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Couple married to the Golf Channel Am Tour

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LA QUINTA, Calif. – Barb McCormick and Bill Lewicki always plan their vacations around golf.

They figured why not their wedding, too?

The two got married in New Orleans in between two Golf Channel Am Tour events during a weekend in June. This is the first year they’re both competing at the Golf Channel Am Tour senior national championship at the same time – Lewicki in the Senior Sarazen flight (for handicaps 12.0-15.9) and McCormick in the Senior Jones (16.0-19.9). There are a handful of other husband-and-wife duos playing in the 72-hole, stroke-play tournament, which started Friday on the four courses at PGA West. Monday’s final round will determine the champions in six flights.

McCormick’s and Lewicki’s wedding weekend was filled with the game they love. Lewicki teed off in the Louisiana Open at the Lakewood Golf Club at 11 a.m. June 6, finishing in time for the 6 p.m. wedding ceremony at a restaurant in front of an intimidate group of family and friends. McCormick planned on playing but opted to go to a spa instead.

“We were planning on getting married,” McCormick said. “We didn’t know when or where. We planned our trip around it (the golf and the wedding).

“We had been there six times before for work conferences and things like that. It is a place we enjoy because of the food and the music.”

Lewicki said he was playing well on his wedding day until he looked at his watch on the par-3 17th hole and started worrying about time. “I shouldn’t have done that,” he said. “I got a 7 or 8 (on the hole). That shot me out of the tournament. That’s okay. We made up for it with the wedding.”

The day after the ceremony, they both performed well in The New Orleans Amateur at the English Turn Golf & Country Club. Lewicki tied for fifth in his flight, and McCormick ended up second.

“I’m very fortunate that my wife loves golf as much as I do,” Lewicki said. “She never questioned me about playing Saturday (on our wedding day). That’s what kind of girl I have.”

McCormick said a trip to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, over the holidays will act as their honeymoon.

The couple, who live in Tucson, Ariz., met about five years ago. Lewicki, living in Stockton, Calif., at the time, joined the Golf Channel Am Tour in the Sacramento area in 2013 and convinced McCormick to try it in Arizona. While they were dating, they would meet up at tournaments around the country. McCormick showed up at nationals at PGA West in 2013 to support Lewicki, and he did the same last year for her at nationals in Scottsdale, Ariz.

They both have strong roots in the game. McCormick said she began playing golf about 30 years ago. Joining the Executive Women’s Golf Association eventually dropped her handicap from 31 to 14. Lewicki played golf collegiately at the University of Houston.

They don’t mind putting a little action on the line when they play together. Lewicki gives McCormick three strokes a side for a $5 nassau. Whoever loses also has to buy lunch and drive home. Neither one said the competition adds any stress to their relationship.

“We still root for each other, but (the bet) does keep you focused, especially on putting,” McCormick said.

The stakes are bigger at nationals. The winner gets dinner bought every night.

“She is a competitive person, and I am, too,” Lewicki said. “That’s why we like the tour.”