Lawrence assistant golf pro shoots for donations

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Kevin Mulligan put a golf club into the hands of his daughter, Kacie, and her year older brother, Brian, as youngsters and whether playing golf for business, competitively or recreation the very visible tools of the sport have rarely left their grips.

On Monday, Kacie, 32, the assistant golf pro at the Lawrence Yacht & Country Club for the past five years, began a golf marathon at 7 a.m. and finished a little past sunset after 6 p.m. to raise money for the American Cancer Society and Folds of Honor that provides educational scholarships to the children and spouses of soldiers who either died or were disabled during their service.

The East Williston native who now lives in Cedarhurst dedicated the day to her father who was diagnosed with stomach cancer in January of 2019 and is doing well after treatment. “He attended the event with my mother (Gail),” Kacie said. “He said to stay focused.”

That should not be a problem for Kacie who typically shoots in the mid to high 70s, took private instruction beginning at 12, played golf at St. Mary’s High School in Manhasset and then at St. Mary’s Etheridg College in Maryland. The family’s last name is also a golf term meaning an extra stroke allowed after a poor shot not counter against the golfer’s score. “A coach called me ‘do over,’” Kacie said in relation to her surname.

I love a challenge,” she said, about her passion for golf. “You could play the same golf course and never play the same hole over. “That is my favorite part. Every day is different, every golf course. Every shot, one shot at a time. Obviously, I love teaching golf and mechanics of the golf swing. The pin is never in the same spot.”

The country club’s course is 6,070 yards from the white tees, which Kacie played to help ensure a brisk pace of play. “Driving is the strongest part of my game,” she said, “I’m long off the tee.” Three caddies marked her shots with small American flags. She said she went to bed around 8 p.m. and woke up at 4:45 a.m. to get ready, including stretching exercises. Got to the club, readied the golf carts, hit some shots off a tee than began.

“I think what Kacie is doing is fantastic and honorable,” said her boos, Peter Procops, the head golf pro at the club. “The rest of my staff, and I along with our membership are fully supportive of this event and its causes.”

She played 156 holes with scores of 77, 81, 81, 77, 81, 80, 74, 84 and 44 on the final nine holes, then played two more. Kacie said “close to $30,000” was raised.

“It’s honestly so surreal,” she said afterwards, admitting she was enduring some pain. “I feel overwhelmed with emotions about the whole thing. “Grateful I am physically capable of doing something like this and proud to be able to do it for two causes that I feel passionate about.”