LPGA Legends Tour 'rookie' plays in front of special guest

PALM HARBOR — Renee Powell calls herself a "super senior rookie." The 60-year-old played in her first LPGA Legends Tour tournament Saturday at Innis­brook.

And Powell had an extra-special guest in her gallery: her father, William, the only African-American to design, build and operate a course.

It was the first time Powell's father has seen her play since the late 1970s, when she was on the LPGA Tour. Powell, who runs her father's course — Clearview Golf Club in East Canton, Ohio — with her family, said she brought William for his birthday today. He turns 93.

"It's extremely special. I'm so blessed to have him here," Powell said. "When my dad (built the course) 60-some years ago and he got all of us involved in the game … (he was) breaking down a lot of barriers, educating a lot of people and just making the world a better world, I think."

Powell, the second African-American woman to play on the LPGA Tour, struggled a bit with her putting Saturday and finished at 10-over 82. "I think I put too much pressure on her today," William said, smiling.

SIDETRACKED: Though Hall of Famer Pat Bradley finished the first round 4 over, she left the 18th green pretty happy. That's because Bradley found out that her nephew Keegan Bradley, 23, had reached the finals in Qualifying School, coming one step closer to his dream of making the PGA Tour.

"It's a weight lifted off his shoulders," she said. "It's tough, but we're excited."

GALLERY: Innisbrook officials were very pleased with the crowd. They estimated the attendance at a couple thousand.

QUOTABLE: Shelley Hamlin, after two-putting on No. 18, yelled to the crowd, "Some of these greens are scary. … This one was terrifying." She was tied for second after shooting par 72. … Boots Widener, a longtime rules official, on 70-year-old Hall of Famer JoAnne Carner, who was 3 over: "She's the master of the old style. You can't drink with her; you can't play golf with her. She will beat you at both of them."