Mary Browder Howell poses with the first group to tee off at the 2019 LPGA CME Group Championship. [Photo provided]
Mary Browder Howell could celebrate Thanksgiving every day if she chose to. The Murray High School senior has an abundance to be thankful for, starting with her health.
Howell was a recent guest at the Cadiz Rotary Club where she told members about her journey from being a 10-year-old stricken with cancer, to beating the disease with the help of St. Jude Research Hospital to decorated high school golfer.
Mary was a normal 10-year-old until a trip to the doctor in 2014 changed her life.
A trip to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis followed as did six rounds of experimental chemotherapy that limited the normal side effects.
With Mary away from school while undergoing treatment, she did not fall behind in her school work thanks to a program St. Jude has on-site.
St. Jude will continue to monitor Mary’s health progress in hopes the findings will help other children who receive similar treatment.
Not long after leaving St. Jude, Mary took up the game of golf. She joined the Murray High golf team as a middle schooler and has won several tournaments in her high school career.
During her senior season that recently concluded, she tied for sixth place at the region tournament and tied for 32nd at the state tournament. She also finished second at the Murray Invitational and had fourth-place finishes at the All A Classic State Tournament and the Hopkinsville Invitational.
She was named to the All-Region Golf Team and was named a Bluegrass Tour All-Star. Just as she learned to build her golf game from the ground up, Howell has built strong friendships among her teammates and competitors through the years.
Most important to Mary, she has become a junior ambassador for St. Jude. She talks to people and groups about the hospital, raising awareness of their services, and the friendly people who help children and parents get through a scary time in their lives.
Her love of St. Jude and her love of golf has also opened some doors to some exciting opportunities.
Howell got to get a look at the LPGA Tour close up in 2019 when she was invited to be a part of the CME Group Championship in Naples, Florida. Mary got to play in the pro-am tournament, hit the ceremonial opening tee shot, and walk with the first group.
Three years ago, she got to hit golf shots in Yankee Stadium with PGA pro Rory McIlroy as part of a ceremony that saw FedEx made a $1 million donation to St. Jude Research Hospital in McElroy’s name.
For now, Mary is wrapping up her academic career at Murray High where she has a 4.2 GPA and is president of the student council. College is definitely in her future as is golf. She will be making a decision on where in the coming months, adding to a resume that is impressive to those that know her and one that leaves her thankful every day.
Below is a LPGA video of Mary Browder Howell at the 2019 CME Group Championship
