On an intriguing weekend, Dowd was best story more time

ESPN
May 2, 2006

REUNION, Fla. -- Ultimately, the best story won at the Ginn Clubs & Resorts Open. The Dakoda Dowd dream played out perfectly. The 13-year-old fulfilled her mother's wish to see her play in an LPGA event -- performing remarkably well considering the pressure she was under -- and still the focus of the fans was able to return to the tournament on the weekend.

The Dowd family, which handled the attention with a grace that prevented it from becoming a sideshow attraction, was appreciative of the opportunity not only to have Kelly Jo see Dakoda play in a professional event, but also to be able to use the occasion to promote breast cancer awareness. It was a stunning few days that became neither maudlin nor manipulative.

"We're thrilled and happy to be able to have the opportunity to watch the girl do her thing and kind of get out of her way," Mike Dowd said after Dakoda followed her stunning first-round 74 with an 82 to miss the cut by eight strokes. Even Mike knew that missing the cut was not necessarily a bad thing. "We created enough distraction for these women who are trying to make paychecks and earn a living," he said. "And it was awesome for them to let us interrupt what they do for a couple of days. We deeply appreciate that." Now that's a class act.

While this was very much about Dakoda and Kelly Jo, whose breast cancer has spread to her bones and is marching toward an inevitable conclusion, the Dowd family never lost sight of the big picture.