Golfer stepping up at right time

by Lonnie McMillan
Staff Writer

Ohio golfer Aimee Fronczak has spent most of her life learning to golf from, golfing with and golfing against guys.

Fronczak, a sophomore from Connellesville, Pa., said her golf career began around the age of 8 or 9.

"My dad was a golf pro at a golf course," she said. "I spent summers with him, and bored one day, I said, 'I want to play golf,' and that is how it started."

Her father continued to teach her the game, and her godfather also was a great influence.

At Geibel Catholic High School, Fronczak had to play on the boy's golf team because the school did not have a girl's team.

While there were a few other girls on the team initially, none was as interested in the game as Fronczak. Some of the guys picked on her.

"It was hard to get used to because the guys were tormenting me because I wasn't good enough to beat them," she said.

By her sophomore year, however, she was good enough to advance to the girl's state tournament. She placed sixth and eighth, respectively, her junior and senior seasons.

Froczak said she has no regrets that she did not play on a girl's team.

"I think it was an opportunity to play on the guy's team because there was more competition," she said. "It was fun. It was a different experience."

Upon coming to Ohio, Fronczak finally had an opportunity to golf regularly against female competition. She has not disappointed anyone. Following a string of good tournaments, she is second on the team with an 81.06-stroke average.

Putting has been Fronczak's key to success lately, she said. But she is not completely satisfied with her game.

"(I need to work on) accuracy with my irons," she said. "I need to hit more greens."

While her game is impressive, teammate Cari Mozingo said Aimee's mental approach to golf is what really stands out.

"She has a great attitude," she said. "We can count on her to bring in a good score. She helps everyone to get better."

While Fronczak said she does not see herself as a team leader right now, she will be one of only three juniors and seniors next year and wants to be ready to set examples.

"Right now, I just stand back and watch," she said. "I try to prepare myself to step up and be a leader."

After finishing her career at Ohio, Fronczak said she plans to continue golfing, but only for fun.

"It's too much pressure (to golf competitively)," she said. "It's just not for me."

Fronczak is majoring in dietetics, but is uncertain of what she wants in a career.

"There are so many things possible to do through my major," she said.

Fronczak and the Bobcats will compete in their last tournament of the season, the Mid-American Conference Championships, Friday through Sunday at Walden Ponds Golf Course near Cincinnati.