One goes by Divot (Mary), the other by Bunker (Barbara). For the last 26 years, the longtime friends (54 years and counting) have been the volunteer coordinators at the LPGA Qualifying Tournament Stage II at Plantation Golf and Country Club. For 92-year-old Divot and 87-year-old Bunker, 2014 will be their final Qualifying School as co-volunteer coordinators.

The friendship was born at a convent in New York City (Scarsdale). They have been living together for the last 52 years and have only been in one argument or, as they like to call it “discussion”.

“She was the mother superior and I was the (pause) I was the one that wasn’t,” explains Barbara with her sharp sense of humor that belies her age. “I was teaching and she was walking around the school.”

Divot jumped in “perfect answer Barbara, that is all I did; walk around and tell you what to do.”

They still organize the old fashion way, pen to paper, no computers. Divot walked into the LPGA Office bright and early on Wednesday and asked for the cordless telephone to call one of their volunteers. She made the call, added a joke to keep things light and the job was complete.

“They are the conductors that make the orchestra go,” said Kathy Lawrence, LPGA Qualifying Tournament Director. “The volunteers need leadership and Bunker and Divot were that. With the help of the Plantation staff they created a great working atmosphere. We as the LPGA staff don’t have to concentrate on the volunteers, we come in and it is all done.”

The still dynamic duo got involved at Plantation Golf and Country Club when they moved to Florida and took up golf lessons with Kathy Murphy, who was honored by the LPGA Teaching & Club Professionals with the 2013 Ellen Griffin Rolex Award.

“She gave us three lessons a week,” said Bunker.

“It was hopeless,” said Divot.

“She (Kathy Murphy) would turn over the big bag of golf balls and then turn around and say I can’t bare watch, but she gave us the love of the game.”

Kathy’s mother took Bunker and Divot under her wing and when they found out the LPGA Tour was coming to Venice, they decided to volunteer. The first few years, they were starters and then they took over as the volunteer coordinators about 23 years ago.

“You get to meet a lot of people that are interested in golf and have no talent at all and then you meet people that are really good at golf and love the game and that is it, amen,” said Divot.

“I think it is a great plus for the Plantation, I think the players are extraordinarily polite and nice, the staff is most cooperative, and the LPGA Tour is great to us.”

Mid interview one of their volunteers Joanne walks into the LPGA Office to give both Bunker and Divot a big kiss.

“Are you going to be OK,” asks Bunker to one of her near 200 volunteers. “Did you know that Joanne hasn’t been able to do anything in months because of her back and she is coming over here to volunteer; isn’t that beautiful?”

Before Joanne left, just a few orders from Bunker and Divot.

“You’re not going around yet, too early. You won’t start until about 10:00 o’clock or 10:15.”

At this point, you probably want to know how Barbara and Mary became Bunker and Divot.

“That’s an easy story,” said Bunker. “Kathy told us to go out and play the Panther course.”

“My ball gets in the potbelly bunker on hole number six and I tried to get out, but I got under the ledge. Mary (Divot) was using up all the sand in the cart because she was always filling up divots.”

After the round, Kathy wanted to know how they did.

“Kathy asked me how many shots it took to get out of the bunker and I told her 17 so she said from now on you will be called Bunker and Mary will be Divot because she is constantly making divots.”

The interview, which they graciously tried to avoid because they want the attention on the players, the LPGA and their loyal volunteers, took place in the LPGA Office. After 15 minutes, Bunker and Divot walked out arm-and-arm en route back to their command center. Like she has for the last 26 years, Divot turned around and said.

“We’ve got to go back to work.”

Never a Rough Patch with Bunker and Divot

Related Articles