Four Salina area golfers experience a round of golf with LPGA legend Annika Sorenstam

SALINA — Most amateur golfers could not picture themselves playing alongside an LPGA legend.

Especially if the pro is Annika Sorenstam, a 10-time major winner on the LPGA Tour. But for four Kansans, this dream became a reality

Zoe Norton, a 2022 graduate of Salina South, Ellie Cobb, a 2018 graduate of Salina Central, Abby Donovan, a Concordia native and a sophomore at Kansas Wesleyan and Allison Applequist, a Hays native and a sophomore at Bethany College all played a round of golf with Sorenstam. The four amateurs and Sorenstam made up Bennington State Bank's team in the Salina Regional Health Center Pro-Am held Thursday afternoon at Salina Country Club.

The Pro-Am Tournament kicked off a weekend of festivities surrounding the 2022 Senior LPGA Championship, which began on Friday.

More: Salina Country Club hosts 2022 Senior LPGA Championship this week. Here's what to know

"I didn't ever think Salina Country Club was hosting something like this," Cobb said. "It's fun to see everybody. I got to see lots of familiar faces and getting to play on the course I grew up learning how to play golf on."

Norton said it was "really cool" to play with Sorenstam, a golfer she had watched on television while growing up.

"She was always a name I always recognized even if I wasn't actively always watching her," Norton said. "I just always heard her name and just watching the Golf Channel, I always knew who she was."

"She was able to just like hit every fairway and was positive with us. She actually helped us talk through putts (and) doing everything. She was more like helping us."

Donovan said she was nervous when she was on the first tee, but settled down once she got started.

"Like this is probably the funniest time I've had ever," Donovan said. "I never really picture myself even playing in the Pro-Am, like at this level or this age. Being able to play with Annika, I never even thought (of that) watching (her) play in my life.

"I (had) a bunch of family and friends to come and watch me. When I was growing up, they watched me grow as a golfer. It was really cool for them to come and watch me and got to share this experience."

More: Salina community tees up for Senior LPGA Championship, bringing a large economic footprint

Applequist was a late replacement for Ida Lihufvduh who was scheduled to play. She said it was a dream come true to play alongside Sorenstam.

"I'm truly honored to be able to watch her play and play with her," Applequiest said. "Two days ago, I found out I was filling in for Ida. I truly just focused on bringing Ida's positive spirit that she would have brought here today.

"I'm lucky to fill in for her and for me, it was just about having fun and learning from Annika as much as I could."

Sorenstam said it was a fun day of golf with her four amateurs.

"It was nice to play with some girls that have aspirations of playing and makes it a different than a normal Pro-Am where we play maybe more with a sponsor or something.

"I enjoyed the company. Hopefully, they can understand and see what life on the tour is like."

All four amateurs impressed Sorenstam

No matter their age or experience, Sorenstam had good things to say about the four amateurs she played with.

Sorenstam liked the connection she had with Donovan, who is one of KWU's top golfers on its roster.

"I think we connected well and she hit the ball well," Sorenstam said. "I think she had some good putts and overall (she was) just a solid player. I enjoyed meeting her, and I'm sure she's gonna do really well."

Norton, who was a four-time state qualifier for South, was an aggressive player according to Sorenstam. Sorenstam said she was sad Norton wasn't going to continue playing in college. Norton is headed off to Kansas State this fall.

"I enjoyed meeting her," Sorenstam said. "I told her the way she putts when she short putts, she went up there and just kind of hit them with confidence, and I liked that.

Sorenstam said Cobb, who just finished a four-year career at Drury University in Springfield, Missouri, has a lot of potential in front of her no matter if it's golf or something else.

"She's gonna get her studies, so I wish her good luck," Sorenstam said.

Memories that'll last a lifetime

Sorenstam said it was great to give some good advice to all four of her amateurs.

What will stand out the most is that an experience like this might not occur again for Cobb, Norton, Donovan or Applequist.

"It's going to be a great memory to have, especially coming off the end of a golfing competitive career," Cobb said. "This is such a cool capstone and kind of a good jumping-off point into 'retired golfing career.' It'll be a really a good memory to have for sure."

Norton said she enjoyed playing one more tournament before going off to Kansas State.

"I still plan on continuing to play," Norton said. "It was fun to get back, to actually like practicing and on a practice schedule."

Donovan said she made a lot of memories from her experience playing alongside Sorenstam.

"It was fun to watch her and like how she looked at your shots," Donovan said. "And then I could take that into my game."

Applequist said she'll always remember how she was selected to play at the last minute and how much it meant to her, including making her passion for golf stronger.

Other notables that played in the Pro-Am

Other notable Salina golfers who played in Thursday's Pro-Am event included Sacred Heart junior Walker Tuttle who played in a group with Lisa DePaulo. Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly also had a team in the event that featured Gianna Augustine from Kansas State, Aliyah North from Fort Hays State, Hannah Hawks from the University of Kansas and Megan Lucas from Wichita State.

Kansas Wesleyan also fielded a team that included players from their women's golf team, which included Aida Richmond, Tahlia Ramirez and Corey Mein, along with KWU alumna Claire Houk who played alongside Lori Atsedes.

Dylan Sherwood has been a sports reporter for the Salina Journal since August 2019. He can be reached at dsherwood@salina.com or on Twitter @DSherwoodSJ

This article originally appeared on Salina Journal: Ellie Cobb, Abby Donovan, Zoe Norton play with Annika Sorenstam