Natural athlete shows gift for golf

Kira Meixner didn’t take up golf until she was 12 years old. But she took to it immediately and now, at the age of 21, is recognized by the Royal Canadian Golf Association as the top female amateur player in the country.

Richmond’s sportsperson of the year got her start at the Richmond Country Club where her dad, Gary, took her out to play and practice.

“He made it fun and as I started getting better, I enjoyed it even more,” says Meixner.

“My dad was my biggest golfing influence because he introduced me to the game, and (he) inspired me to believe in my ability and that I could be the best golfer if I worked hard enough.”

Meixner’s obviously done just that, combining a strong work ethic with a natural ability for the game.

A senior at Kent State University, she had a tremendous 2007 campaign with a victory at the B.C. Ladies Amateur Golf Championship and a runner-up finish at the Mexican ladies amateur.  She also finished sixth at the Royal National Women’s Amateur Golf Championship, tied for ninth at the CN Canadian women’s tour event at the Vancouver Golf Club and advanced to the third round of match play at both the U.S. and British ladies amateur championships. And she was named to the RCGA national women’s amateur team for the third consecutive year, automatically earning a spot on the 2008 team.

Mike Morrow isn’t surprised by Meixner’s success. Coach of the Kent State University Golden Flashes’ golf team, where Meixner is concluding a five-year golf scholarship, he knew the moment he saw her play that she was something special.

It was in late 2003, just after Christmas, at the Joanne Winter Silver Belle tournament in Phoenix. Morrow was immediately impressed by the-then 18-year-old Richmondite’s passion for the game, and her strong fundamentals.

“I thought Kira had the whole package,” Morrow said. “She was obviously an outstanding athlete but I also liked her attitude and her mindset. Combine that with maturity and you’ve got a pretty good key to her success.”

Meixner has been nothing shy of spectacular—and consistent—during her time at Kent State University. The

Named the Mid-Atlantic Conference Player of the Year April 27, Meixner leads the Golden Flashes this season with a 74.52 scoring average. Thanks in large part to her efforts Kent State University has finished no lower than fifth place in any of its 10 events this season, and won its 10th consecutive conference title last weekend, shooting a tournament record eight under par in the final round to win by 51 strokes.

On the heels of one of the most dominating regular season performances in the 10-year history of the program, the Kent State University women’s golf team will be heading to Austin, Texas May 8 to 10 as it makes its eighth consecutive regional appearance. Eight teams and two individuals will advance from each of the three regional sites to the National Collegiate Athletic Association championship May 20 to 23 at the University of New Mexico Championship Golf Course in Albuquerque.

Meixner was always athletic as a child, spending a lot of time skiing and playing tennis. She also pursued gymnastics and later competed, and she loved playing softball.

A good all-around athlete in high school at Hugh Boyd Secondary, she entered her first junior golf match play event in 2001 and decided then she wanted to pursue golf seriously.

“She improved quite rapidly, to a point where the occasional thought of collegiate golf came into play,” says Gary Meixner. “She then played B.C. and Canadian junior events to try and build a golf resumé.”

In 2003 she won the Western Future Links golf event in Edmonton and applied that summer to some universities, deciding, after visiting several campuses, on Kent State University from where she’ll graduate next week with honours. She’ll miss her graduation ceremony however because she’ll be golfing in the regionals.

Listing Tiger Woods, Lorena Ochoa, Mike Weir, Trevor Immelman and Annika Sorenstam as her favourite golfers—”I admire their work ethic, focus, competitiveness, and demeanors”—Meixner says she’s focused now on helping her team make it to the national college finals. But representing her home country is an even bigger honour.

“I’d have to say playing in the world amateur championship in South Africa and the CN Canadian Women’s Open (have been the biggest highlights so far),” she says. “Being a part of the successes of the Kent State women’s golf team is also very rewarding though.

After wrapping up her university golf career, Meixner plans to play a full schedule this summer as a member of the Canadian national women’s team. And she plans to go to qualifying school in the fall to pursue her professional career.

•Kira Meixner was also selected as the Richmond Sports Awards’ junior female athlete of the year. Emma Kimoto and Kaelan Watson were also nominated.