ANNOUNCER: "From Canada, Christine Wong / (sound of teeing off - "thwack")
156 young women have teed off from this box at the Country Club since Monday, the start of this year's Women's Amateur.
Winning the 117-year old tournament can lead to a professional career on the links, as it did for LPGA standouts Beth Daniel, and Juli Inkster.
And in 2012, it's brought the best players - to Cleveland.
Scott Wilson
{"you can't believe the quality of play out there."}
Scott Wilson is the tournament co-chair. He's spent four years planning this week - visiting past tournaments as far back as Indianapolis in 2007, Charlotte in 2010, and Rhode Island last year.
{"You've got players who played on the Curtis Cup for the United States - the Curtis Cup for Great Britain and Ireland; there's the number one amateur player in the world from New Zealand is here..."}
Northeast Ohio has hosted numerous national and international sports events over the years. Many give the region a considerable commercial bump. Others produce perhaps fewer economic benefits, but CAN enhance the region's visibility.
These players have traveled here from 35 states and 18 countries. They don't sport entourages, but many have brought family along. About a third of the players even are staying with country club member families for the week. Michael Fazio's family hosted a college student from Texas......
Michael Fazio
{"We thought it's be fun to get a chance to host one of the players, have more of a first-hand experience with the process. Christine flew in yesterday. We had dinner with her, and she asked me to be her caddie, and I said 'of course'."}
That selfless Northeast Ohio spirit is what made having the tournament here possible.
More than 300 local volunteers - plus 100 more from the US Golf Association, provide neccessary support.
And their reasons for wanting to help - are as varied as the nationalities of the golfers.
We found Ron Prozek manning a fairway on 18 - helping spot balls that flew from the golfers' sight.
Ron Prozek
{"....When I saw where the tournament was being held, I volunteered; because I caddied here 50 years ago. (RICK-This is...) ...the first time back, yes."}
Being retired, Prozek has plenty of time on his hands. And the job is challenging - in its own way.
{"...they're hard to see once they get up in the clouds... then you just gotta hope you hear it. If it ends up in the rough then you just put a little white flag by it - stake it - so nobody has to look for a ball when they get out here."}
Up and down the course volunteers track shots, while others man registration tables, report scores, or assist spectators. Sue Peck does her share of volunteering, but likes watching as well.
Sue Peck
{"I love watching the women play, they're just awesome. They're beautiful, and the way they hit.... and it's just wonderful"}
Among the favorites for fans was the youngest-ever tournament qualifier, ten-year-old Latanna Stone of Florida.
After two days play she'd missed the cut by 11 strokes, but she certainly impressed fans, like Terri Gilbert, a golfer herself; who said the best drive 'she' made that morning, was the drive north from Warren.
Terri Gilbert:
{"We saw the story about that ten-year-old, Latanna Stone, and we were interested to see what kind of game she had, so we decided we'd take the day off and come on up.... and she does not look ten, yes..."}
Another huge difference is the access. Fans walk fairways `with' the players.... can hear the players and caddies discuss strategies... and are much closer to the cup than in the big pro events.
fans: "c'mon, c'mon, c'mon, c'mon", then APPLAUSE
One of the caddies was Jake Heinen, a fan as well, who has played the course many times himself...
Jake Heinen
{"...Growing up playing here, it was pretty cool to come see the best female players in the world give this course a shot and see how they do..."}
How they're doing by most accounts is phenomenally well. 15 year old Lydia Ko of New Zealand shot a women's course record 66 on Monday.
Then again, she is the No.1-ranked amateur in the world.
Two days of play whittled the field to 64 players, then to 32...
This weekend will reduce it to a handful - with the trophy to be awarded Sunday.
