Sports

Top Flight

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The state's premier female high school golfer achieved her ultimte goal last season.

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Lou Schlissberg tees up for East Lansing.

MIKE ROSENBAUM

Special to The Jewish News

G

oing into her final high
school tournament, Lori
Schlissberg had won al-
most every prep golfing honor
possible.
In her freshman season at
East Lansing High School,
Schlissberg was honorable
mention All-State. As a sopho-
more, she earned first team All-
State honors and was voted to
Michigan's eight-girl "Super
Team" by the Michigan Golf
Coaches Association. As a ju-
nior she was named "Miss Golf
as the best player in the state.
She repeated that honor this
season.
But until this year's Class A
state tournament, Schlissberg's

positive example for her team- the ball a considerable distance.
mates, which was vital to East But I think what sets her apart
is the finest short game in the
Lansing's success.
Picard called Schlissberg "one state. Her ability to get up and
of the most diligent and hard- down on the green and putt is
working individuals that I've probably what distinguishes
ever seen, and I've been coach- her from other players."
Although her high school
ing golf a long time. Her work
ethic is unsurpassed. She is a years are over, Schlissberg's
maximizer in a competitive golfing career remains in full
swing. Before her senior season
sense.
"She has taken average play- ended, she accepted a full-ride
era on her team and inspired golf scholarship from Michigan
them to be above average. She's State.
She considered several col-
the benchmark — other girls
try to measure up to her exam- leges and visited Penn State be-
ple. Lori was their emotional fore settling on her hometown
leader as well as their perfor- school. "I really didn't know
mance leader." where I wanted to go until the
Schlissberg was born into a very end," she said. Shell study
golfing family. Her father, Mar- education and child psycholo-
ty, taught his three kids to play gy, although she chose the
— sons Hank and Robbie and school because she felt it will
daughter Lori. give her "the best golfing op-
But Lori preferred gymnas- portunity•"
Schlissberg expects her life
tics, saying she hated golf. Then
an injury ended her gymnastics to revolve around "golf and my
studies, until I get used to
career.
So Lori gave golf a second things" in college. "Golf is re-
supreme golfing goals were still chance. "I really got into it when ally going to be a major part of
time."
unmet. She wanted to win the I started high school," she re- my Not
one to look too far into
calls,
"because
I
got
to
play
with
state tournament and lead her
other girls. Until then I was al- the future, Schlissberg will only
team to a state Class A title.
ways playing with the boys. say that "if I play really well,
This spring, Schlissberg had
There weren't really many girls then I guess I could try, maybe,
her last chance to achieve her who played golf." some pro circuit. But right now
goals. On a cold and rainy day
Schlissberg's game steadily I'm just going to concentrate on
at East Lansing's Forest Akers
improved,
which strengthened the next four years."
Golf Course, Schlissberg played
her
motivation.
year I've Schlissberg prepared for her
the best round of her life, shoot- gotten more and "Each
more dedicat- college debut by playing in na-
ing an even-par 73 to win the
tournament by six shots. But ed to it. The better I've gotten, tional junior tournaments this
Schlissberg was even happier the more I've wanted to prac- summer. Between tourna-
Schlissberg works with
about East Lansing's team vic- tice and the better I've wanted ments,
a pair of tutors. One is a teach-
to
do."
tory.
Schlissberg describes her ing pro. The other is the man
"The first thing she asked
golfing style as "consistent. I who introduced her to the sport,
when she walked off the golf
father.
course was how her teammates don't really get in too much her "He
still works an incredible
trouble.
I
usually
hit
a
lot
of
fair-
had done," says her coach,
amount
of time with me,"
ways and greens."
Yvonne Picard.
Picard notes that, although Schlissberg says. "We spend a
While golf is played individ-
ually, Schlissberg, aware of her Schlissberg is not usually a long lot of time together on the golf
role as the team leader, set a hitter, she "has the ability to hit course." 0