Circling Raven Championship notes: Addicks and her 'apartment on wheels'

From Epson Tour media relations

3 PLAYERS TO WATCH AT THE CIRCLING RAVEN CHAMPIONSHIP

Gabby Lemieux — Lemieux returns to her home state after her career-best finish at the Four Winds Invitational. The Caldwell native lost in a one-hole playoff, finishing T2. Her previous best finish, a T3, also happened at last year’s Circling Raven Championship. The momentum from the Four Winds Invitational and playing in her home state could push Lemieux to the win she’s been fighting hard for recently.

Klara Spilkova — After finishing T4 at the Four Winds Invitational, Spilkova looks to keep the momentum going. Her top-5 performance in South Bend was her second top-5 finish in four events and third top-15 finish of the season. A top finish this week could put her close to the top-10 with five events remaining in the season.

Kaleigh Telfer — 2022 rookie, Telfer made a name for herself at Stage I of the LPGA Qualifying Tournament last week. She finished T4 with four rounds of par or better, the highest placing of Epson Tour members who competed. The top finish at Stage I could give Telfer momentum heading into the final six events of the season.

ADDICKS’ HOME AWAY FROM HOME

Life on the road can get tiresome fast, especially when it’s for at least half of the year. 21 events means 21 different forms of housing. Some stay in hotels, some in air bnbs, and some are hosted by families in the communities. Each week they’re in a different space with different accommodations.

Dorsey Addicks is the exception. She bought an Airstream in July of 2020 and changed the way she and her dad live on the road. Addicks says the Airstream has completely taken away the monotony of travel, as she doesn’t have to constantly pack and unpack her clothes. She calls her Airstream a New York apartment on wheels.

“It’s been an awesome journey in it,” said Addicks. “Last week, we were in an Airbnb. It’s nice and you have more space, but it’s not the same. There’s something about having your stuff where you want it and being able to cook and sleep in your own bed. It’s tough to beat when you live on the road full time.”

Many professional golfers experience burnout as the season goes on. Their life becomes travel, practice, compete, and then they do it all over again the following week. Checking in and out of hotels, sleeping in different beds and sometimes having limited options for meals only accelerates that repetitive, exhausting feeling. Addicks said that her Airstream has helped alleviate that, as it gives her more consistency and stability when she’s not on the course.

“I think it’s really easy to get burnt out living on the road full time,” Addicks said. “It’s a lot. Sleeping in the same bed each week keeps me fresh and keeps my body feeling good. For me, it’s been more enjoyable traveling and the burn out hasn’t been as quick to come on each year.”

Addicks shares her home away from home with other women on the tour, giving them a place to hang out and an escape from being cooped up in a hotel.

“It’s super fun,” said Addicks. “We’re all grinding out here every day and it’s tough to separate your life from golf. It’s fun when I get the chance to have girls over, be human beings and not discuss golf. We’re all very different people off the golf course. It’s been a good time with my friends to relax, cook on the grill and just hang out.”

Addicks parked her Airstream on a campground in Worley, Idaho this week, just six hours away from her home in Montana. She’s excited to tee it up in the Northwest on a course she’s familiar with.

“It’s awesome,” said Addicks. “It really feels like a home game for me, just being back in the Northwest. I’m stoked and can’t wait to tee it up this week.”

ABOUT EPSON TOUR

The Epson Tour (formerly the Symetra Tour) is the official qualifying tour of the LPGA Tour and enters its 42nd competitive season in 2022. With the support of entitlement partner Seiko Epson Corporation, the Tour’s mission is to prepare the world’s best female professional golfers for a successful career on the LPGA Tour. In the last decade, the Epson Tour has grown from 15 tournaments and $1.6 million in prize money to $4.41 million awarded across 20+ events in 2022. With more than 600 graduates and alumnae moving on to the LPGA Tour, former Epson Tour players have won 459 LPGA titles.

Follow the Epson Tour at www.epsontour.com, as well as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.