ESCANABA – Becky Iverson grew up around racing. Whether it was watching her Dad, Ken, or her two uncles, Herb and Bobby Iverson, Becky watched her family compete at the local tracks, as a child. But it would be the end of racing that would jumpstart one of the most prodigious athletic careers of any resident to come from the Upper Peninsula.

Becky can’t recall the date, the extent of the damage or who was involved, but an accident during a race was enough to shake Marie, her Mom, who strongly suggested that Ken put a halt to his racing career.

“After an accident, my Mom was like ‘I don’t want you racing anymore,'” Becky said. “My grandma played golf and so my whole family decided we were playing golf.”

Becky was 8-years old when she first began playing golf. She competed at Michigan State University, the biggest events on the LPGA and was also a member of the U.S. Solheim Cup team in 2000. Tonight, Becky’s accomplishments will be given the recognition they deserve, when she is inducted into the U.P. Sports Hall of Fame at the 44th annual induction banquet.

“I think it’s one of those things that you don’t ever think is gonna happen, so when it does, it’s kind of a surprise,” Becky said about being inducted into the U.P. Sports Hall of Fame. “It’s definitely an honor.

“I always took a lot of pride in representing the U.P. in going wherever I went in the world. I can’t tell you how many times playing golf someone at the ropes would say, ‘ Go Yooper.’ I figure it’s nice to get acknowledgment from my home in the U.P. I always consider that to be home.”

When her family decided they would play golf, Becky never felt forced into it. In fact, instead of rebelling against her family’s wishes, she instantly picked up a passion for one of the world’s most challenging sports.

“I loved it right form the start,” Becky said. “For me, my Dad and I seemed to get obsessed with it. I thought it was the greatest game.”

Before she went to Michigan State and before she won the Michigan Junior Amateur Championship and the Michigan Women’s Amateur Championship, Becky’s father knew that his daughter would someday end up playing on the LPGA Tour. He called it the first day Becky picked up a golf club.

“I remember the first time I played golf, my Dad always told me I would pay on the LPGA tour,” Becky said.

He was right.

Becky turned pro in 1989 after she earned her LPGA Card on her third attempt. She went on to earn $1,556,622 throughout her playing career. Her accomplishments include: three wins on the LPGA Future’s Tour, three wins on the Central Florida Challenge Tour, where she was Player of the Year in 1993, one win on the Hooters Tour and a win at the 1995 Friendly’s Classic.

“Being from the U.P., we didn’t have high school golf, so when you get to college, you’re already behind,” Becky said. “Then, after college, you’re behind because there aren’t a lot of resources up there. But to stay (pro) for 20 years-the longevity is what I’m most proud of. The Solheim in 2000 was probably the highlight.”

The Solheim Cup is a biennial golf tournament featuring professional golfers representing Europe and the United States. In 2000, Becky competed at Loch Lomond Golf Club in Scotland, where Europe defeated the United States 14 1/2 to 11 1/2.

Becky has also performed admirably on the game’s largest stages, earning top 10 finishes at the LPGA Championship (sixth in 2001), Kraft Nabisco Championship (ninth in 2002) and was runner-up in the British Open and took seventh in the du Maurier Classic in 2000.

Throughout many of Becky’s rounds, her father was her caddy. The same duo that was pushed into the sport by a wife and mother’s wishes, managed to put together the greatest female golf career by any woman from the Upper Peninsula. In 2014, she became the first Upper Peninsula resident to be selected to the Michigan Golf Hall of Fame.

“I think it’s kind of surreal,” Becky said when looking back. “It’s one of those things where you think: I want that. But you never really think it’s gonna happen until it does. It was a lot of work and a lot of sacrifice to get met here. I got a lot of people in the U.P. to thank, for sure, for getting me on Tour.”

These days, Becky still spends her time on a golf course. Except now, it’s not to play. She is currently the Club Director of Golf at The Bridges Club in Madison, Wis. Two or three times a year she will play on the LPGA Senior Tour to catch up with old friends, or earn some extra money. However, most of her time is spent at home and with her 11-year old daughter, Emma.

“I got an 11-year old daughter, and I don’t like leaving home,” Becky said. “I don’t like to travel. Staying put is very comforting.”

As of now, Becky does not see Emma following in her footsteps. So far, Emma has not taken a liking to golf. But recently, Emma took part in foot golf-where you kick a soccer ball into a hole-and enjoyed the alternative sport.

While Emma has grown, Becky has noticed one similarity between her and her daughter.

“She reminds me a lot of me, if you get her worked up like that, she’ll become really competitive,” Becky said. “My Dad always tried to get me mad, because he knew I would drive the ball further.”

Emma may never develop a love for golf. She might never play on the LPGA Tour, or compete across the world, and that is OK. Because if she ever has a question about what it’s like to have a successful career at golf’s highest levels, she won’t have to go far to find the answers.