May 11, 2008 02:25 am Michael Muldoon It was a bold move for a 14-year-old. Frankly, it would have been a bold move for someone twice her age. But, skeptics be damned, Jaclyn Sweeney knew in her heart of hearts what she wanted. So, she left Andover High in December of her freshman year for the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. The plan was to totally dedicate herself to golf, something impossible in the Northeast. To outsiders, the plan seemed risky, even foolhardy. But Sweeney believed, no, she knew, she could do it. How right she was. The extraordinary sacrifices have paid off. She's one of the country's hottest young golfers as she proved once again two weeks ago by becoming the first freshman to win the 12th annual Big 12 individual title. "It was really great," said Sweeney. "It was my goal to win a tourney. It was icing on the cake to win the conference tourney. ... It opened my eyes, to be able to beat a college field. It's just a stepping stone." Staring down an elite field — she shot a 9-over 225 to win by four strokes at her home course, Karsten Creek in Stillwater, Okla., — was a monumental challenge. "I definitely don't think my nerves could be any more shot than they were after the second round of the Big 12," she said with a laugh. "But it was a good set of nerves. After having that experience, I just know a lot of deep breaths will keep me calm." Every challenge met pays a dividend down the road. As with any young golf sensation, the mental is as important as the physical. She's had some near misses in some huge tourneys. At famed St. Andrews, she had a near miss in the 2007 Women's British Open qualifier, when she lost a playoff. "That was pretty devastating," she said. And she shot a first-round 71 at the first stage of the LPGA Q-School, but she struggled down the stretch in the second round, closing with six bogeys to miss the cut by a stroke. "Whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger," she said philosophically. That has a double meaning in Sweeney's case, as she was involved in a frightening auto accident on Feb. 15, 2006. "A woman hit me going 60 mph," she explained. "The seat belt saved my life. I went to practice the next day. I finally broke down a day and a half later. It felt like I was hit by a truck. Technically, I was." For the next 18 months, she battled back spasms and lingering emotional scars. "I feel I'm over it now, but if somebody gets too near me (on the road), I wince," said Sweeney, who was an all-conference golfer with Andover's boys team as a freshman. Mental toughness has always been her trademark. Without it, she wouldn't have been able to prosper in the cutthroat world of big-time junior golf. Even though her parents, Joe and Della Sweeney, bought a place nearby, navigating her way through IMG wasn't easy. "There were definitely a lot of thoughts (of returning to Andover)," she admitted. "Socially, I had my friends, but they were my competitors. I couldn't trust my friends. I trusted my friends in Andover. It was definitely a hard time. Every year around spring break (I'd think), 'I don't want to do this anymore.' My mom would say, 'Ok, no problem, (return to Andover).' But two, three days later I'd be right back on the course." Early on, she saw firsthand, what type of talent was out there. "I was young and naive. I kind of got slapped in the face," said the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year. "There were so many people better than me." Not for long. She went from a good prospect (ranked 387 in Juniors nationally) to a great prospect (ranked 14th in December). She trained like a maniac — she worked with IMG's mental coach, Chris Passarella, and its director of golf, David Whelan, who also coaches LPGA star Paula Creamer. The IMG experience ran the gamut. It was challenging, thrilling, draining, frustrating. One thing it wasn't was typical. "All my (Andover) friends showed me prom pictures," said the 5-foot-10 Sweeney. "Instead, I won a tourney. Everyone wants what they can't have. But I'm happy with what I have." In the fall, she made another bold decision: She'd graduate in December and head to Oklahoma State in January. She doubled up her efforts in the classroom and earned the necessary credits. "College seemed to be calling my name," she said. "I'll never regret going to college early." Early press releases from OSU said the Cowboys were excited to get a player who would "add depth." Soon, that lukewarm description seemed comical, as she was finishing near the top of the leaderboard, including a second at the Arizona Wildcat Invitational, a couple of sevenths, then the historic Big 12 championship. Golfweek has ranked her the No. 12 female in college golf. More and more, that LPGA dream doesn't seem so far-fetched at all. "I want to play professional golf," she said. "At the moment, I'm not ready or willing. I enjoy going out and being a regular teenager. ... I can't say for sure I'll be here four years. I can't say for sure I won't be." Her coach, Laura Matthews, says it pays to be patient. "I personally wouldn't leave college golf until I dominated or was at least consistently among the best in the country," she said. "I would hope she would look at it the same way." Sweeney says she knows there are no guarantees, but says confidently, "I really think I"m going to make it. The first event I play in, I want to win. I set very high goals. I want to do for women's golf what Tiger Woods did. I want kids to say, 'I want to hit like Jaclyn Sweeney.'"
OSU coach raves about freshman phenom Oklahoma State coach Laura Matthews calls Jaclyn Sweeney "a special girl." Matthews said, "We expected her to come in and do great things. ... But she's going above and beyond what we expected. She definitely has 'it.' She has the passion. At this level, you have the drive or you don't. You can't instill it. That's what makes her unique. "She has her goals and knows how to attain them. She's doing everything she can to get to the LPGA."
Cakes are baking Happy birthday wishes go out to BU soccer star Emily Pallotta of Andover, who turns 20 on Tuesday, and Tampa Bay slugger Carlos Pena of Haverhill, who turns the big 3-0 on Saturday. ... Congrats to a couple of former Hillies, ex-basketball great Julie Szabo and Shawn Major, who will be tying the knot next June. ... Paul Pierce was 6-6 for his first nine years but now is listed as 6-7. Must have been a late growth spurt.
Rah-rah for the Raiders If you go to a Central Catholic volleyball game, you can't miss him. Tom Gomes of Salem has a booming voice that reverberates off the walls. The proud father of Tom Jr., a senior setter, Gomes' favorite line is "nice serve." His exaggerated delivery is as smooth as silk. He also does an unforgettable "Rooooooory Blinn." Raider fans love him, to the point where when he couldn't make it to one game, another parent tried to fill his shoes. Of course, that's impossible. While Central loves him, other teams, well, not so much. "I heard an opponent say, "Will that guy shut up?" recalled Central assistant Dan Young. "I loved it!" With young Tom graduating, the fan of the year won't have to put his act in mothballs. He has a younger son who plays for Salem High.
What might have been It must have been like getting only one date with Jessica Simpson. The Boston College track coach had Jeff Smith, albeit just for one meet. Smith, a sophomore, was one of the nation's top sprinters as a prep, with a personal best of 20.89 in the 200 meters. Although that was wind-aided, he did run a legal 21.01, which still ranked him sixth in the country. A gifted return man for the football team, as a freshman the pride of Plympton, Mass., and Silver Lake Regional returned two kickoffs for touchdowns against Clemson. But he sat out last fall due to multiple concussions and was running track this spring. Rusty and not in track shape, Smith ran a 10.56 and a 21.51 to capture the 100 and 200, respectively, at the UMass Spring Break meet a few weeks ago. He could have rewritten the record books at BC, which is hardly a men's track power, or transferred to a track school, and possibly made a run at an NCAA title. But Smith had a change of heart and decided to give football another chance. So, if you bump into Eagles coach Matt Kerr, give him a hug.
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