Busy Busy Busy Week!!!

Well, let me start off by saying that Jesse is around and well, but working hard in his internship and in his summer class, so it's been a minute since I've posted about him...Jesse is now a junior and doing his 3rd summer internship!  He is gaining priceless experience that we hope will help him when it comes time to get a "real" job.  Jesse is loving his EE internship at a local engineering firm.  He does a ton of computer type work for them regarding rendering, 3D modeling, CAD, and a bunch of other stuff I do not understand.  Today his firm was invited to a groundbreaking ceremony of a hugh sports center that they will be doing the electrical for.  The pic about is Jesse with the City of Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland, who I happen to be a big fan of.  He's a good Catholic, a SVDP colunteer, and he also has one biological son and one adopted daughter, both products of Catholic Schools!  Keep it up Jesse....we are so very proud of the man you are becoming!

 

So we celebrated my birthday with our parents and my dear friend Julie Kate and her son last week before my actual bday because we had to head to our whirlwind 4 day golf trip...So we all ate at Half Shell and had a blast!!

On Thursday, we drove Claire over to Rockvale, TN (near Murfreesboro) to  let Claire attempt to qualify for the regional Drive, Chip, and Putt.  This would be Claire's last year of eligibilty since you have to be 15 at the 2022 Masters, and she will....and since it was cancelled last year of course, we had to let her give it a shot!  So she came, she was ready, and boy she was in a zone.  I have to admit I was very nervous for her because Nashville has a ton af amazing girl golfers and they were all trying to qualify....so here comes this little Memphis girl and messes up all their fun!  She placed 2nd overall (they take the top 3) and she has qualified for the next level!  We will be traveling to The Grove July 29th against the best TN girls.....go Claire go!

And on my actual birthday, we went to my very favorite Murfreesboro restaurant, Demos, with my aunt Linda and her sons (my double first cousins....who then took us hiking to see a cave the next day...pics below) It was the most wonderful day!

A shirt in the Opryland hotel that just made me smile

Claire missed an Eagle by a half rotation.....

So the other reason we traveled to Rockvale, was a big Hurricane 2 Day Tournament.  It was called the Nashville Junior Open.  And this is what Claire is up against these days....but she hung in there and tied for 8th overall which is a huge improvement for Claire!!!  And these girls are 2-4 yearls older than she!

Such a beautiful hole!

So, Sunday am we got up and met my cousins to check out this amazing cave that happened to be so close to the course...so before we arrived at the course for Claire to warm up and play, we hiked and had a blast! The cave isfilled with water and pitch black, so we just enjoyed the view from the entrance and enjoyed the 54 degree temps....Because we had 90's all weekend long.....

Anyway, a really good weekend for Claire's golf and for us all...proud parents....lots more coming up soon!

Claire shoots a personal best!

Claire was in a good mental space today as she had a difficult week of golf.  But today rounded out the rough week in a good way...shot a 74!   She was relaxed and confident and won by 14 strokes!  So proud of all her pars and birdies today!  Go Claire go!! Big week coming up....posts coming soon!!

 

77 for the win!!

Claire continues to improve with a 77 yesterday at a local one day 18 hole event to take home the 1st place medal.  Her new friend MC pulled 2nd! Go Claire go!

 

A New Driver is in the House!!

Well, Claire took her permit test and was an absolute nervous wreck.  She worried for nothing and missed only 1.  I let her drive my car afterwards in a local school parking lot and she did great...parking is going to take some work!!!

Claire had a practice round last evening at Southwind TPC and we saw this fella right near her tee box!  Of course she immediately lost focus and just was smitten with this beaver....he paid her no attention!

 

Claire's Freshman Year is coming to a close.....and 25 Years!

Well today was the underclassman awards ceremony at SBA.  And of course it was virtual and I couldn't be there, but our hearts are full tonight as Claire won the St. Teresa of Calcutta Service Award. As proud as I am of her for her grades and golf, this makes my heart soar.  May she never lose the desire to serve.  Proud of Claire!

