By Mike Woods, Appleton Post-Crescent

Father Time is not on her side and a knee that no longer has any cartilage are two good reasons why Appleton’s Carolyn Barnett-Howe could easily say “forget it.”

But as a teacher to several of the area’s top high school golfers, she feels she has to practice what she preaches.

That’s why she went through U.S. Women’s Open local qualifying and why today, despite having to play 36 holes in one day on a bad knee, she’ll take part in the sectional qualifying at Knollwood Country Club in Bloomfield Hills, Mich.

“I do it because I enjoy competing and with the kids I work with, I feel a little hypocritical telling them to buck it up and keep trying if I’m not going to do that,” said Barnett-Howe who, along with her husband Steve, works with many of the area’s young talent through Swing Solutions of Menasha.

“Plus, it’s kind of fun. They’re good cheerleaders for me.”

They will certainly have plenty to cheer about if Barnett-Howe survives and advances to the U.S. Women’s Open, set for June 29-July 2 at the Newport Country Club in Newport, R.I.

Barnett-Howe said she is heading into sectional qualifying with low expectations.

“I have no cartilage in one knee and playing 36 holes, it’s going to be a tough one,” she said. “You know, I get into these fields and it’s kind of cute. So many of these girls could be my daughter. I’m feeling a little bit old. But that’s why golf is such a cool game.”

And that’s why she’ll give it a go, despite the odds being against her.

“I got three calls Tuesday from disappointed young guys,” she said, referring to WIAA qualifying for the state tournament. “They didn’t make it out of sectionals and they’ve been working since February for that moment.

“So, if I’m going to tell them ‘tomorrow’s another day,’ I have to do it myself.”

On the men’s side, Kelly Mills, the PGA pro at Winagamie Golf Course in Neenah, will attempt to qualify for the U.S. Open set for June 15-18 at the famed Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, N.Y.

Mills will partake in sectional qualifying today at St. Charles Country Club in St. Charles, Ill.

Appleton’s J.P. Hayes will attempt to advance to the Open from sectional qualifying at the Canoe Brook Country Club in Summit, N.J.