Sports
Morgan Pressel, 17, is
swinging for the heights.
MARVIN GLASSMAN
Special to the Jewish News
Miami
F
our years ago, 12-year-old
Morgan Pressel of Boca
Raton, Fla., captured the
attention of the golf world by becom-
ing the youngest competitor at the
U.S. Open.
Most agreed that she was an out-
standing golfer for her age.
But after the U.S. Open two weeks
ago, "for her age" can be removed.
Pressel, now 17, missed by one stroke
becoming the youngest player, and the
first Jew, to win the Open.
Pressel, with ties to Florida and
Michigan, has arrived as an outstand-
ing golfer. "I feel confident that I have
a bright future in golf," Pressel said. "I
have shown that being young is not a
setback in my sport."
For Pressel's grandfather, Dr. Herb
Krickstein, a pathologist retired from
St. John's Hospital and a former resi-
dent of Grosse Pointe Woods, it was
deja vu.
More than 20 years ago, Dr.
Krickstein's son, Aaron, at age 16
made history by becoming the
youngest champion to win a pro ten-
nis title — in Tel Aviv — in 1983.
Krickstein was a top-10 player from
1983-94, ranked as high as sixth in
the world in 1990.
"This is an incredible feeling, to
have two superstar athletes in two
sports in one family at a young age —
that has to be a first," said Dr.
Krickstein, now living in Florida.
Pressel is starting to have a career in
golf that may exceed even what her
uncle Aaron achieved in tennis a
decade ago.
Pressel is competing in Sylvania,
Ohio, at the Jamie Farr Classic July 7-
10.
She broke 80 when she took up the
game at age 6, and has been steadily
improving. In December, Pressel won
her second consecutive class 1A
Florida high school state champi-
onship by shooting a 62 — a new
high school record for both boys and
girls.
She won the Rolex Junior Golf
Championship and the U.S. Open
sectional qualifier in successive weeks
When Pressel's mother, Kathy, a for-
mer Big Ten tennis champion at the
University of Michigan, underwent
chemotherapy for breast cancer in
1994, she sent Morgan to her father's
summer home in Grosse Pointe
Woods. He taught her golf at the
Lochmoor Country Club.
"Dad is a positive influence for
Morgan," said Kathy Pressel in 2001.
"He relaxes her and never puts pres-
sure on her to become a golfer to the
exclusion of anything else."
Dr. Krickstein explained, "What I
did not want to do was push Morgan
to play more golf tournaments than
she could or punish her in any way if
she could not play as well as she or I
liked. You need patience and under-
standing with children, as opposed to
forcing them to do something you
want."
Dr. Kricksteijn's involvement is
major, due in part to the death of
Kathy Pressel in 2003 from breast can-
cer. She was 43.
"My mother always wanted the best
from me," Morgan Pressel said. "If I
missed a shot, she would say 'Go hit
the next one.' She was competitive
and she set a good example for me,"
said Pressel.
."I would like to be like my Uncle
Morgan has impressive support
Aaron — be as good an athlete as I
from
her classmates at St. Andrews
can be and give of myself to others."
High
School and members of
Aaron Krickstein won two tourna-
Congregation
B'nai Torah. Rabbi
ments in Israel and appeared in
Amy
Rader,
who
officiated at Pressel's
numerous fundraisers for Jewish
bat mitzvah as well as Kathy's funeral,
community centers and other chari-
feels that Morgan is an inspiration to
ties.
Added Pressel, "If not for my success others.
"I have known the family now for a
in being accepted to go to pro tourna-
long
time. Morgan really sets an exam-
ments this summer, I would have been
ple
that
a young person can do a lot of
in Israel myself this month as a mem-
things,
like
golf, and not put her
ber of the United States golf team at
Jewish
life
on
hold," the rabbi said.
the Maccabiah Games. I hope the
The Pressels attend Shabbat services
time will come later on that I go to
every Friday evening.
Israel in the future."
"I have used Morgan as an example
Pressel has an impressive family lega-
in
my sermons of how a teen can
cy in both sports and Judaism.
make
good decisions," added Rabbi
Pressel's great-grandfather was Rabbi
Rader.
To that end, Pressel has not
Joseph Krickstein, who had a pulpit in
turned
professional.
Ann Arbor. Herb Krickstein excelled
She has been offered a scholarship to
in baseball and was given a tryout by
Duke University and plans to go to
the Detroit Tigers, but turned down
college. Her golf success this summer
the offer of a baseball contract to
may impact whether to keep her oral
become a pre-medicine student.
commitment to go to Duke, in North
Pressel's father, Mike, was a hockey
Carolina. "I want to take one step at a
player and sister Madison is becoming
time," said Pressel.
an excellent golfer.
Young ACE
A Floridian with Detroit ties is
upending the golf world.
in June.
"Morgan's talent is obvious for all to
see," said star golfer Annika
Sorenstam. "It is only a matter of time
for her to start winning consistently."
Pressel's impressive credentials —
which include hitting 230-yard drives
— have given her exemptions into the
Jamie Farr Classic and two other pro
tournaments.
Instant fame can make a 17-year-
old forget about education, family
and being Jewish. But Pressel does
not view herself as a star, thanks to
her grandfather who is also her coach.
"Morgan is not treated differently
than any of her siblings [brother
Mitchell, 11, and sister Madison, 13].
She has to do well in school and keep
up*with band practice," said Dr.
Krickstein.
"I love playing golf," said Pressel,
"but it is not the only thing in my life.
When I was 13, I was studying hard
for my bat mitzvah at Congregation
B'nai Torah in Boca Raton and was so
proud to have read the prayers in front
of my family and friends," said Pressel.
❑
314
7/ 7
2005
55
4