Hernando: USF event like home to players

USF event like home to players

By WAYNE GRUMET

BAYONET POINT -- Golfers from six states spent four days at Beacon Woods for some competition and quality time with family.

Most of the players in the Beacon Woods/USF Invitational didn't bring family with them. The young women have grown close to the Beacon Woods family, however.

Residents invite the golfers into their homes for the duration of the tournament. Although spending four days with retirees doesn't sound like an ideal weekend for college girls, it has become a popular perk of the event.

"At first, I thought it was going to be odd because the whole team is separated," said Florida International's Liz Stuart, who went to Plant High School in Tampa. "(Betty Ramsey) is so nice. All she wants to do is feed us and get us comfy. I think everyone out here is just in love with having the girls come stay with them."

Stuart's teammate, Courtney Burdick, stayed with Ramsey last year and has fond memories.

"She enjoys the company," Burdick said. "She brought out her old albums, and I sat with her. It was kind of nice."

This year, Ramsey surprised Stuart with an early breakfast.

"She made us bacon and eggs at 6 in the morning," Stuart said. "I see this 80-year-old woman sitting there cooking over the stove. It's awesome."

While most Beacon Woods residents take in one or two golfers, Ted Worton welcomed four into his home. "It's nice to have some noise in the house," Worton said.

The Beacon Woods residents shuttle the golfers to and from the course. The players can have a home-cooked meal or go out. The residents took the players for day trips during Thursday's practice round.

WATCH WHAT YOU EAT: Louisville's Cindy Pasechnik enjoyed a solid first round of 73 Friday, which put her two strokes off the lead. But she never made it back to the course Saturday, thanks to food poisoning.

Pasechnik had grouper for dinner Friday night and was sick enough to be hospitalized Saturday morning.

"I felt fine until about 11 o'clock at night," Pasechnik said. "I kind of got a stomach ache. I went back to bed but got up at 1 in the morning. After that I was very sick."

Pasechnik took intravenous fluids Saturday and was determined to play with her team, the second-round co-leaders, on Sunday.

Although Pasechnik was at less than 100 percent, she shot a 74 in the final round. Louisville couldn't hold the lead, however, slipping to fifth.

"I was like dizzy and had a headache, but I felt way better than yesterday. Yesterday was a bad day," Pasechnik said. "It's disappointing because I played a good first round. I thought I could have had a chance."