MIAMI UNIVERSITY GOLF
Bastel prepares for MAC Championship, while big sister grinds on the LPGA Tour
RedHawks junior gets valuable insight from Emily, who's playing in this week's LPGA event.
Thursday, May 01, 2008
OXFORD — Miami University junior Ben Bastel dreams of playing professional golf some day. Of course, so do most other collegiate golfers.
Bastel, though, has an advantage. He's getting some inside tips from someone who's already there.
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His big sister.
While Ben Bastel and his Miami teammates prepare for this weekend's Mid-American Conference Championship, Emily Bastel, 27, is playing for cash on the LPGA Tour.
"It's awesome," Ben said. "It's always been my dream to play professionally, and she's living the dream now. She's sort of paving the way for me.
"She's showed me a lot of great insight," he added. "This year I hope to caddy for her three or four times ... We talk about our game and ask for advice. She provides me with very useful insights. It's nice to get feedback when she's playing at the highest level."
Emily, who was an All-American at Michigan State, won $106,491 as an LPGA rookie in 2005 but struggled the following year and lost her exempt status. She got it back last season with nine top-10 finishes (including two victories) on the developmental tour. She's made two cuts in six events this season, and is scheduled to play in this week's SemGroup Championship in Oklahoma.
"We talk to each other when we can," Ben said. "Obviously, we're both on the road a lot. I call her when I can, she calls me, and we e-mail back and forth."
Emily played on the varsity boys team at Upper Sandusky High School because there was no girls team there. "She was one of the best players," said Ben, noting that he and his sister got a chance to play a lot together when she was in college and he was in high school.
"We had very competitive matches, and still do," he said. "It's very close."
Ben's focus, however, will be elsewhere Friday through Sunday, May 2-4, when the RedHawks try to dethrone the defending MAC champion Eastern Michigan Eagles at Longaberger Golf Club in Nashport, which is located east of Columbus.
"I think we'll do pretty well," he said. "We've had a decent spring. We're finally getting into a groove.
"I've played decent," said Ben, who finished tied for ninth at the Hoosier Intercollegiate March 29-30. "Last semester I was working on some things, and this spring I'm scoring a little better. I was working with some issues on my ball flight, some consistencies with my swing, some minute things."
Ben said he possesses no spectacular skills on the links. "My short game keeps me in it a lot," he said. "And grinding, just perseverance on the golf course, staying patient."
Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2197 or pconrad@coxohio.com.
