By Justin Sokeland
WBIW.com
BEDFORD – Golf, according to the most accomplished professionals, is the most difficult sport in the world. “Deceptively simple and endlessly complicated,” the late Arnold Palmer said. “It satisfies the soul and frustrates the intellect. It is at the same time rewarding and maddening”.
Bedford North Lawrence’s Kinleigh Root would agree. Everyone who has ever competed on the course has gone through the love-hate relationship. Love still wins, which is why Root has chosen to continue her career at the college level.
On Monday afternoon, Root fulfilled a dream from her earliest childhood memories in the game, signing with IU Kokomo. She will join former BNL teammate Chloe McFaddin with the Cougars.
Root finished her four-year career with the Stars with enough awards and blue ribbons to fill any trophy case. She was All-Hoosier Hills Conference, she was a key player as BNL won two regional titles during the last three years, and she helped power the Stars to four consecutive appearances in the IHSAA state championships.
Why Kokomo? Perhaps it’s like the Beach Boys hit, “Everybody knows, A little place like Kokomo, Now if you wanna go, And get away from it all, Go down to Kokomo.” Actually, Root will be going up to Kokomo for just the opposite reason. She’s not getting away, she’s seeking greater personal goals.
“I just want to be better than I ever have been before,” Root said, as she prepares to join coach Brandi Jones’ program.
”You have to love this sport. It’s all mental. I’ve been through everything with it, and it’s really hard. I like the challenge of that, the challenges you have to face when playing it.”
For the BNL program, Root is another name for the lengthy list of Stars who have gone on to play college golf.
“It’s big,” BNL coach Carly Stigall said. “It shows that Lady Stars golf makes college golfers. It’s a huge accomplishment.”
Root plans to major in business.
