The Milan News-Leader
A Heritage Newspaper
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Setback for Big Reds as team's clubs stolen
Robbery of six bags leaves fledgling team in need of equipment
By Jerry Hinnen, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: May 3, 2007
For head coach Claire Neff and the members of the inaugural Milan girls' golf team, starting and building a brand-new program from scratch was always going to be an occasionally difficult and trying task.
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Unfortunately, that task became even more difficult this week as virtually all of the team's equipment was stolen in a robbery either late Monday night or Tuesday morning. Neff awoke Tuesday to find her vehicle's rear window smashed and all six of the team's golf bags — containing the Big Reds' clubs, shoes, and other equipment — missing from the vehicle, where they had been kept after the team's most recent practice. A second car parked nearby at Neff's Ypsilanti residence also had been burglarized.
"We're a little emotionally bumpy right now," Neff said. "I'm glad that the only things that got taken were things that can be replaced, that no one was hurt. We'll get through this."
The Milan girls' golf team is sponsored by Milan High School, but is a club sport rather than a full varsity sport and the players and their families are responsible for providing their own clubs and equipment.
Neff said she hoped and believed that the team would be able to scramble and find enough sets of clubs for the Big Reds to participate in their next event, the Monroe County Invitational at Bedford Hills Golf Course, scheduled for this Monday. But there was no guarantee.
"We're going to have to rely on community donations. I believe we'll have a lot of support from the community," she said. "My hope is that we'll have sets for them by the end of the week and I believe we'll be able to play at Bedford."
With money in the program already tight, the team already had planned a series of fund-raisers as the season progressed to help with costs. But Neff said that the team would gladly accept donations of both equipment of any kind, including "gloves, umbrellas, shoes ... anything would be appreciated," as well as money, but that the flexibility of monetary donations might be more useful.
The Big Reds took home a victory in only their second dual meet ever two weeks ago, defeating Airport, but had their most recent scheduled meet on April 25, against Monroe-Jefferson, rained out and must now deal with this setback.
The good news for Neff is that she believes her team is resilient enough to bounce back from even this obstacle.
"The girls seemed upbeat when I spoke to them," Neff said. "I don't want this to take over the program. We've got the girls — they're academic, ethical, athletic and dedicated. I couldn't ask for more. But now we need the equipment."
For information on donating, contact Neff at 439-5067.
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