Maria Kostina is bound to be one of the most popular players at this week’s Colorado Women’s Open golf championship at Green Valley Ranch because Americans always seem interested in learning about life in Russia.
Kostina, 24, won Russian Amateur Championships in 1997 and 2000 before playing college golf at Washington State. She earned Pac-10 Conference honorable mention for the Cougars in 2003 and has a degree in psychology. After turning professional, Kostina played on the Futures Tour in 2007 and last summer became the first Russian to qualify for the U.S. Women’s Open. Her younger sister, Anastasia, also played at WSU and is on the Futures Tour.
Earlier this week, Maria sat down with The Post’s Tom Kensler.
Q: In a list of popular activities in Russia, golf must rank somewhere below chess, right? Is it catching on?
A: I want to believe so. But it’s still in the beginning of its development there. Golf has never been historically popular in Russia. And we don’t have any star players to follow. If somebody from Russia makes it to the LPGA Tour or PGA Tour, that would really motivate the interest. And if golf becomes an Olympic sport, that would be huge for Russia because more money is spent on Olympic sports.
Q: Does Russia have enough golf courses?
A: I know of two 18-hole courses and one nine-hole course. Those are around Moscow. Also, I heard there are some rich guys who have built golf courses for themselves in the Black Sea area.
Q: How did you get involved with golf?
A: I was lucky. I’m from Nakhabino, a small town near Moscow, a suburb, really. Moscow Country Club is located there, and they opened up a kid’s golf academy that was free. I was about 11 years old and that was a huge event in my life.
Q: Competing for the Russian National Team, you’ve probably played golf all over the world. What are some of your favorite places?
A: We got to play in Spain, which was wonderful. Every country is unique in its own way. I really liked Wales. And the U.S., obviously.
Q: What brought you to Washington State?
A: It’s a long story. With the Russian National Team, I went to Florida for some junior cup matches. There I met Randy Henry (founder of Henry-Griffitts Golf). He became my coach, and basically he’s family when I’m here in the States. When I told him I wanted to continue in golf, he said he might be able to get me into Washington State because he has contacts there. I moved to Idaho to live with the Henrys for a year. His wife taught me English, and a year later I passed all the entrance tests, so I got to Washington State.
Q: From Florida to the Northwest. That’s quite a change.
A: The differences in this country are amazing, the changes in the land, the weather and the cultures.
Q: Your impressions of Green Valley Ranch?
A: I feel like Tiger Woods here (chuckle). You can hit it really far, because of the elevation and the fairways are really fast. And I love the greens.
Q: Sorry about the wet weather earlier in the week.
A: Oh, I’m used to changes in weather. It always changes in Pullman (at WSU), and it’s like that in Moscow, too. I’m used to it.
Tom Kensler: 303-954-1280 or tkensler@denverpost.com
America the beautiful
Top five things Maria Kostina likes most about the U.S.:
1. Meeting the most kind, helpful people — I’ve been blessed to have had so much support along the way.
2. The best opportunities — It’s much easier to chase your dreams here.
3. Traveling — The roads are so good here, compared to Russia. And signs tell you where everything is.
4. Public facilities for kids — I was amazed that you can find free tennis courts at the parks. You have to pay money for that in Europe.
5. College sports — Golf paid for my education. That’s unbelievable.
