WOW!
Hello everyone!
First, I would like to thank everyone for their comments, emails, phone calls and text messages. I couild not belive how many people were following this last week! THANK YOU!!!!
Well never in a million years did I think that I would be winning my first LPGA event in the third week of the season and on top of it never thought I would be in a four hole playoff with the #1 female golfer in the world and maybe of all time.
The week started out slow. We sat through a few rain delays which pushed the tournament to a Monday finish. It was a very long week. The first day I only played 9 holes and then I had to come out and play 27 holes the next day. I finished 27 holes at 8 under and was the tournamet leader. The rain came down and the thunder and lightning continued to transpire all day Sunday so I never got a chance to tee off. There was talk at first of maybe going to a 36 hole tournament and since I was leading I was all for it! But the tournament sponsors wanted a 54 hole tournament so we had to finish on Monday morning. The players were all scrambling to change and cancel flights and get ready to play on a Monday for the first time in 9 years on the LPGA Tour.
The final round was a little bit nervewrecking before I started. Playing in the final group in only my 3rd event of the season was something that I had never done before. I had a really nice group. I got paired with Stacy P who won the Fields Open in Hawaii a couple weeks ago and Seon Hwa Lee who was the Rookie of the Year last year and a prduct of the Duramed Futures Tour, winning her card in 2005. I was trying not to throw up before my tee time Monday morning. I was extremelly anxious and nervouis. My emotions were going in all different directions but I knew it was going to be a long day so I needed to stay patient and in the present. I had the lead all the way up to hole 13 when Annika had birdied the next 2 holes. I got to #15 and saw she had a 2 shot lead on me. I looked at my caddie and said Herbie, she had to shoot her low round today when I am seeking my first LPGA win! He laughed and said Meg, there are a lot of holes left and anything can happen. Well he was right. With my birdie on 16 and her bogey it put us tied at the top of the leaderboard and that is how the round would finish. I never thought that I would be going back to the 18th tee in a playoff with the best in the world.
After I signed my scorecard and ran to the bathroom they drove us back out to the 18th tee which was a par 5. The rules official came up with a hat with 2 numbers in there so we could pick the order and i drew number 1 so I was first to play. I smoked one down the middle and my nerves were better after that! The first playoff hole was pretty exciting. Annika hit it in there really close and I hit a wedge pretty far from the hole since I was so excited. I almost made a 40 foot putt, it hit the back of the hole and popped out! I thought it was in when I hit it. She missed hers and we went onto the next hole. We both made pars on the second and third playoff holes so we went back to the tee box which would be for the fourth and final time. Aniika absolutely killed her drive and had an option to go for the greeen. She decided not to which I was pretty shocked about. It was goign to come down to our wedge games. I was first to hit from 104 yards and hit a gap wedge up there to about 4 feet so I had put the pressure on her to hit it close. She gets up there and hits it to about 10 feet. We get up to the green and I saw her putt and said ok you better expect her to make this. She got up there and missed and I saiid to myself youi better make this because she is not going to miss anymore putts! I saw the break which was left center and stroked it and it went in! All the tension was gone and all the worries had left me. I had just won my first LPGA Tour event and had just beaten the #1 player in the world. It was something I will never forget for the rest of my life. My friends Sarah and Meredith ran out on the green along with my dad and were crying with me. It was amazing!
The ceremony was all in Spanish but it was quite alright! I recieved a check for $180,000 and a first time winner recieves a Rolex watch which was a pretty nice treat as well. Before this week nobody knew who I was but by the end of the week in Mexico City the crowds were yelling FRANCELLA FRANCELLA! What an amazing experience. It was a dream come true.
Thank you again to everyone who has followed me and to those of you who have helped jumpstart my career. I would not be able to do this without all of your support. Thank you again so much!
 Meaghan
March 15th, 2007 at 8:43 am
Congratulations, Meaghan!! What an incredible accomplishment!!
