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Coble, Leach Fine Representatives Of Amateur Golf

By Ken Klavon, USGA

Ocala, Fla. – Martha Leach lofted the Mildred Gardiner Prunaret Trophy, the sun glinting off the prize after it finally peeked through the obscuring clouds Thursday.

For the love of it: Laura Coble competes in the final Thursday, coming up short. In the end, though, she was happy for Martha Leach. (Steven Gibbons/USGA)

Leach, 47, of Hebron, Ky., wore the  infectious smile that seems to define her. This is what amateur golf is about – smiles that resound from the heart, genuine sportsmanship and immeasurable respect for a game that has always been like some kind of old friend.  

Yet it’s more than that.

Amateur golf is Leach finally winning an elusive USGA title after more than 40 tries, this one coming in her 22nd attempt at the Women’s Mid-Amateur. It is coming full circle from the first one Leach competed in, held at Amelia Island Plantation in Amelia, Fla., in 1988 to Golden Hills Golf and Turf Club at another Florida locale.  

It is the tears of joy when asked whether all the hard work was worth it. Amateur golf is also becoming just the second sister act to ever win a USGA championship as Leach joined older sibling Hollis Stacy. (The Curtis sisters were the first).

“I am so proud of my little sister,” said Stacy Thursday via the phone. “She has a heart as big as the state of Georgia.”

Amateur golf is honoring friends that have passed on before Leach.

It is Leach wearing the shoes in a U.S. Women’s Amateur of a close friend who died in a car accident shortly before she played.

It is competing with a heavy heart in this week’s championship after another friend, Carla McDonald, died three weeks ago.

Amateur golf is overcoming a psychological fear rooted in the subconscious. “I had a saying this week and no one knew about it,” said Leach. “ ‘I am not afraid to win.’ I’d say it 100 times on each hole. If I rolled over at night, I would say ‘I am not afraid to win.’ ”

Amateur golf is perseverance, for having the temerity to continue trying to win with zero guarantees.

Amateur golf is about the friendships that develop. It’s about Nancy Grote and Sallie Sumeral, two of Leach’s Cincinnati friends she met through golf, following her matches intently online and then acting upon a manic last-minute inspiration where they had 30 minutes to catch a plane, then a connector, to get to Ocala by 3 a.m. Thursday.

“It’s like your friend just won a U.S. Open,” said a beaming Grote afterward.

It is about Leach’s daughter, Madison, proud of mom’s achievement and also trying to book a last-second flight, only to miss the flight due to heavy traffic but congratulating her on the phone immediately after the victory.

Amateur golf is meeting your soul mate, John Leach, who happened to be Martha’s golf instructor-caddie through all of the ups and downs, and husband, but not necessarily in that order. It is trusting his word, but more than that, believing in yourself.

Amateur golf is about Coble looking into the gallery and seeing unwavering support from her husband, Rusty, who happened to be in Orlando for business but made the 80-mile trek to be there for her.

Amateur golf is accepting that some days being second best is OK, as Coble did. It is understanding limitations, riding on the back of destiny as it eschews turning professional, such as in Coble’s case.

Amateur golf is always there, ready to take you back when life’s vagaries such as work and raising a family take precedent. “When I was 31 and my daughter went to pre-school,” said Coble, “I thought I would give it another try and work on my game. I got better and better, and now I feel I’m a better player than I ever was.”

It is winning the Georgia Women’s State Amateur, Georgia Women’s State Open, and a USGA Women’s State Team title for your state – some of them multiple times – becoming inured by the competition and the satisfaction it brings.

It is always remembering the amateur roots. Coble dressed in her Georgia State Golf Association shirt for the final.

Amateur golf is about always learning something.

“You always learn things when you play golf,” said Coble, 45, of Augusta, Ga. “It teaches you a lot about yourself and life. But you learn things about never giving up and it reinforces things. Perseverance and you never know. Don’t ever count anybody out, and don’t ever count yourself out.”

Amateur golf is two former University of Georgia teammates - and good friends to this day - embracing on the 16th hole after Leach won, 3 and 2. “I was a freshman and she was a senior,” said Coble near the 16th green. “Of course, I was in awe of her then. She’s a big grown-up and I was a little peon.”

Amateur golf is about trying again, win or lose. It is accepting that every day on a golf course the clubs may not do what they’re supposed to. It is being overjoyed to see a longtime friend win even though Coble didn’t.

“I’m so happy for her,” said Coble, as Leach celebrated with friends a few feet away. “She’s a great friend and she’s going to be a great champion.

“For me, making the final, it was all gravy – a southern expression.”

Ken Klavon is the USGA’s Editor of Digital Media. E-mail him with questions or comments at kklavon@usga.org.