Timeout with … Abby Beauchamp, senior, Marysville-Pilchuck golf
Published 12:01 am Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Starting high school is often an awkward, intimidating process for young people. Joining a sports team can make things a bit easier.
For Abby Beauchamp, golf provided not just a chance to have fun but also a reliable support system.
“When I got to high school, the transition from middle school to high school was hard,” said Beauchamp. “But then I found the golf team, and I was really excited because I was a part of something and I met my best friends.”
Currently a senior at Marysville-Pilchuck High School, Beauchamp is the No. 1 player on the Tomahawks girls golf squad. After qualifying for the Class 4A state tournament the past two years, Beauchamp hopes to get back to state and break new ground by advancing to Day 2 of the tourney.
Her goal seems realistic: Last year Beauchamp, who was a state alternate as a freshman, shot an 87 on Day 1 at state and missed the cut by just two strokes.
Coach’s corner
Encouraged by her grandma, Beauchamp began taking golf lessons at age 9 at the Columbia Athletic Club in south Everett. The M-P senior keeps getting better with age, Tomahawks coach Jaci LeGore Hodgins said: “She just has a beautiful golf swing — a repeatable swing that is awesome.”
In search of perfection
Beauchamp said hitting from the fairway and chipping are her main strengths. The aspect of golf she works hardest on, like most golfers, is putting. Said Beauchamp: “Putting is one (skill) that you can always improve on. You’re never perfect.”
Scenic Suncadia
Variety is a big reason why golfing is so fun, said Beauchamp: “I like (all golf courses) because they’re all different, but my favorite one is probably Suncadia near Roslyn and Cle Elum. It’s really long but it’s so pretty.” M-P plays in a tournament at Suncadia every season, Beauchamp said.
Overcoming adversity
Born with a birth defect called lymphangioma, Beauchamp endured 26 surgeries — most of them before she was 8 years old. The defect causes “a mass that commonly occurs in the head and neck area,” according to the PubMed Health website.
“There was nothing I could do about it,” Beauchamp said. “Just growing up different from other kids in my school, it was so difficult.” However, as previously mentioned, playing golf helped her gain confidence and make friends.
Paging Dr. Beauchamp
A huge fan of the TV series “ER”, Beauchamp plans to study pre-medicine at Central Washington University in Ellensburg. She regularly watches re-runs of “ER.” Her favorite character is nurse Abby Lockhart, for obvious reasons.
Range rover
For the past 10 months, Beauchamp has worked as a range assistant at Battle Creek Golf Course in Tulalip. Her primary responsibility is to pick up balls on the driving range.
Powerful advice
Asked to share a piece of advice that has been helpful to her, Beauchamp said: “Be the change you want to see in the world.”
“Be who you want to be,” she added, “without worrying about what anyone is saying. If you want something, go get it.”
Mike Cane, Herald Writer
