Blythewood’s Stalvey tees up a weekend to remember
Although disappointed with her finish, Parker Stalvey enjoyed an experience for a lifetime over the weekend at Augusta National Golf Club.
Competing in the Drive, Chip and Putt competition, Staley, an eighth-grader at Blythewood Middle School, placed seventh overall in the girls’ 12-13 age group Sunday. She finished fifth in both chipping and putting and ninth in driving.
“She did great,” Ryan Stalvey, her dad, said. “We now have been inside the ropes at Augusta National, and she got to meet (Augusta National member and former Secretary of State) Condoleezza Rice, (two-time Masters champion) Bubba Watson and (U.S. Open champion) Martin Kaymer, in addition to (Augusta National chairman) Billy Payne.
“It’s been an incredible experience. We would love to do it again.”
Parker qualified for Sunday’s finals by advancing through three rounds of competition, but she came to Augusta with a heavy heart. A great-grandmother passed away two weeks ago, and a great-grandfather died Friday.
“This has been a difficult time for all of us emotionally,” Ryan Stalvey said. “At one end of the spectrum, it’s been awesome to be involved in the Drive, Chip and Putt competition and to be at Augusta National. But losing loved ones has been awful.”
Parker’s best of two drives Sunday carried 198 yards, her two chips finished a total of 10 feet, 11 inches from the hole, and her two putts – from 15 and 30 feet on the 18th green – stopped a total of six feet, one inch from the cup.
Morgan Goldstein of Las Vegas led the age group in each of the three categories to win one of the eight titles at stake Sunday.
“Everything went so fast, but it’s been a thrill for all of us,” Ryan Stalvey said. “We met (Rice) last night and she greeted the girls again coming off the 18th green. We’ve been in the Founders Club and everything. We won’t ever forget this.”
Both Parker and sister Ella, 10, are entered in this summer’s qualifiers with an eye on a return to Augusta National this time next year.
This story was originally published April 5, 2015 at 7:17 PM with the headline "Blythewood’s Stalvey tees up a weekend to remember."