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 Last month, she had a choice: fly to Malvern, Penn., to play in the American Junior Golf Association’s major-esque McDonald’s Betsy Rawls Girls Championship, or stay home to face international stars at San Diego’s Junior World Golf Championships. The decision wasn’t hard. The chance to compete locally in front of family and friends at a tournament whose champion pedigree includes Tiger Woods and Lorena Ochoa won out. “[Junior World] definitely means a lot to me because I’m from here,” said the 15-year-old Frasier, who won the tournament’s 11-12 age division in ’05. “Even though the field’s not as great, you’re still playing golf.” And there’s just something about being a hometown celebrity. “I had people texting me, ‘Good luck! I saw you in the paper,’” she added. Frasier’s supporters won’t waver, despite the fact that she didn’t win. The incoming junior at La Costa Canyon High School finished runner-up in the 15-17 age group for the second straight year — this time to long-hitting Patcharajutar Kongkraphan of Thailand. As a 14-year-old in 2007, Frasier played up a division and tied for second at the North Course at Torrey Pines. She began the final day three strokes behind Korea’s Ha-Na Jang, who ran away with a 10-stroke winning margin. This year at Santee’s Carlton Oaks Country Club, Frasier again started the last round down by three. She got closer thanks to three bogeys from Kongkraphan in the first 10 holes and was one stroke back after a chip-in birdie on No. 12, her second of the day. Kongkraphan bogeyed the 13th to fall into a tie, and Frasier took a one-shot lead with a long birdie putt on No. 14. But the American failed to convert short birdie bids on the next two holes, while her counterpart reeled off three straight birdies to regain momentum and seize the title. “I can’t be too disappointed,” said Frasier. “I hit the ball the best I’ve probably hit in a long time out here these four days. I just wanted to give it my all … and I felt like I did.” Her attitude and talent underscore her bravery. When Frasier was 13, it was discovered she was suffering from supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), a rapid heart rhythm disorder that also afflicted touring pros David Toms and Meg Mallon. After a surgical procedure to correct the problem in February 2006, Frasier now has a worldlier perspective. “Every minute, I just step back [and think], ‘You’re out here playing golf.’ I’m out here doing what I love — I’m just so lucky,” said Frasier, who also has done advocate work for the American Heart Association. Her junior year of high school means taking the SATs and looking at colleges, but she wants to take everything in stride and not look too far ahead. Still, don’t blame Frasier for thinking about the 2009 Junior World. “I hate coming in second,” she said. “I’ve got two more years.” SG |
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