Dakoda, dying mom embrace golf spotlight one
more time

Associated Press
May 3, 2006

As the slippery par putt ran past the 17th hole, Dakoda Dowd slapped her thigh in disbelief and stared off angrily into the distance.

An hour later, she and her best friend were trying to slap each other's hands, then ran around giggling.

After six months of preparation for her LPGA debut and two days of playing, things were back to normal.

"I had fun," said Dakoda, the 13-year-old golf prodigy who was thrust into the spotlight at the Ginn Clubs & Resorts Open. "I really think that's all that matters."

She missed the cut by eight shots after shooting a 10-over-par 82 on Friday -- eight shots higher than her opening round.

Nobody minded -- least of all, her cancer-stricken and terminally ill mother.

"I'm prouder today than I was yesterday that my daughter has the courage and strength to play with these LPGA professionals," Kelly Jo Dowd said. "And I feel great right now. I feel great. My dream came true out here."

Mi Hyun Kim shot 66 and held a one-shot lead at the midway point over Lorena Ochoa, who rebounded from a triple bogey to shoot 70. Ochoa and Kim will tee off in the final group Saturday with Ai Miyazato, 6 under after a 68.

"It was a surprise to me, my score," Kim said.

The Dowds got their surprise on the 18th green.

The scene after Dakoda tapped in to finish was one normally reserved for champions, and Ginn tournament officials felt her family qualified.

Knowing that Kelly Jo adored the large Chihuly glass bowl that'll be awarded to the winner on Sunday, a replica was made. A scant few were in on the secret, which was kept from Kelly Jo and Dakoda -- both of whom gasped when the gift was unveiled. The bowl was inscribed with a message from the Ginn group: "Your journey has inspired us all. Congratulations on realizing your dream."

"We've got two remarkable days left," LPGA commissioner Carolyn Bivens said. "But you've left an impression forever."

Dakoda was invited to play after event organizers learned that Kelly Jo -- who doctors say may only have months to live -- wanted to see her daughter play against the pros one time.

"She's a good player now, and she's going to be a really good player," said Kate Golden, who played with Dakoda and fellow pro Tracy Hanson. "I enjoyed it. She's a good kid."

Golden and Hanson had a bit of fun with Dakoda, nicknaming her "Nubby."

"She was chewing her fingernails for two days straight," Golden said. "I said she's going to have to meet people with her elbows, because eventually she was going to chew her arm off."

Dakoda hit a perfect drive to open her second round, straight down the middle and longer than her two pro playing partners. She opened with three straight pars -- prompting whispers among her supporters that maybe, just maybe, she could make the cut.

Wishful thinking. Too wishful, actually. Dakoda made three straight bogeys on Nos. 4-6. Another bogey on the ninth pushed her to 6 over for the tournament -- two strokes off the eventual cut line, and she never flirted with it again. She made a double bogey at No. 12, hitting one putt off the green as her mom's head slumped. Another bogey followed at 13, and Dakoda couldn't hide the disappointment on her face as she slowly walked away. Yet when she failed to get out of a greenside bunker on 18, she spun and smiled sheepishly.

"It's OK," one woman yelled.

"Don't worry about it," a man shouted.

"You can do it," added another man.

Her next try did get out of the bunker and hit the green. Hanson and Golden both putted out first, leaving one last moment for Dakoda. And when the last putt went in, Kelly Jo's hands went skyward, index fingers raised.

Moments later, mother and daughter shared another long embrace. And Dakoda, one day after chiding her mother for crying on the course, broke into sobs.

"She made mama's cut today," Kelly Jo said.