In January, the local golfing community lost one of its brightest stars when 33-year-old Spencerport native Danielle Downey died in an auto accident near her alma mater at Auburn University in Alabama, where she was Director of Golf and coach for the women’s golf team.
This year, in celebration of her life and accomplishments in golf, the Rochester District Golf Association is proud to announce that it is re-naming the annual Women’s District Championship the Rochester District Golf Association Women’s Championship Danielle E. Downey Memorial.
“We could not be more pleased with this announcement to name the Championship in her honor,” said Mark Battle, Vice-President of the RDGA and Tournament Chairman of the Championship. This honor follows in the tradition of the Men’s District Championship, which was re-named as the RDGA Championship John H. Ryan Memorial in recognition of the two-time District champion who was also lost to a tragic accident in 1982 shortly after winning his second consecutive District title at age 20.
Downey began her career as a junior golfer at Brook-Lea Country Club, playing competitive high school golf on the Spencerport High School boys’ team. She went on to win three consecutive New York State Women’s Amateur titles and starred on the NCAA Div. I Auburn women’s golf team. She earned All-American honors in 2000, 2002 and 2003.
Following her amateur career, Downey pursued a career on the pro tour circuits, working her way up from the developmental Futures Tour to fully exempt status on the LPGA Tour.
Downey returned to her roots in 2009 after a serious hand injury cut short her pro tour career by hosting an annual junior clinic at Brook-Lea with several other LPGA golfers. She also worked as an assistant to Auburn women’s coach Kim Evans. At the time of her passing in January at age 33, Downey was working as director of golf operations for the school, serving in an administrative capacity for both the men’s and women’s golf programs.
This year the RDGA Women’s District Championship – an event that has grown in each of its first four years – will be contested on beautiful Stafford Country Club on July 18 and 19. For more information about this event, and to register, go here:
http://rdga.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/rdga14/event/rdga1412/index.htm
Past winners of the newly-named RDGA Women’s Championship Danielle Downey Memorial:
2013 – Kristin Powers (Irondequoit)
2012 – Sara Eichelberger (Cobblestone Creek)
2011 – Danielle Fuss (Country Club of Rochester)
2010 – Stacy Lautenslager (Oak Hill West)
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