Two-year-old Emery Gouws ran towards the ninth green and shouted “Mama ready”, much to the delight of the fans who had gathered for her mother’s autograph. Little Emery, accompanied by grandparents Tom and Angie Lincicome, was so excited to see her mom Brittany Lincicome walk out of the points tent.
Make no mistake mommy was happy to see her little girl. But she was also thrilled with her second round of 4 under 67 in a row, which put her -8 overall and just three strokes behind the lead in the final round of the ShopRite LPGA Classic 2021 presented by Acer.
“She’s a great cheerleader. She loves to be outside and doesn’t beep all the time. Most two year olds can’t be quiet that long, ”Lincicome said with a big smile to Emery, who was waiting just outside the interview area. “But she loves golf and loves to watch mom play golf, so it’s great.”
But less than an hour after leaving the course, Lincicome took to social media with sad news. Her 91-year-old grandmother died at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, just as Lincicome was finishing her second round. “I decided to stay and finish this tournament (because) I think that’s what she wanted. But I can promise you that it won’t be easy, ”wrote Lincicome on Instagram, a feeling that is accompanied by photos with her grandmother, mother and daughter – four generations of strong women.
With a win on Sunday, Lincicome would join a little sisterhood of #LPGAMoms to win on the tour after giving birth. Stacy Lewis won the 2020 Trust Golf Women’s Scottish Open less than two years after giving birth to their daughter Chesnee. Nancy Lopez, Juli Inkster, Cristie Kerr and Catriona Matthew all took titles with children in tow, with Matthew winning the 2009 AIG Women’s Open just 11 weeks after the birth of their daughter Sophie.
Lincicome is one of nine #LPGAMoms playing this week, a group that includes Sakura Yokomine, who made their first appearance on the LPGA tour since giving birth to a son in February. In addition, Azahara Munoz plays in the early stages of pregnancy and is expecting her first child in March. With more than 20 mothers actively playing on the LPGA Tour, Lincicome wants nothing more than to add a win to their #LPGAMoms ranks with her little girl there to see her mother’s success.
“I think she would know. It’s cool, ”said Lincicome, an eight-time winner whose most recent victory was at the 2018 Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic. “When you compete in a tournament, you never know what events your child will be in. Emery picks and chooses which ones to come to. It’s cool to play well, it’s cool to have her here. I think it will help me play better tomorrow. I think it will be really cool to have her with me on the green when I win. “