We celebrated our 25th Wedding Anniversary a few weeks ago and of course with covid, there was no party, no travel, no nothing.  So Lance was super kind and suprised me with this for our Silver Anniversary a few days ago.  It took longer to have made and shipped as Lance had planned....worth the wait!  So proud he has been my partner in life and my better half for these 25 years.....I am blessed beyond measure! Can't wait for the second 25! I love you Lance!

 

More Birthday Pics, and busy weekend!!!

Well, it was down to MSU Golf Course for a bif 2 day competitive tourney...she did not play well, but had fun and saw lots of local golfers she knew!  So we took one of her golfer friends to Bulldog Burger after the Saturday round and had a blast!

Claire opening some of her Birthday loot and finally got the shoes she's been wanting for months and months....

And a new PJ shirt from Jesse!

Claire was featured this weekend on LPGA site for a diversity campiagn and we kept getting texted from friends and family that Claire was all over twitter and instagram....it was fun to see!

We had 3 massive trees removed while we were gone over the weekend and apparantly they did not finish yet...this is what we came home to last night...hopefully the rain will stay away and this will be gone soon!!  Backyard pics coming soon!

 

We have a 15 year old!!! And someone who is starting to break 80!!!!

Well, Ms Claire turned 15 today!  She celebrated all weekend with a spend the night with her friend group and a cookout yesterday with family and the Cardosis!  And boy was this weekend beautiful....until today.  Her actual birthday!  She was originally going to take this weekend off from tournaments, but they added one at the last minute and she decided to play, and she loves it when Lance can caddy....so she played in the wind and rain all morning in front of Jesse (who is home from college for the summer!) and shot a 76!  We were so proud of her and she seems to have turned a corner!  We are off to Starkville next week to play the 2 day SSJC MSU event and should be a blast!! 

Happy Birthday Claire!  We love you!!!!

 

Claire Gets Challenged by the infamous Greystone.....

Well, Claire's been hearing for weeks from coaches and friends how brutal her next tourney was going to be...and because Claire apparently is one of the only girls who attends in person school, she did not get a practice round Friday when we arrived to the course in Dixon, TN at 5:30 after she got dismissed at 2:30.....Anyway, she got to see the course from a cart and took lots of notes.....

She was not prepared for the 50 degree temps, pouring rain, and 20 mph winds on day 1.   Neither was anyone else thank goodness.  The course was brutal....PGA difficulty brutal.  Sand, water, and long long long.  And did I mention the entire course was a rock quarry?  So it was as hilly as we've seen.  But claire managed a 93 both days.  Not a good score for her, but she was the youngest and smallest and will improve. She placed 14 out of 20.... Playing these courses are making her a better golfer....or so I'm told!

On the first day Claire was paired against girls from Ohio and Indiana. And one was also adopted from China!!  

This was the most brutal par 3 ever......An 8 foot rock wall right in front of the green and behind the green was all sand.  So Claire layed up before the wall and just chipped onto thte green. 

Resting after hill after hill after hill......

We are so proud of Claire for hanging in there with the big girls all weekend long!

 

Claire grabs a win today!!!

Well, it was a windy and cool day, but Claire captured a win today in Memphis!  Off to Dixon, TN in a huge Hurricane Tournament, so this win was a good one for her confidence!

25 Years!!! Well, we are celebrating our 25th Tuesday but we did dinner last night. Are hoping for a big trip in the fall, if Covid and the world allows!  So blessed to have spent 25 with this amazing dad, husband, provider, and person in general!  Can't wait for the second 25! I love you Lance!!!

Our annual Anniversary Dinner!!

Hoping the shells in the porch lantern bring sun and warm temps soon!!!!

 

Proud of this girl.....

https://youtu.be/hpwIxES4sY0

click on the link above to hear Claire's little bit....so proud of her! 

Good Sports: Young Athletes Are Champions for the Community

By CALEB J. SUGGS • APR 8, 2021

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With more than 40 golf tournament wins, freshman Claire Hollingsworth at St. Benedict at Auburndale High School also volunteers every Friday at the St. Vincent DePaul soup kitchen.

