Pride of Murdock Elementary Headed for LPGA? First Comes College

It was about the same time that La Mesan Blair Lewis started attending that she also started playing golf. This wasn’t just a 5-year-old idly swinging a club. This was real talent―the same that got her a full scholarship to UC Davis this year.

“My dad took me to the driving club, and I just started swinging and never stopped,” said Lewis, 18, who began competing in tournaments at 7. “I think I was 9 before I got my first trophy―it was third place, and I was very happy.”

Lewis says she likes golf because it’s a social sport and a game that can never be perfected.  She says as long as you persevere, you can play for the rest of your life.

Lewis practices two hours every morning, then often goes out for a game with her dad afterward.

“Golf is a sport where if you put the club down for two weeks, it’ll take you a month to get it back,” said Lewis, a Union-Tribune Prep Athlete of the Week in 2009.

And even though golf could probably carry her through, Lewis is equally interested in getting a good education. That’s partly why she took her time considering the multiple schools offers she received. In fact, she started getting recruited as a sophomore at Francis Parker, but didn’t commit until her senior year.

“It was a long and stressful process,” said Lewis, who decided to go undeclared to UC Davis. “I wanted to challenge myself with golf and academically, so I thought it was a good balance.”