by Rachel Gilbert
News Reporter
Before March 10, Deyanira Salazar had barely touched a golf club, but that didn't stop her from winning the Campus Dining Putting Contest.
Salazar, a senior math major, recently became the recipient of a $750 scholarship after putting a golf ball 50 feet.
"I have almost no experience playing golf. I might have played Putt-Putt golf with my friends once. I was so surprised when I won," Salazar said.
Salazar said that when she entered the contest a day before the deadline, she had no idea it was a putting contest.
"They didn't tell us what the contest was about. They just called me and told me I was a finalist," she said.
Karen Trazzera, director of marketing for Aramark, said entry forms were placed in the dining area of the American Cafe three weeks before the contest. Ten finalists were picked out of the entry drop box and the contest took place in the middle of the cafe, she said.
The scholarship, along with hats, T-shirts and other prizes, were provided by Aramark, Trazerra said.
Karen Trazerra and Aramark General Manager Frank Trazzera presented the check to Salazar April 14. She said the money will be used for tuition.
"My mom was so surprised when I told her I won," Salazar said. "She knows I don't know how to play golf."
According to Salazar, out of the 10 finalists, only one student had any previous golf experience. She said that the hole was such a long putt that all the finalists assumed that student would be the winner.
"We were told that they were going to draw names until someone won. I called my job to tell them that I was going to be late," Salazar said.
Although the finalists had expected to miss classes waiting for a winner, Salazar said the contest lasted only three minutes.
"I was the second name called," she said. "We were all given two shots. My first shot was way off, like I expected. The second time I concentrated and the ball went in."