Beth Bader missed the cut at this week's Stanford International Pro-Am, meaning she should have been long gone by Saturday morning.
Instead, she was on the course at 7:40 a.m., beginning another 18 holes - and, as her teary eyes showed, for a very good reason.
Bader's partner in the Pro-Am was Aaron Theobald, a 23-year-old bartender from Bloomington, Ill., whom she'd never met before this week's play began.
They were a perfect pairing. He's a leukemia survivor. She raises money for cancer research, after losing her mother to the disease in 2004. Earlier this year, Bader organized the first Susan L. Bader Golf Classic, raising $50,000.
So for Bader, there couldn't have been a better reason to play Saturday, even though she wasn't making a cent.
"Hearing Aaron's story, how he's battled what he's battled at such a young age, it obviously touched me and it still touches me," Bader said, crying softly as she spoke minutes after Theobald tapped in for birdie on their final hole. "It was a pleasure playing with him. ... Today was about Aaron and we came through. It was a great day."
A really great day, as it turned out.
The Bader-Theobald team shot a 64 on Saturday in the best-ball handicap format, finishing the tournament 25 under - and winning by three shots. For their efforts, they received a slew of gifts including a Waterford Crystal trophy, watches, airline tickets and a resort stay.
"He played spectacular," Bader said.
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