After taking a break, Dowd to be a Sponger

By BOB PUTNAM, Times Staff Writer
Published November 21, 2006

Dakoda Dowd has spent the past five years fulfilling her scholastic requirements on a home-school schedule so she could reach her potential in golf and spend time with her terminally ill mother.

Next year, though, the 13-year-old will be going back to school.

The Dowds said they plan to enroll Dakoda at Tarpon Springs through the choice system.

Dakoda will most likely play on the boys team since the Spongers do not have enough girls to field a full team.

"I think it will be a good thing for Dakoda as far as socializing and making friends," said Mike Dowd, Dakoda's father.

Dakoda made headlines this year when she accepted an exemption to the Ginn Clubs & Resorts Open so her mother, Kelly Jo, who is 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 of assuming center stage in the golf world, the Dowds got away from the spotlight. They granted fewer interviews, and Dakoda took a three-month break from playing competitive golf.

"We felt like we wanted to get back to anonymity," Mike Dowd said. "It was good, because Dakoda was able to be a kid again."

Dakoda is spending more time with her mother, who is still having chemotherapy treatments.

"It was nice to have a little break, and it was really cool to hang with Mom," Dakoda said.

Last week, Dakoda competed at the Future Collegiate World Tour in Naples and shot 74 the first day. She will play in the Christmas Classic at Innisbrook Dec. 18-20 and the Orange Bowl tournament Dec. 26-30 in Miami.