After becoming the first woman to win the Callaway Middle Atlantic Assistant Pro Championship, Karen Paolozzi heard some players were unhappy.
After all, while the course was set up at 6,863 yards for the men, the four females in the field of 74 played it at 5,935 yards.
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“Some of the guys were saying, ‘we’re playing for the same money, we should be playing from the same tees,'” said Billy Hoffman, 29, an assistant at Westwood. “But you know what, she still has to get the ball in the hole.”
And that’s what Paolozzi, an assistant at Woodmont, did better than anyone Monday and Tuesday at Rocky Gap. Paolozzi shot 10-under-par (65-69 – 134) to win by four strokes over Hoffman (74-64 – 138) and take home $2,370. Only one other player broke par on the rugged, Jack Nicklaus design.
Tom Michaels
(144), an assistant at the Suburban Club in Pikesville, found himself paired up with Paolozzi in the final round.
“I didn’t even know women were in the field,” said Michaels, 26. “When I heard she shot a 65, I was really curious. I wanted to see what kind of advantage she had.”
What Michaels discovered was that he and Paolozzi were hitting the same irons to many of the greens, which is what the MAPGA intended with its course setup. The organization sets the women’s tees at 87 percent of the length for men.
“Some organizations use a higher percentage, some lower,” tournament director Jeremy Greiner said. “In my eight years, no woman has come close to winning. I think it’s just the case of Karen being an exceptional player and having two really good rounds.”
This is the first year Paolozzi has competed in the MAPGA. After college golf at Indiana, she played the Futures Tour for two years. In her opening round 65, she made seven birdies, no bogeys and took just 26 putts.
“I didn’t expect to win. I had to play really well to do it,” Paolozzi said. “I know there has been a little bit of talk. I understand what they’re saying. But I don’t think women should have to play the same tees as the men.”
