Mehaffey
But COVID-19 also shut down most pro sports, in Mehaffey’s case taking away the LPGA/Symetra Tour qualifying tournament and Q-series that she again planned to play. But because the NCAA gave an extra year of eligibility to all spring athletes, she still had the option of returning to ASU as a post-graduate for a fifth season.
Mehaffey took her time before deciding in late May that a shot at another national title — she contributed as a freshman to ASU’s eighth NCAA championship in 2017 — and opportunity to become the first five-time All-America in the sport was better than the uncertainty of when she could become a fulltime LPGA player.
“I had quite a few conversations with Missy (Farr-Kay, ASU’s coach),” Mehaffey said. “We really talked everything out. All I ever wanted was to get an undergrad (degree) so coming back to school to get a master’s was kind of a big thing because I wasn’t sure if I wanted to do more school.”
Mehaffey, with a bachelor’s degree in sociology, settled on organizational leadership for her post-grad work, figuring it’s applicable to the business end of golf. “I’ve been in quite a few leadership roles before,” she said. “If I was going to spend another year studying, I wanted to really find something I enjoyed.”
ASU will return its entire team next season including 2020 All-Americas Linn Grant and Alessandra Fanali while adding freshmen Ashley Menne and
Breyana Matthews, both coming from Phoenix Xavier Prep.
“She’s the leader, she’s most vocal,” Farr-Kaye said Mehaffey. “It’s very natural for her and it’s really been her team for two years. The team is excited to have her back. There’s a comfort level, she’s our special senior next year.”
Grant of Sweden is 10th and Mehaffey of Northern Ireland is 17th in the most recent Women’s Amateur Golf Ranking. Mehaffey is planning to play as an amateur in the ANA Inspiration, an LPGA major tournament, Sept. 10-13 in Rancho Mirage, Calif. Until then, she’s been quarantining with her family in Banbridge, recently getting back on the Royal County Down and Tandragee courses near her home.
“We were in very strict lockdown for seven weeks,” Mehaffey said. “It was kind of strange. I did a lot of short game in the garden (where she has a green and bunker) and spent time doing mental work. Even deciding whether to come home or stay in America, there’s pros and cons to both.
“I thought if I stay, I’d be able to golf more, but if I didn’t come home at all it would be very tough. I’ve got my family out golfing. My mom’s only hit the car once so that’s not too bad. Just making it fun and trying to find things to pass the time.”