Caledonia Argus

Caledonia woman a volunteer at PGA tournament

Posted: 8/13/02

The biggest names in golf will be at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska tomorrow for the start of the 86th Annual PGA tournament: Tiger Woods, David Toms, Sergio Garcia, Sue Palen.

Actually, Palen isnít one of the golfers, but her name is one thatís recognized in Caledonia. The former Sue Noel, who is the daughter of Jug and Rita Noel, grew up in Caledonia and golfed for CHS. Sheíll be at the PGA tournament in an official capacity as ìmarshall for the 19th holeî on the opening and closing days of the 2002 PGA tournament. What that means is that Palen will escort players when they leave the clubhouse or locker room for the course or putting green, and from the course back to the clubhouse. Her job is to keep the spectators away from the players. Once the tournament starts, spectators are not allowed to take pictures or ask for autographs.

Palenís road to the PGA started when she was working at the McGladrey and Pullen accounting firm in the Twin Cities and audited Hazeltine in 1997 and 1998. One of the partners in the firm was on the planning committee for hosting the PGA at Hazeltine. Palen and several other employees volunteered to work at the tournament, and she was notified about a year and a half ago that she was selected.

ìIt will be exciting. Hopefully Iíll be there Sunday at the end,î said Palen.

Palen attended training last week, and marveled at the amount of work that went into planning the event.

The PGA is the last of four major professional golf tournaments: the US Open, the British Open, the Masters and the PGA. It was held at Hazeltine in 1991, and things didnít go so well. One spectator was killed and five injured by lightning, and the course was so wet that helicopters were called in in an attempt to dry the grass.

As a volunteer, Palen can attend the tournament any day, and planned on taking her husband, Joe, to yesterdayís practice round. She was going to return Wednesday to watch another practice round.

ìIt will be a neat experience,î said Palen. ìIt should be an interesting week to say the least.î She said she hopes to get some autographs and maybe a few stories to share by the time the tournament ends. CBS is providing coverage of this yearís PGA. About 35,000 spectators are expected to be at the gate when the tournament opens on Thursday.

Palen now lives in Rochester with her husband, Joe, son of Joe and Janet Palen of Caledonia, and daughter Claire. She is a CPA with the Mayo Credit Union.

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