The 2014 Maryland State Golf Association – Women’s Division’s Annual Luncheon was held at Prospect Bay Country Club on Friday, November 7th. A total of 82 people attended including past MSGA – WD Presidents and Board members, representatives from the MSGA Board and USGA, MSGA staff, delegates, and past Award winners. Melly Tucker, President, congratulated the 2014 champions, thanked everyone who helped with the tournaments, and presented the Distinguished Service Award. Executive Committee members gave a brief summary of each of the 11 tournaments this year.
Rebecca Krimski, Baltimore Country Club, and Pat Barrett, Golf Club at South River, were elected to the Executive Committee.
Every other year the Maryland State Golf Association – Women’s Division recognizes an individual who has is made an extraordinary contribution to amateur golf in Maryland. This year the Executive Committee selected Paula Sovero, a choice overwhelmingly supported by the general membership.
Paula is a native Marylander having been raised in Arbutus, near Baltimore. She attended Seton High School before going on to Mt. St. Agnes College which is now Loyola University. She married Rick Sovero in 1964, and has 3 children and 7 grandchildren.
Paula’s father played golf at Rolling Road, but she didn’t take it up until she married Rick and thus began her involvement and her active participation in the ladies associations of Rolling Road, Prospect Bay and Ocean City Golf and Yacht Club.
Paula began procuring prizes for winners as well as gifts for volunteers and host clubs in 1998 and continued this task with the Women’s Division until last year. In 2001 she was elected to the MSGA-WD Executive Committee and served as Corresponding Secretary and Treasurer during her 8-year tenure.
Paula’s first assignment on the Executive Committee was with the Junior Girls. She helped advance the Poindexter Cup, a very competitive program between Maryland and Virginia, each state fielding a team of eight girls. A follow-up to the Poindexter is the Middle Atlantic Challenge which teams four Maryland girls with four VA girls to compete against eight girls from the Carolinas.
Paula established the Junior Girls Scholarship Fund by instituting the 4 Lady Invitational Golf Tournament which benefits both the scholarship fund and provides monies for expenses related to the Junior Girls programs. Paula’s legacy to Maryland State golf is truly in her contributions to and advancement of the Junior Girls program.
Diane Herndon, Pat Kaufman, Jane Mason, Kim Daniels Ferguson, Hilary Lawson, Ashley Grier, and Jean Mulcahey all spoke warmly of Paula, praised her accomplishments, and recounted fond memories. All spoke about how deserving she is of the Distinguished Service Award, with Pat making the statement that Paula “will enhance this reward by receiving it.”
The 2015 tournament schedule was distributed and can also be viewed here.
-Reported by Carolyn Hudson, Recording Secretary
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