Cysewski's choice par for the course

Usually, when things click for a golfer in a tournament, it is attributed to a swing tip from a coach or a pro, or something as simple as a pep talk.

But in this case, it was a decision — a decision to not play — that propelled Megan Cysewski to the tournament of a lifetime.

Cysewski, a Lakeland High product, shot 74-74—148 — the best 18-hole scores of her life — to blow away the field, capture medalist honors and lead her Community Colleges of Spokane women’s golf team to victory at the Northwest Athletic Conference championships Sunday and Monday at The Home Course in DuPont, Wash.

“Totally came unexpected,” CCS women’s golf coach Christie Dalsanders said the next day. “I am so shocked, still in shock, and proud of her for all of her hard work.”

CYSEWSKI, A sophomore, was going through the process of trying to figure out what to do with the next two years of her life.

NAIA Rocky Mountain in Billings was interested. She also talked to NCAA Division II Northwest Nazarene in Nampa, as well as a few other schools.

“I was debating on playing golf somewhere, or just going to school,” Cysewski said.

Moving far from home — “I’m super close with my family,” she said — was an issue. So were the realities of funding a college education.

So about a month ago, following a tournament in Auburn, Wash., she made her decision — to attend the University of Idaho, complete her major in elementary education, and not play college golf.

“It relieved a ton of stress,” Cysewski said.

May 14 and 15, at the challenging Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Bandon, Ore., Cysewski shot 79-83--162 — her lowest two-day total by 14 strokes.

Before the NWAC championships, her best 18-hole score was 76, during a practice round.

“Not sure where it came from, other than she went in with the mindset that she and we were going to do it, and it happened,” said Dalsanders, in her 15th season as CCS women’s coach, and 20th year in the program.

CYSEWSKI WAS recommended to Dalsanders by her swing coach, Darrell Hull, the director of golf at The Links.

“Darrell talked about her work ethic, her attitude and her enthusiasm, and I could just tell that her work ethic was what I was looking for,” Dalsanders said.

During the home recruiting visit, Cysewski mentioned her best friend, Haley Rotchford, was also interested in playing. Two years ago, they helped Lakeland’s girls finish fifth at the state 4A tournament, and Rotchford earned a medal for a top-10 finish.

Two years later, Cysewski and Rotchford helped the CCS women win their first NWAC championship since 2011. Rotchford, who has played golf most of her life, hopes to continue her college golf career somewhere next year.

“She’s the one that helped get me into golf (as a sophomore), so it kinda went in a huge circle,” Cysewski said of helping “recruit” Rotchford to CCS. “It was nice to always have someone there that had my back when I didn’t play well.”

Cysewski said Hull “means the world to me. I could never thank him enough.

“I owe a huge thank you to my coach and team as well. Couldn’t have done it without their support and encouragement.”

Mark Nelke is sports editor of The Press. He can be reached at 664-8176, Ext. 2019, or via email at mnelke@cdapress.com. Follow him on Twitter@CdAPressSports.