament this week, so keep in touch and watch for my news to come!!!
Kalysta Kuebler
2016 Junior Course Reporter
Tuesday, March 15, 2016
by Katie Stinchcomb
The 2016 LPGA JTBC Founders Cup is HERE!!! I have to say, the first day being {BACK} on the job has been a great one! Tuesday, March 15th started with the Axa Press Conference where we got to hear some advice from the creators of Vision 54, Lynn and Pia Nelson. They gave a ton of useful skills that are meant to help us with the mental and emotional side of golf. We even got the chance to experience it live in person by them coming over to watch a few swings and give us pointers on how we should handle the good and bad shots. Also during this conference, Britney Lincicome made an appearance and talked to us for a bit. How cool is that?!?
The night ended with a fun night at the Pairings Party, Hollywood theme, where we got to see many LPGA golfers. The food was super yummy too! One of the main players that we got to see was, Sedena Parks. She was sweet enough to take a few pictures with us in front of the green screen. Overall, this was a great afternoon at the JTBC Founders Cup and I am looking forward to a wonderful week.
Katie Stinchcomb
2016 Junior Course Reporter
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