FITTING TRIBUTE

Golf for Women
Apr. 2006

Andrea Adelson | From the Press Box
April 13, 2008

Renaming trophy after the late Kelly Jo Dowd adds a special touch to this tourney.r

She may never play in another professional golf tournament. But that is not so sad. It is actually quite fitting that the only time Dakoda Dowd got a chance to play against LPGA talent came two years ago at the Ginn Open.

Because her mother was there to watch.

It was a glorious week at the 2006 Ginn Open, a mother-daughter love story for the ages. Kelly Jo Dowd, dying of breast cancer, had one wish -- to see her Koda play in a pro golf tournament. Bobby Ginn, chairman and CEO of Ginn resorts, granted the request after hearing her plight.

So 13-year-old Koda took on the challenge and the even bigger spotlight, becoming a national story. Hundreds of people came out to watch, but the only person that really mattered stood right behind Koda, clasping her hands, whispering to husband, Mike, "Oh my God, this is amazing. This is our little girl!"

After the first round, Koda stood at 2 over par, pretty darn good for a teenager, let alone one playing with so many emotions. But when Day 2 rolled around, the shots never quite found their way and Koda finished at 12 over, tied for 128th place. As dusk fell, the Dowd family stood on the 18th green and officials presented Kelly Jo a replica of the tournament trophy. Koda, so strong all week, started crying.

The three had only 13 more months together.

Kelly Jo died last May at 42. Koda held on tight as Kelly Jo took her final breath, saying, "It's OK, mommy, you can go to heaven." As soon as Kelly Jo was gone, Koda changed her mind, crying, "Mommy, wake up! Wake up!"

The last year without Kelly Jo has been about what you would imagine. Incredibly hard, incredibly trying, incredibly heart breaking. Koda stopped playing golf. She became angry, rebellious. Her freshman year at Tarpon Springs High went so badly, Mike had to take her out of school because she was running with a bad crowd.

Things were no better for Mike. He fell into a deep depression, consoling himself by drinking.

Their relationship deteriorated, the father and the daughter unable to cope, unable admit losing Kelly Jo was destroying them. "Kelly Jo was my best friend and Dakoda's best friend, too," Mike says. "To lose that friendship and companion was overwhelming. It was hopeless."

Mike had to change. He could no longer push Koda the way he did on the golf course. He was the ruthless, determined one. Kelly Jo was the calm, easygoing one. He needed to be more like Kelly Jo.

Thankfully, Mike realized all this before both their lives were ruined. He stopped drinking. He and Dakoda started going to church again. He has Dakoda home schooled now with a tutor. They started going to counseling together. Mike says he "met a nice lady who is a good person" and is helping Koda, too.

"We're in a better place now almost a year later," Mike says.

Dakoda has picked up her clubs again and started practicing. She plays in charity events and small tournaments near her home in Clearwater, about a 30-minute drive northwest of Tampa. But at this point, Mike says she has no desire to become a professional golfer. "She wasn't intent on becoming a golf prodigy. She just wanted to be a kid," he says.

They will be back at the Ginn Open this week, and Kelly Jo will be here, too. Ginn officials decided to name the championship trophy after her. Ginn says, "Through the trophy hopefully we'll be able to keep up the awareness of breast cancer for men and women at an LPGA event. It just seemed a great idea to continue the legacy."

The Dowds are thankful Koda got her one moment to stand out. That is all she really needed.

Because no birdie is really worth it without her mom there to watch.