On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...the '23 bronze medallist among Umcees. Okay, I made that lyric up. But seriously, we now reach the medal stand among the top Umcees of 2023--and with it, we get to my Female Umcee of the Year.
This year's women's golf scene had rather slim pickings among Upper Midwest connections. With Oxbow, North Dakota native and North Dakota State product Amy Olson dealing with pregnancy and her subsequent maternity leave, the Umcee action in women's professional tour golf was largely restricted to developmental tours such as the Epson Tour. I mentioned one such player, Kim Kaufman, as a Second Team All-Umcee honoree. Now we turn to the third Minnesota connection to make the First Team. Without further ado, I bring you my inaugural Female Umcee of the Year...
Number 3: Kate Smith, Detroit Lakes, Minnesota
Starting Rolex Ranking: #870
Current Rolex Ranking: #551
Final Epson Tour Race for the Card: #19
Wins: 0
Top 10s: 4
Top 25s: 9
Majors: None
Cuts made: 19/22
Upper Midwest Connection of the Week titles: 3 (including retroactive)
The former Minnesota state champion who played collegiately for Nebraska (and, I swear, participated in the prestigious Augusta National Women's Amateur once, at least) had a breakout in year two on the Epson Tour. A year ago, she seemed happy just to retain her card on the LPGA's primary developmental circuit, without regard to getting a top-35 finish and progression to Q-Series, the final stage of the LPGA Q-School. Indeed, she missed out on progression from Second Stage, while Kaufman made it to finals and made the cut, only to fall back to the Epson Tour. This year, it was a role reversal. Smith made all but three cuts on tour, cracking the top 20 of the Race for the Card and earning direct entry into Q-Series, whereas Kaufman had to advance from Second Stage. Smith also outshined her fellow-Umcee once at Magnolia Grove, making the cut that Kaufman missed, although Smith herself also failed to achieve LPGA Tour status with a dismal final round.
It goes without saying that next year's expectations for Smith will be much higher. Among the questions: Can she repeat as Female Umcee of the Year in 2024? More importantly, can she fulfill her quest for an LPGA Tour card and join Olson (if she be allowed to compete by then) on the big tour and maybe Kaufman, to say nothing of big-time stars like the Korda sisters, Minjee Lee and Lydia Ko?
Having named the Female Umcee of the Year, we return to the PGA Tour for the top two honorees among the First Team All-Umcee. Stay tuned for the verdict tomorrow and Friday!
Edward the Scop
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