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Ask any golf writer in the country about the best story in
women's golf, and chances are they will say: Stacy Lewis.
It isn't just because she has been the best
amateur player in the country over the past 2 years, or because
she was the 2007 NCAA champion, or even because she has won 12
tournaments at the collegiate level while putting the University of
Arkansas' women's golf program on the map.
It isn't because in
her last event as an amateur, at the prestigious Curtis Cup held at
the Old Course at St. Andrews, Stacy became the first person in
the 76 year history of the Curtis Cup to post a 5 - 0 record while
leading her US team to an historic victory. And it isn't because in
her first tournament as a professional at the US Open 2008, the
most prestigious of majors, she lead the star-studded field after
the 3rd round and played in the final group with Paula Creamer,
where she managed to finish third.
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Stacy Lewis is the best story in women's golf because of the
things that she's had to overcome in order to just play golf again.
7 1/2 years in a back brace and back surgery, after which she
wasn't sure she would even be able to walk, let alone swing a golf
club again.
We can't help but like Stacy because she's earned everything she's
ever won, and then some. She embodies those values that we
most cherish: fiercely competitive yet considerate, tremendously
talented yet seeks betterment through hard work, intelligent
without being condescending, confident without being self absorbed
and incredibly irrepressible no matter what obstacles
are before her. In many respects, Stacy Lewis is who we would
like to be as an American people.
Hitting into the 18th green at historic Interlachen, site of the 2008 US Open
STACY'S BATTLE WITH SCOLIOSIS
The following are the actual x-rays of Stacy's spine taken after she had worn her back brace for 7 1/2 years. The "Pre-Operation X-ray" shows that the curvature was not healed.
The "Post-Operation X-ray" shows the titanium rod and 5 screws that were implanted in her back. Amazingly, Stacy says that this doesn't set off metal detectors in airports!
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SOME OF HER ACHIEVEMENTS
Winner, LPGA Qualifying School 2008 by 3 strokes
3rd, US Open, 2008 -- her 1st event as a professional
5th, Kraft Nabisco Championship (as an amateur), 2007
Winner, NCAA Individual Championship, 2007
#1 ranked amateur in the US, 2007 & 2008
Winner of 12 collegiate tournaments
4 time All-American at University of Arkansas
Curtis Cup team member, 2008
First player to record 5 wins and no losses in Curtis Cup history
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