In Focus with Cathy Panton Lewis
World Team Captain, 2007 Handa Cup

The 2007 Handa Cup was a thrill to watch, thanks to a feisty World Team with a never say die attitude. Trounced in 2006 by a seemingly invincible U.S. Team made up of six Hall of Famers, the World Team was determined to save face and smile more than just politely in 2007. They wanted to win, and they came darn close. Saturday's team matches finished with the World in command, 14-10.  Sunday singles proved to be too much for the internationals, however, as the U.S. eventually surged to finish on top, 26-22.

At the helm for the World Team initially was Hall of Famer Hisako "Chako" Higuchi, a 69-time winner on the JLPGA and the only Japanese player to ever win a major in golf. She picked her roster, but at the last minute, could not make the trip. Enter Cathy Panton Lewis, Assistant Captain to the World Team, a 14-time winner on the LET and one of the most respected players in Europe. Vaulted into the spotlight and charged with leading a World Team comprised of nine nationalities speaking six different languages, Panton Lewis hardly missed a beat. Well, it appeared that way. Her strategy and the secret to the World's turnaround? Let's find out.
 

TLT:  How was the World Team formed?

CPL: I wasn't really party to the selection of the team, which took place in general terms related to the Legends Tour money list. I understand that it was the leading players from across the globe including Europe, Canada, Australia, South Africa, Japan, Taiwan, South America. Chako obviously had the picks and chose the top Japanese players. Sometimes I wonder though if Kathy Whitworth (U.S. Team Captain) had a say in it, too - making sure that we had the most countries and most languages possible, to make communication as difficult as possible! We had players from 9 different countries playing speaking 6 different languages. Oddly enough, we managed to talk to each other pretty well...  MORE >>

Kathy Whitworth Wins Vollstedt Award

LPGA and World Golf Hall of Fame member Kathy Whitworth has been selected to receive the Linda Vollstedt Award for Service and Leadership in Women's Sports from the Banner Health Golf Foundation. She will be honored at the Heather Farr Pro-Am on Sunday, March 30 during the Safeway International Presented By Coca-Cola in Phoenix, AZ.

Kathy captained the victorious U.S. Team at the 2006 and 2007 Handa Cup, a premier Legends Tour event.

Checking in with Rosie Jones

What has it been like playing on The Legends Tour?

"Playing on The Legends Tour has really been a treat for me. To step up on the tee with some of the same players I played against during the first half of my career has been really fun. I get to reconnect with some of my old friends I competed against as far back as college, and some just as recent as my last event on the LPGA Tour. We have lots to catch up on as well as many fun memories to recall. And let me tell you, these gals can still play their golf ball."