Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/68546
colleges that gave her the notion that she wanted to play professional golf. Competing against players from Arizona State University, Stanford, San Jose State and the University of Arizona made Eathorne realize she wanted to see where she could go with the game. Eathorne graduated with a degree in Business Administration/Marketing with honors in April 1998 and in 2004, was inducted into the New Mexico State University Hall of Fame. Ready to hit the LPGA's developmental tour, the Futures Tour, Eathorne was delighted to receive sponsorship money from the people at Predator Ridge to financially back the kick start to her professional career. She even played her rookie year with Predator Ridge's logo on her bag. EATHORNE POSTED A CAREER BEST 3RD PLACE FINISH DURING HER ROOKIE SEASON BUT WAS HAMPERED BY INJURY IN LATER YEARS she needed to do... not try to be so social, go back to what worked in college and just play golf. She ended up winning the event. In July 1998, during her first week on tour, she admittedly says she had no idea what she was doing. She had no car rental and no place to stay. In hindsight said she didn't know what to do to be successful. Fortunately Eathorne hooked up with a couple of Canadians to help show her the ropes and she got into the group atmosphere. Eathorne made a cheque but not her entry fee back. The following week the tournament was shortened to one day due to rain delays. It turned into one big party. After that, Eathorne, not feeling that crisp, realized, "If you want to remain on this tour (and not move on to the LPGA), that is definitely the way to do it. If you want to graduate from this tour you have got to separate yourself and do your own thing." The 3rd week out was Syracuse, NY. Eathorne carried her own bag, and did what she knew AJs Faves Eathorne came home to a big celebration in Penticton for her victory and decided to go back out on tour with her good buddy Jon Kadin on her bag (now director of golf at Gallagher's Canyon, Kelowna, BC). She told Kadin that they were not going to any parties it would be strictly dinners and play golf. He was on board. Their first week as a team they won, making it back to back victories for Eathorne. She went into LPGA Q-School on Cloud 9. Feeling the nerves and pressure from Q-School Eathorne strayed from her game and got in her own way. She missed getting her card by 1 shot. She was devastated. She played in one more event on the Futures Tour, had a top 5 finish and said so long to that tour knowing it served its purpose. Her next round of Q-School Eathorne brought Kadin the trusted caddie and her mom Judy. "My mom is a very positive person, a very • Favorite food: Mexican • Favorite wine: Red Blends • Favorite Coffee Shop... Timmy's or Starbucks: Timmy's with Earl Grey Tea A.J. On Caddying calming influence; she's the best influence you could ever have," stated Eathorne. for Q-School with her support system she knew she needed to be in a good head space heading into the event. "I wrote myself a note before Q-School. This is your chance to do what you've always wanted to do. Go out and have fun. Whatever happens happens. Don't worry about it," shared Eathorne. She read this note each and every day and come the final round she stood atop the leaderboard tied for first place gaining her LPGA card and mountains of credibility. A tremendous amount of buzz surrounded Eathorne on her first week of her rookie season in 1999. Eathorne recalls, "Judy Rankin asked me, how I was feeling. I said, I got free balls, I got free shoes. I got all this stuff." She added, "I got a big card from the people in Penticton. I was overwhelmed by all the support and a little bit by the expectations. I shot 81 and when I was asked if I was ok, I replied, I am having a blast!" Eathorne got the nerves reined in the second week and made a decent cheque. She went back to her mantra of being done with socializing and playing the game her way. Shooting stellar games Eathorne jarred her 1st LPGA career hole in one at the Australian Ladies Masters that year and had a career best finish of tied for 3rd at the Longs Drugs Challenge. She worked out hard and practiced. Her overzealousness got the best of her as she stressed her body out from over-use. It manifested itself in blocking out her left shoulder and painful muscle spasms through • Fave Way to Spend a Day: Hiking • Favorite Movie: Love Actually • Favorite Road Trip Snacks: Cheesies and Red Twizzlers • Most Impressive Person you've ever met: Nancy Lopez 34 • Person you'd most like to tee it up with who you never have: Fred Couples "Show up, keep up, shut up is the common caddie code. The problem with that especially being a player I needed my caddie to get in my way. You need to get in that person's kitchen and say stop belittling yourself. You are a lot better than I know you are telling yourself you are right now. When your player looks at you and they want to argue you say fine yell at me all you want I don't care just get over it. Then the player usually realizes they over reacted. You are a sounding board at times, a psychologist at times, a coach trying to figure what shot is the best and sometimes you are just literally a bag toter"... How are you compensated? A caddie is paid a salary each week and then a percentage based on how much the players make. The standard used to be 5% of a regular cheque, 7% of a top 10 cheque and 10% of a win. Now the purses have gone up and so have the expenses. Many players are paying 6%, 8% , 10% or 8% across the board. There is more fluctuation on this on the PGA Tour because it is more of a team atmosphere on the men's tour. On the LPGA Tour the player at times has the notion "you're my caddie this week; you're not my caddie next week. " IMAGE CREDIT KEN DENNIS IMAGE COURTESY NICOLE MARTINEZ