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Bauer ready for big leagues

With her mom at her side, the Tampa golfer starts her rookie LPGA season today at Hawaii.

By BOB HARIG, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published February 28, 2002

Mom has been through all of this before, traveling to all the junior and amateur events, relocating to North Carolina while her prodigy daughter went to college, enduring the trials and tribulations of an aspiring golfer.

Now Chris Bauer is in Hawaii, where the real journey begins.

As in the days in Clearwater after the death of her husband, Chris will be there today for Beth Bauer, as the daughter begins her first season on the LPGA Tour at the Takefuji Classic (5 p.m., Golf Channel).

The 54-hole event at the Waikoloa Beach Resort on the Big Island of Hawaii kicks off the season. And it is the start of a promising LPGA career for Bauer, who seemingly has been destined for stardom for a decade.

"It's been tiny steps to this point, but in my eyes it's always been inevitable when she's going to do it," Chris Bauer said. "Last year she went out and proved herself (on the Futures Tour). She'll do all right. Even if she doesn't knock 'em dead this year, she has always come through. Her dad would be proud of her."

John Bauer likely envisioned this day, perhaps as far back as when Beth first gripped a golf club at the Airco Golf Course in Clearwater at age 3, or when she started playing competitively, beating older kids.

He was a club professional at Airco and later at Summerfield Golf Club in Riverview, where Beth developed into one of the country's top amateurs.

But John Bauer did not live to see his dream. In 1994, at age 41, he died three weeks after being diagnosed with Guillain-Barre syndrome, a central nervous system disorder that severely weakens the arms and legs and causes temporary paralysis, but which typically is not fatal. Beth, who was 14, calls him "my forever golf idol."

Beth and Chris endured, with Beth going on to win a state title for Bloomingdale High, 17 American Junior Golf Association titles and a slew of amateur championships.

Bauer, who turns 22 next month, left Duke after her sophomore year but bombed at the LPGA Tour Qualifying Tournament in the fall of 2000. That meant a year on the obscure Futures Tour.

"I definitely think it was a blessing in disguise," she said. "A year ago, if you would have told me I'd be where I am this year, I'd have been very happy. But at that time, my whole world was, "I'm not playing on tour, what am I going to do?' But the Futures Tour was great. I was happy to have a good year. I felt comfortable, and that was the key. I adjusted to the traveling and the new faces and being a pro and making checks on Sunday."

She cashed plenty, winning four times, being named player and rookie of the year and setting a season record of $84,529. Being among the top three on the money list assured a spot on the LPGA Tour this year.

She has been gearing up for the start of the season at home in Tampa, where she lives with her mom. Beth and her boyfriend, Ryuji Amada, who plays on the Buy.com Tour, recently joined Avila Golf Club, where they practice. But the wait for the season has been long. "I'm definitely anxious to get going," said Bauer, who sprained her back two weeks ago, an injury that has limited her practice. "It's been almost five, six months off. I'm excited. I was playing well during the season. I know when I play well it's usually when I'm in a rhythm of traveling and playing a lot. It might take me a few weeks to get used to it."

Bauer spent part of her offseason adding to her endorsement portfolio. In addition to contracts with Cleveland Golf (clubs), Tommy Hilfiger (clothing) and Callaway (golf ball), she signed a deal with Rolex, becoming just the fourth woman golfer to represent the watch company, along with Annika Sorenstam, Grace Park and Wendy Ward. The deal requires her to put on a Rolex during news conferences, outings and trophy presentations.

The sponsors believe Bauer will hoist quite a few of those.

"One of the key factors is her talent on the golf course," said Bauer's agent, Tim McNulty of Gaylord Sports Management. "It's also how she conducts herself when she meets people in the corporate world, her overall demeanor. And Beth Bauer encompasses what the tour hasn't had in a long time, a hope for an American to compete at the highest level at a young age."

McNulty would not disclose what the deals are worth but said: "If Beth Bauer didn't make a penny in prize money, she could pay her bills."

Whether Bauer is good enough to take on the likes of Sorenstam, Karrie Webb, Se Ri Pak might be asking for too much. At least for now.

"I'd love to be Rookie of the Year. That would be my first goal," she said. "And I'd love to win this year. Whether that's possible or not, I don't know. But for me that would be a good goal.

"It'll be hard to be patient. I've always been hard on myself. I think it's something I definitely learned from last year. My mom has been very supportive. She always says if it doesn't happen one week, just move on. Everything changes so much from week to week. Whether a golf course sets up well for you or doesn't. If I can remain patient, feel comfortable and just play golf like I always have done, I can do well."

Chris Bauer plans to be there for every tournament. She travels, handles the arrangements, offers encouragement.

"Golf is a tough sport," Chris Bauer said. "There's no team behind you. You have to be a strong person to deal with it all, dealing with the competitors, the press. But Beth is very mature. She's a young woman, but she's a tough little thing. She has a lot of heart."

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