CREDIT CALEB SUGGS/WKNO

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If you heard that a high school athlete who plays both football and lacrosse was getting an award, you’d probably think it was because of his performance in the game.

You might not assume it was because he coordinated a food drive that brought over 14,000 pounds of goods to impoverished families in Orange Mound. But that’s how Miller Manguno, a junior at Briarcrest Christian School, became one of this year’s nominees for the Memphis Area I AM SPORT Award.

“The needs in the community are, they're plentiful,” Manguno said. “I'm glad that our service organization is getting a little bit of traction, which is really good. And it really means a lot to me.”

The annual Award is presented by USA Today and the Commercial Appeal. The local winner, to be announced in June, is eligible for a state award, which puts them in the running for the national prize. USA Today Event Director, Taylor Stern, said the award brings sports and community service together.

“The high school sports award shows honor the best student athletes in the area, but we also wanted to shine a spotlight on high school athletes that are doing great things for their community,” Stern said. “So maybe they aren't the best high school athlete, but they're making a difference in other ways.”

Of course, that’s not to say these nominees aren’t impressive athletes as well. Take Claire Hollingsworth, a freshman at St. Benedict at Auburndale High School. She’s won more than 40 golf tournaments.

“It's something that I can say that I'm really good at,” Hollingsworth said. “And I'm super small. And so it's something that it doesn't really matter my size. I can still compete with everyone.”

At 4-feet 9 inches and 82 lbs, Hollingsworth said her stature doesn’t factor into her golf game. It does, occasionally though, at the St. Vincent DePaul soup kitchen, where she’s been volunteering almost every Friday since she was in first grade.

“I can still do the things that people that are taller and bigger than me can,” Hollingsworth said. “And I might need a stool or a chair, but I can still help feed the homeless and help brighten their day.”

The same goes for Hudson Hollenbeck, a junior at Collierville High School, who turned his athletic skill into a fundraiser for lung cancer research.

“I'm the kicker for the football team, and so what people will do is they'll pledge money to this website,” Hollenbeck said. “And for every kick that I make, that money goes towards Lung Cancer Foundation and research to find more cures and stuff because it's actually the least funded foundation because it's known as being a smoker's disease.”

Hollenbeck’s mom was diagnosed with lung cancer back in 2015 though she never smoked a day in her life. Since then, she and her son have launched a website where people can make donations or pledge on Hollenbeck’s kicks. 

Another nominee, Tori Moore, is on the St. Benedict bowling team. She volunteers with the Special Olympics Memphis over the summer. 

Nile Williams, a tennis player at St. Benedict, volunteers as an assistant pantry coordinator at the Halal Food Pantry.

And Nile Williams, also at St. Benedict, plays tennis and works as an assistant pantry coordinator at the Halal Food Pantry. She said providing food and clothing to those in need feels “like a dose of adrenaline.” 

“When I see their face, I'm like, ‘Oh, this is good,” Williams said. “I need to keep doing this so that I'm making other people happy. I’m making people get what they need on a monthly basis. And so it feels good. It feels amazing to give back.”

And when the I AM SPORT award winner is announced June 28, hopefully other high school athletes will be inspired to lend a helping hand in their community.

In the meantime, if you need some inspiration to do the same, check out these short profiles of this year’s local candidates:

 

Christ Has Risen.....and The Hollingsworth Annual Golf Tournament has resumed!!

Well, we traveled to Jackson for the first time in a very long while for the Hollingsworth Annual Golf Tournamet and Reunion. For the 1st time, Lance's team won!  We decided because Claire was involed this year!  It was a beautiful day, and everyone was playing well.....Claire helped out the team by hitting fairways and chipping as she usually does!  It was great seeing everyone outside, and almost all adults were fully vaccinated, so that made my heart happy!

The Easter Bunny still manages to visit these kids somehow......Jesse has 2 more days of his teens!!!

Clothes and shoes were the big items this year in their baskets...and some candy of course!  Lots coming up soon...will post soon!