-Regina Possavino (holy child ‘97)
March 15th, 2007 at 10:18 am
Congrats Meaghan!! All the old Hold Child girls remember you as a little kid running around with golf clubs at school while your mom was teaching. We were all cheering for you!! Same with everyone at WCC. Couldn’t have happened to a nicer girl. – Cristina Portale Coco (HC ‘91)
March 15th, 2007 at 1:10 pm
MEAGHAN WHAT CAN I SAY? WE (YOUR MOM, YOU AND ME) TALKED IN THE PARKING LOT AT THE WESTCHESTER CLASSIC A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. WE DISCUSSED THIS DREAM ABOUT YOU ON THE LPGA TOUR. YOUR DREAM HAS ARRIVED!!!! MUCH HAPPINESS TO A FANTASTIC PERSON AND NUMBER 1 GOLFER.
Joan Conklin
p.s. pinch me – Annika SORENSTAN?????
March 15th, 2007 at 2:25 pm
Hi, Meaghan; A real life “Tin Cup” story!! Super Congratulations!! Sam Weinman can do the screen play, and you just have to play yourself.
Just wondered if Tom Patri was still your coach, and can you tell me a little more about Herbie and how long he’s been with you? You, obviously, make a great couple.
Your victory(USA player)should also increase the popularity of the LPGA tour which, as yet, is not fully appreciated by the viewing public. The fact that The Golf Channel could not carry the playoff was a huge disappointment.
Continued success on a tour which should see purses increasing with players such as yourself.
Arthur Christensen
P.S. I am a member of Westchester Country Club and remember you from the Pro Shop and range, and I think I can speak for the membership when I say we’re all proud to have helped a little in your development. Again, Congatulations!!
March 15th, 2007 at 3:08 pm
I’m not even a golf fan. But congrats! Good on you!
March 15th, 2007 at 3:16 pm
Really impressive that you went toe-to-toe with Annika Sorenstam and beat her. Probably equivalent to beating Tiger Woods. Congratulations and I hope this is just the beginning for ya.
March 15th, 2007 at 3:59 pm
Meaghan,
Your Lady Tar Heels are here in the ‘Burgh for the first two rounds of The Big Dance….I may have to go out and buy myself a new UNC hat and root them on in your honor (you’ll autograph it for me some day, won’t you?). Congratulations again on a fantastic win. Tough as nails.
Paula Stevens
Pittsburgh, PA
March 15th, 2007 at 5:15 pm
Hi Meaghan,
What a great write-up. Even though we all were so disappointed that we didn’t get to see you do it, your descriptions paint a very clear picture. And you were worried about what you would write about. LOL ! Congratulations again. You’re so right. It’s a dream come true.
Aunt Emilia & Uncle Joe
March 15th, 2007 at 6:02 pm
Congrats!
March 16th, 2007 at 6:32 am
Simply outstanding. I has goosebumps reading your blog today. Wonderful stuff. Congrats.
March 16th, 2007 at 9:15 am
You Go Girl!!! I am soooo proud of you and also my whole family!!I always knew you can do it, from way back when. Stay focused as always.Your mom & I were jumping up & down in your living room like two little kids squishing Vokey, your dog, in between us. Annika who? Hit em` straight, theres a lot more to come & I know theres another win coming. Lots of love!!!
March 16th, 2007 at 9:41 am
one more thing….i think i got more phone calls than your mom, nice going!! cat g from pc
March 16th, 2007 at 10:10 am
Congratulations, Meaghan, I live in Florida but I really am happy that you have done so well and beating Annika? I am originally from Westchester County so it is so nice to see someong close by in the LPGA or PGA. Good luck in future tournaments and I will be watching you. Ann Maccabee,
Inverness, Florida
March 16th, 2007 at 12:04 pm
Hey Meaghan!!! Congratulations!!! It’s been a long time since I have seen you but I have been following your career!! You have made the town of PC and everyone who knows you very proud!!! Keep up all the hard work! You deserve it!
