This is the title I chose for my personal blog, which is meant to give me an outlet for one of my favorite crafts – writing – plus to use an image from my favorite sport, golf.  Out of college, my first job was as a reporter for the Daily Astorian in Astoria, Oregon, and I went on from there to practice writing in all my professional positions, including as press secretary in Washington, D.C. for a Democrat Congressman from Oregon (Les AuCoin), as an Oregon state government manager in Salem and Portland, as press secretary for Oregon’s last Republican governor (Vic Atiyeh), and as a private sector lobbyist.  This blog also allows me to link another favorite pastime – politics and the art of developing public policy – to what I write.  I could have called this blog “Middle Ground,” for that is what I long for in both politics and golf.  The middle ground is often where the best public policy decisions lie.  And it is where you want to be on a golf course.

Salem’s Ellie Slama, one of the best golfers in our area, if not THE best, has advanced out of the Stage 1 of the Ladies Professional Golf Qualifying School.

That means she has a chance to become a professional golfer, one of her dreams.

I have followed Ellie for years, often as I served as a starter for Oregon Golf Association events in which she played.  If she was in the field and you get on her to win, you’d make money.

In the heat of the Palms Springs area last month, she entered the Stage 1 qualifying event for the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA).  She  four rounds on three courses – the Arnold Palmer Course at PGA West, the Mission Hills Dinah Shore Course, and the Nick Faldo Course at Shadow Ridge.

Over those four rounds, Ellie finished tied for 18^th place, shooting eight under for four rounds — 70-71-68-71 – a great score.  One hundred players advanced to Stage 2.   

Plus, on the bag as caddie:  Ellie’s brother, Tim.

It had to be a great family experience.

Stage 1 in blistering Palm Springs heat showed Ellie’s capability.  A total of 311 hopefuls teed it up for the four rounds of Q School.  They were allowed to play in carts given the heat, which often topped 110 degrees.  Ellie was under par in each of her rounds, qualifying with relative ease.

When I asked Ellie about the experience, she answered with a quick, understated phrase:  “Boy, it was so hot!”

So was her golf!

Here is a snapshot of Ellie’s career drawn off the Oregon State University Women’s Golf Website:

“Finished her five-year Oregon State career with a scoring average of 72.95, the best in Oregon State history.  Played 127 rounds, the sixth most in Oregon State history.  Had 14 Top 10 finishes, the second most in Oregon State history.  Won three individual titles (Ron Moore Invitational as a freshman, Trinity Forest Invitational as a sophomore and Silverado Showdown as a senior).

“Became the first golfer in Oregon State history to be named Pac-12 Golfer of the Month (October 2018).  Holds the Oregon State records for career scoring average (72.95), top-10 finishes in a season (7), lowest single-round score (6-under 66), lowest three-round score (11-under 205) and sub-par scores (46).  Also holds the Oregon State records for single-season scoring average as a freshman (72.79), sophomore (72.43), junior (72.72) and senior (73.19).”

Besides being a great golfer, Ellie has always struck me as a uniformly positive person with a consummate ability to meet anyone and share perspectives, both on life and on golf.  To greet her is always a positive experience.

During this summer before Q-School, Ellie has been practicing and playing at my home course here in Salem, Illahe Hills Golf and Country Club.

Based on her quality performance in Stage 1, Ellie now will be preparing for Stage 2, which will be held October 18-21 at the Plantation Golf and Country Club in Venice, Florida.  From there, players will advance to the Q-Series, a two-week contest in Mobile, Alabama, and Dothan, Alabama, after which LPGA cards will be handed out.

Later this month, a number of Ellie’s friends are getting together to discuss how we can continue helping her prepare for the remaining parts of Q-School.  Yes, one of the ways is to help her defray some of the expenses.

She’ll also continue using Illahe for practice rounds.

So, keep playing well, Ellie.  We’re rooting for you!