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| Hole 8 is a Par 3 over the water, behind the reeds |
It seems like a long time since Kay Dalke first told us about
the World Youth Team Challenge. Kyle was 8 when we learned that Brad Dalke wouldn't be going to the Starburst Junior
Championship because he had earned a spot on one of the 4 United States teams competing Ryder Cup style in Bolingbrook, Illinois.
Junior golfers age 10 - 16 would play matches against other junior golfers from Columbia, Canada, Mexico, Venezuela, Puerto
Rico and even Sweden and South Africa. Each team would have 2 boys for each age. ( Two 12 year olds, two 11 year olds,
two 10 year olds, etc.). When we first learned of the event, we discovered that they were raising the age from 9 to
10 so we wouldn't be eligible until 2010. Another requirement was the resume submission that had to be turned in by
the end of October of the previous year. Looking at the names of the previous entrants, many of
them quite familiar to us through US Kids Golf, we were eager to submit Kyle's resume in October 2009. When I first
saw the resume, I realized that I had to backtrack for more information than I usually kept in regards to events that Kyle
had been in. Pete didn't just want the dates and what place Kyle finished - but yardage, formats, and number of entrants.
The 4 main events were US Kids Worlds ( Kyle had 2 wins and a 2nd place finish), Starburst Junior National Championship (
Kyle had 1 win and 2 third place finishes) but he had never competed at Callaway Junior Worlds or Pepsi Little Peoples.
We were glad that Kyle had been in 3 match play events with a 7 - 2 - 0 record. For over a month we anxiously awaited
notification, hoping that Kyle's body of work would earn him one of only 8 slots for ten-year olds.
Then, just in time for Thanksgiving - we got the invitation. Not only was Kyle invited - he was
asked to join the Defending Champion US team ! Even better - not only was Kyle on the winning 2009 team - he'd be joining
Brad Dalke. We couldn't wait to tell them and then we waited to see who Kyle would be partnered with. Would it
be someone we knew, someone Kyle had competed against? Finally we couldn't stand it any more and I sent a email asking
if we could find out. The reply was . . . . Frankie Capan - from Minnesota!!!! Now we're even more excited. I truly don't think we could have asked for a better playing partner for Kyle.
Not only did Frankie have a very successful resume with US Kids, but he'd been playing golf for as long as Kyle had.
We'd even played the final round of 2009's USK World Championship with Frankie - and we were so impressed with his temperment,
his demeanor. He's a solid, well-rounded golfer.
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The first order of business on Opening Day was breakfast for all the golfers, followed by Team introductions
and anthems. After briefing everyone on the rules, everyone headed out to the putting green for a panoramic picture
of all the golfers and coaches from all 9 teams. Kyle's team wore white for the first round. The boy in the orange
shirt and cast was on this team last year, but a recent injury forced him out of the competition, but not off the team.
He was there everyday to show his support. We had the first rain delay that fortunately only lasted a little over an
hour, but it didn't dampen anyone's spirits and Defending US Champs teed off against Team Venezuela on the front
9 playing Alternate Shot. Kyle and Frankie mutually decided that Kyle would tee off on the par 5's and Frankie
the par 3's.
| Defending US Champs vs Team Venezuela |
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| Frankie & Kyle vs Varun Chopra & Jose Ferre |
Despite the rain delay, Kyle and Frankie came out swinging and were
undefeated in their first day matches, winning Alternate Shot (4 & 2) and Better Ball against Team Venezuela.
Overall, the Defending Champs team dominated and after the first day's matches, we led in Pool B with 15 1/2 points and Team
Venezuela had 2 1/2 points. Team USA East and Team Mexico B were 2nd & 3rd in Pool B at the end of Day 1.
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On Day 2, the team went up against Team USA East. There was another rain delay but all of the rounds
were completed. Kyle and Frankie won the morning match, Alternate Shot, 3 & 1, but lost the Better Ball match 2
& 1. Overall, the Defending Champs got 10 points, with Team USA East getting 8.
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| Day 3 vs Mexico B |
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| Tony Padilla and Luis Ferrare |
On the 3rd day, we played against the Mexico B team, Tony Padilla and Luis Ferrare. It really was
great to see Tony again and I couldn't help thinking how much Luis looked like Haley Joel Osmet - the lead actor in the movie
The Sixth Sense. The morning Alternate Shot match was extremely close, and it came down to the 9th hole. Frankie made
a great shot onto the green on the 9th hole and Kyle putted in for the win (1 up). They struggled in the afternoon Better
Ball match and there wasn't a repeat of the last hole of the morning and they lost (1 up). Overall, the Defending Champs
still lead the day with an additional 9 1/2 points to Mexico B's 8 1/2 points.
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