Sara Borsella
March 16th, 2007 at 2:54 pm
Congratulations Meaghan. We were following you in the media all weekend and were absolutely thrilled with your great win. I’m sure it is the first of many.
JillHooper, WCC 9 Hole Group
March 16th, 2007 at 6:24 pm
Greetings meaghan—I am friends with Pam, your cousin. We were all following your event here in rye, and are totally excited for you. I work in a law office and all the men play golf. I forwarded your story to some friends of mine who were lady golfers…they loved it. We are following your career and hoping you continue to do well. Maybe someday I’ll learn how to do it!
Hope to meet you soon back here in westchester. JOAN C.
March 17th, 2007 at 9:19 am
congrats meag!! All those tuna fish sandwiches at cyp camp and rye beach! Your mom cut the crusts off and cut in fours, I offered you my meatballs but it was not “allowed”!! Win another one, pc is going nuts, we all can’t believe it. Lots of luck.
March 17th, 2007 at 8:05 pm
Hello Meaghan!
Congratulations! I’m a 12-year old junior girl golfer from Ohio and a few weeks ago my Papa Anthony who lives in Rockland County, NY sent me an article from the Journal News about you, telling me we should follow your rookie year on tour by reading your blog. This week he sent me the “Fancy Beating You” article with a post it note on it that said “Looks like we picked a winner to follow!”
I like how you describe how you felt during the tournament and how you were patient and weren’t intimidated by going up against Annika. And I laughed when you described how you introduced yourself to her. I also like how you finished college when most players just skip. So please keep up writing in your blog because I really like reading it!
Thank you so much and way to go!!! Good skill in your next tournament!
Brynn
March 18th, 2007 at 3:41 pm
Did anyone notice that Francella was wearing Gator Orange and Blue during the second round last week?
March 18th, 2007 at 10:55 pm
Gator orange and blue will fade too.
If they ask us where she hails from
Our sole reponse shall be
She comes from Carolina
And the streets of old PC!
(Apologies to Roscoe Conkling and the Rosemary Street irregulars.)
March 19th, 2007 at 3:21 pm
The O’Brien family sends our congrats to Meaghan. We have been faithful followers of your career since Holy Child. I remember the day when you stood at the par 3 at Westchester Hills pounding out balls to raise $ for the HC Golf Outing!! I also remember not getting my shot inside your ball. Best wishes!
March 19th, 2007 at 9:28 pm
Orange and Blue, eh? Don’t have any idea why you would want to wear those colors??!?!? Hehe,
Anyone that knows Meaghan knows that she deserves everything that happens and good things happen to good people. She is an even better person than she is a player and this was the first of many great things to come…
Congrats Meag! Rollin’ 7s!
March 20th, 2007 at 7:12 am
Meaghan,
Claudia and I have furiously been sending articles and such back and forth! I AM SO HAPPY FOR YOU! The article in the Daily News made me cry at my desk at 8AM…Much love to your parents (especially your Mom) and what a wonderful accomplishment! Enjoy every moment…Alanna Piazza
March 20th, 2007 at 9:40 pm
Hi Meaghan,
Congratulations. What an incredible story and accomplishment! I hope you are relaxing and enjoying your victory.
All the best,
Delia
March 21st, 2007 at 1:08 pm
Hey Meagan,
Congrats!!! Couldn’t wait to get the paper everyday to see how you were doing…but I didn’t have to because a boy here at Blind Brook High who is a golfer was keeping me updated…and I told him only the BEST comes out of Port Chester…!!! I am so happy for you.
Rita Gianfrancesco
March 21st, 2007 at 4:23 pm
Meaghan,
What a great win!I know that I speak for the rest of the family when I say I can’t wait for Christmas! There should be some great presents under the tree this year! Though someone said that you still have your Communion money!I guess we will have to wait and see.
Love,
Uncle Chucky
June 14th, 2007 at 7:58 pm
Interesting…
July 12th, 2007 at 6:00 am
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