SWIFT SWING: Coutrney Mahon, UMKC’s women’s golf coach, will play in the Duramed FUTURES Tour event this week at Leawood South Country Club. The FUTURES Tour is the developmental tour for the LPGA.
Join our Mailing List!
Please click the link below to sign up for your community paper mailing list. Stay up to date with all the events going on in your community as well as the latest news.Sign Up Today!
Mahon balances coaching, playing
By: Charles Redfield, Associate sports editor
Courtney Mahon is living her dream, but it may have come a little earlier than she planned.
Mahon started in golf at the age of 2 in Topeka. Her game has improved more than a stroke or two since then and her dreams have evolved down through the years.
The Arkansas graduate became the UMKC women’s golf coach in January. She joined the Duramed FUTURES Tour on Jan. 28.
“I wanted to coach golf and play professionally,” she said. “I didn’t think it would come this early.”
Now she is living her two dreams at the same time.
She has played two events on the Duramed FUTURES Tour but has yet to make the cut in either one.
“I am limited in the number of tournaments I can play,” she said. “I have to balance playing and coaching.”
This weekend she will be competing at the Mercedes-Benz of Kansas City Championship stop on the Duramed FUTURES Tour at Leawood South Country Club. Action starts each day at 8 a.m.
This is the official developmental tour of the LPGA. For more information about the Mercedes-Benz of Kansas City Championship, visit www.kcmbchampionship.com.
Mahon played in last year’s event as an amateur and finished in a tie for 64th place.
“It was a lot of fun,” she said. “It is always nice to have the tour close to home. My family and friends can see me play.”
She has learned a great deal playing on her two stops on the Duramed FURTURES Tour.
“There is a big adjustment on the pro level,” she said. “You are under a lot more pressure. You have to have your mind on playing golf because you do not get a lot of practice time. You are on the road and away from home. You have to adjust to the different area and different golf course.”
What are her thoughts on the Leawood South Country Club course?
“Leawood South is tougher than most courses on the tour,” Mahon said. “You have to be patient.”
She thinks the players on the Duramed FURTURES Tour are as good as those on the LPGA Tour.
“Competitive-wise, it is close to the LPGA,” she said. “There are less people watching and the courses are not as difficult.”
Mahon’s sister, Mallory, played for St. Thomas Aquinas High School and formerly captured state medalist honors in Class 6A-5A. She is now a junior at Missouri State.
Her father, Charlie, is a longtime golf professional. He is now the general manager at the Grand Summit Golf and Country Club in Grandview.
The UMKC women’s golf coach has played extensively as an amateur.
She said she has played most of the courses in Johnson County, including Milburn Country Club, Indian Hills Country Club, Kansas City Country Club, Mission Hills Country Club and Hallbrook Country Club. She has also played public courses such as Ironhorse, Overland Park and St. Andrews.
Mahon played four years at Topeka’s Washburn Rural High. She attended the University of Arkansas, where she became a four-year letter winner. She had an average of 76.91 on 133 rounds, fifth lowest all-time at the school. Her 133 rounds is tied for first all-time.
Academically, she claimed two appearances on the Southeastern Conference Academic Honor Roll and in 2005-2006 earned a spot on the SEC Community Service Team.
She has a bachelor of science degree in dietetics and a minor in psychology.
On amateur levels she has won a number of championships. She claimed the 2005, 2006 and 2007 Missouri Women’s Amateur Championships and in 2005 won the Kansas Women’s Amateur Championship.
She is a two-time Kansas Women’s Golf Association state champion, winning those honors in 2003 and 2004.
The strength of her game is hitting straight, she said, and a good short game.
Now she is looking forward to doing well here at the Mercedes-Benz of Kansas City Championship.
“I need to be patient, focus on what I am doing and get a lot of birdies,” she said.
Contact Charles Redfield at (913) 385-6081 or credfield@sunpublications.com
printable version
e-mail this story
Mahon started in golf at the age of 2 in Topeka. Her game has improved more than a stroke or two since then and her dreams have evolved down through the years.
The Arkansas graduate became the UMKC women’s golf coach in January. She joined the Duramed FUTURES Tour on Jan. 28.
“I wanted to coach golf and play professionally,” she said. “I didn’t think it would come this early.”
Now she is living her two dreams at the same time.
She has played two events on the Duramed FUTURES Tour but has yet to make the cut in either one.
“I am limited in the number of tournaments I can play,” she said. “I have to balance playing and coaching.”
This weekend she will be competing at the Mercedes-Benz of Kansas City Championship stop on the Duramed FUTURES Tour at Leawood South Country Club. Action starts each day at 8 a.m.
This is the official developmental tour of the LPGA. For more information about the Mercedes-Benz of Kansas City Championship, visit www.kcmbchampionship.com.
Mahon played in last year’s event as an amateur and finished in a tie for 64th place.
“It was a lot of fun,” she said. “It is always nice to have the tour close to home. My family and friends can see me play.”
She has learned a great deal playing on her two stops on the Duramed FURTURES Tour.
“There is a big adjustment on the pro level,” she said. “You are under a lot more pressure. You have to have your mind on playing golf because you do not get a lot of practice time. You are on the road and away from home. You have to adjust to the different area and different golf course.”
What are her thoughts on the Leawood South Country Club course?
“Leawood South is tougher than most courses on the tour,” Mahon said. “You have to be patient.”
She thinks the players on the Duramed FURTURES Tour are as good as those on the LPGA Tour.
“Competitive-wise, it is close to the LPGA,” she said. “There are less people watching and the courses are not as difficult.”
Mahon’s sister, Mallory, played for St. Thomas Aquinas High School and formerly captured state medalist honors in Class 6A-5A. She is now a junior at Missouri State.
Her father, Charlie, is a longtime golf professional. He is now the general manager at the Grand Summit Golf and Country Club in Grandview.
The UMKC women’s golf coach has played extensively as an amateur.
She said she has played most of the courses in Johnson County, including Milburn Country Club, Indian Hills Country Club, Kansas City Country Club, Mission Hills Country Club and Hallbrook Country Club. She has also played public courses such as Ironhorse, Overland Park and St. Andrews.
Mahon played four years at Topeka’s Washburn Rural High. She attended the University of Arkansas, where she became a four-year letter winner. She had an average of 76.91 on 133 rounds, fifth lowest all-time at the school. Her 133 rounds is tied for first all-time.
Academically, she claimed two appearances on the Southeastern Conference Academic Honor Roll and in 2005-2006 earned a spot on the SEC Community Service Team.
She has a bachelor of science degree in dietetics and a minor in psychology.
On amateur levels she has won a number of championships. She claimed the 2005, 2006 and 2007 Missouri Women’s Amateur Championships and in 2005 won the Kansas Women’s Amateur Championship.
She is a two-time Kansas Women’s Golf Association state champion, winning those honors in 2003 and 2004.
The strength of her game is hitting straight, she said, and a good short game.
Now she is looking forward to doing well here at the Mercedes-Benz of Kansas City Championship.
“I need to be patient, focus on what I am doing and get a lot of birdies,” she said.
Contact Charles Redfield at (913) 385-6081 or credfield@sunpublications.com