Dowd takes a break from prep golf

St Pete Times
Aug. 21, 2008

Sophomore Dakoda Dowd, who made headlines two years ago when she competed in a tournament against the LPGA's best, has decided not to play high school golf this season, according to her father, Mike.

"Dakoda wants to take it easy," Mike said. "She just wants to be a kid."

In 2006, Dakoda accepted an exemption to play in the Ginn Clubs & Resorts Open so her mother, Kelly Jo, who was battling breast cancer, could see her play. The family's story became national. Dakoda did dozens of interviews and was nominated for an ESPY.

But after months being center stage in the golf world, the Dowds got away from the spotlight. They granted fewer interviews and Dakoda took a break from playing competitively so she could spend more time with her mother, who was undergoing chemotherapy.

On May 25, 2007, Kelly Jo's long fight against cancer ended.

Dakoda did not have much time to grieve. Her mother's death came months before the season last year and she gave little thought to suspending play.

She decided to go on not just for rah-rah reasons, but also because golf defined her.

Still, it was not enough to escape the loss. Golf became an excruciating effort.

"You could tell last year she wasn't into it," Mike said. "She scaled back the number of matches she played and her scores were a little higher."

Dakoda played last season with the boys at Tarpon Springs, but opted not to qualify for the postseason with the girls. She has since transferred to Palm Harbor University.

"I think she needed a change of scenery with schools," Mike said.

Dakoda is taking lessons with top-notch professionals. She likely will enter some local tournaments in the next few months, Mike said.

"I want her to go at her own pace," Mike said. "She'll probably increase the number of tournaments she plays as the year goes on. And we'll probably look at playing high school golf again next season."