Indianapolis Golfer Proud To Return to Hoosier Roots in September at Indy Women in Tech Championship presented by Guggenheim at IMS
August 10, 2017 | By Paul Kelly, Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Danah Bordner lives near Rochester, New York, where her husband is the head golf professional at an area course.
But every time she steps to the first tee at an LPGA event, where golfers are introduced with their name and hometown for fans, she is identified by her hometown of Indianapolis.
As a graduate of Lawrence Central High School and Indiana University, she wouldn’t have it any other way.
Bordner’s Hoosier pride on the LPGA tour will reach a new level Sept. 7-9 when she tees off in the Indy Women in Tech Championship presented by Guggenheim LPGA tournament at Brickyard Crossing Golf Course, located at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
It’s the first LPGA event at Brickyard Crossing since the 500 Ladies Classic in 1960, won by Hall of Famer Mickey Wright.
“It’s exciting to come back home,” Bordner said. “It’s exciting to bring the LPGA back here and welcome them to our city.”
Bordner has deep roots in Hoosier golf. Her father, Denny Ford, has been a PGA professional for nearly 40 years at Pleasant Run Golf Course in Indianapolis and also is the director of golf at Sarah Shank Golf Course in Indianapolis. He was selected as Indiana PGA Golf Professional of the Year by his peers in 2010 and also has played in the U.S. Senior Open Championship and PGA Senior Championship.
Ryan Ford, Danah’s brother, played golf at Purdue and is a golf pro with his father at Pleasant Run and Sarah Shank and also serves as the golf pro at Hillview Country Club in Franklin, Indiana.
Danah Bordner played collegiate golf at IU, winning the Big Ten title in 2004. That success helped her earn the 2004 IU Female Athlete of the Year award.
She turned pro in 2005, playing on various mini-tours and on the Futures Tour, the final training ground for the LPGA. But two serious back injuries nearly stalled her career before she recovered and earned a coveted LPGA Tour card in 2011, at age 30.
“I was thankful to have the support of family,” Bordner said of the down time during her injuries. “That’s so key. I actually helped John Andrews, at the time he was the head coach at IUPUI. I helped him for a few months during that off time – that kept me sane, to have something to do.
“I’ve definitely been through two hard injuries. It’s been challenging. But definitely mind over matter, and I’m thankful for it.”
Family also is a central component of Bordner’s life off the course. She and her husband, Steve, were married in 2009 and have two young daughters, Taylor and Reagan. Balancing the travel involved in playing on the LPGA Tour and being a mother isn’t easy. How does she do it?
“That’s a good question. A glass of wine at night?” she said with a big laugh.
Playing in the Indy Women in Tech presented by Guggenheim will be her third trip to IMS this year. She was at the track Aug. 8 for promotional activities and also played a round at Brickyard Crossing, and she attended the 101st Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil on May 28 as a guest of Guggenheim, cheering on the Indy Women in Tech car driven by rookie Zach Veach.
“I’m so thankful to Guggenheim for that opportunity,” Bordner said. “That was the experience of a lifetime.”
Bordner will enter the tournament with more experience at Brickyard Crossing than most of her rivals. But she’s keeping her knowledge of the unique, Pete Dye-designed layout, which includes four holes inside the world-famous 2.5-mile IMS oval, in her pocket with her scorecard. No helpful pointers.
“Absolutely not!” Bordner said with a laugh. “I’ve given them a few tips on where to stay, where to eat. That’s about it.”
Bordner also will play at Brickyard Crossing for a larger purpose than a strong result in front of family and friends. She represents the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition on the LPGA Tour, which encourages regular screening and early detection for women.
Bordner’s best friend since college, fellow IU graduate Erika Meyer, died from ovarian cancer shortly after serving as the matron of honor at Bordner’s wedding. September is National Ovarian Cancer Month, so the tournament has even more significance for Bordner.
“This is something near and dear to my heart,” Bordner said.
Tickets for the Indy Women in Tech Championship presented by Guggenheim are available at IMS.com.