Special
Features / July 2006
Drive On
 Brittany Lincicome
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By Pat Lawrence
Brittany Lincicome is a young woman with drive-but she can also putt. The professional golfer with a long distance swing will take a break from the national LPGA tournament schedule this August to be the featured player at the Parkersburg Rotary Sour Mash tournament. Brittany is the first woman professional golfer to be asked to play for the annual event. The charity tournament has raised approximately $600,000 for local charities since 1972 and provided ten percent of the tournament proceeds toward scholarships for outstanding students with an interest in golf and ten percent to a fund addressing emergency needs of area charitable entities. The Rotary Sour Mash Tournament will be held Monday, August 28th at the Parkersburg Country Club. Two of last years tournament winners will get to play in a foursome with Brittany.
Born and raised in St. Petersburg, although she lives in Florida, Brittany has strong ties to Parkersburg. Her father, Tom, attended Parkersburg High School, and, she says, “My grandmother, aunts and uncles all live in Parkersburg. We always come there for Christmas, trying to catch the snow.”
Lincicome had a stellar amateur career that began with a tournament win at age 9. She participated in more than 100 amateur events, winning 60 percent of the time and was a star on the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) circuit. After being home schooled during her high school years, in large part to accommodate her remarkable talent for golf, Brittany became a professional golfer in 2004, playing in the 2004 U.S. Women’s Open and qualifying for the LPGA Tour on her first attempt.
The Ladies Professional Golf Association, the longest-running women’s sports association in the world, celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2000. Brittany, at 20, is one of the younger LPGA players, but she leads the tour with a 270.3 driving-distance average. This year she will compete with 144 other golfers in 34 events with total prize money nearing $50 million. She’s already earned over $150,000 this year.
The LPGA season is from Mid February to November. Brittany says, “I work 25-30 weeks a year.” Generally, play begins at 7:30 and ends about 2:30,”but there’s always a dinner to go to.” It isn’t the work, but the travel, she finds the most challenging. “There’s a tournament each week in a different city.
By the time you fly in, check in and get situated, it’s time to go again.”
Brittany travels with her father, who introduced her and her two older brothers to the game and who is also her caddy. Her mother comes to all the tournaments, but isn’t a golfer. “She plays tennis. I don’t. Too much running!”
Since golfers on the tour pay their own travel expenses, Brittany and her Dad often drive rather than fly if the tournament is in the East Coast, to cut costs. “And, we don’t normally stay at the hotel that is associated with the golf course because they’re usually the most expensive.” She doesn’t drink coffee, so she keeps snacks and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in her bag to keep energized. “We always walk the course but, Dad carries the bag.” She wears shorts, “because it’s hot!”, a polo shirt and a sun visor and yes, she says, “I do wear sunscreen!”
During the off season, Brittany plays and practices and takes lessons. “I’d rather play than practice.”
She hasn’t decided yet to get an agent; she’s planning to “play better first, and then the sponsors will find me!” LaCrosse and the St. Petersburg Country Club are her current sponsors. Brittany isn’t in too much of a hurry to rush things. She has the career of a lifetime. “You can play golf till you’re a hundred!”
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