The memory of her grandmother was the inspiration behind Elise McDonough’s come-from-behind win in the eighth grade girls division of Sunday’s St. Louis Archdiocesan Golf Championship.
McDonough, 14, of Des Peres, who competed for St. Gerard Majella, shot a 48 on the back nine at Eagle Springs Golf Course in north St. Louis County.
She had some trouble early, but had a strong birdie-par-birdie finish to win by one stroke.
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“I really wanted to win it for my grandma,” Elise said. “She always said I would be on the LPGA.”
Elise’s grandmother, Ernesta Mattera, 85, of Hazelwood, passed away from leukemia on June 11, one day after Elise competed in the South Central District tournament. Despite being distracted by her grandmother’s illness, Elise managed to finish in the top four to qualify for the championship.
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Last week, she turned her attention back to golf. She and her father, Jim McDonough, headed out to Eagle Springs three times to get a close look at where she would be competing on Sunday against about 15 other girls.
“She wanted to win it for her grandma,” McDonough said. “She practiced real hard last week, and so it didn’t surprise me that she did real well yesterday.”
To top it off, her grandfather, Tony Mattera, got to see her play for the first time.
“He was proud of me, too,” Elise said. “He was happy he got to see me win it.”
It was the third and final year for Elise in the CYC championships. Next year she’ll move on to Kirkwood High School and plans to compete in the fall on the girls’ golf team.