BECKY TEES OFF ON PRO TOUR DREAM
Coast gun to chase cash in US
RISING Gold Coast golfer Becky Kay has turned professional after advancing to the second stage of the LPGA Tour’s qualifying school in the US.
That result guarantees the 20-year-old (pictured) at least partial status on the secondary US Symetra Tour next year, but she will be aiming for much higher at the second and final qualifying stages next month.
“I’ve had quite a successful amateur career and I’m super grateful for everyone who has helped me get this far but I feel I’m ready to jump in the deep end,” the Coolangatta Tweed Heads member and former Palm Beach Currumbin State High student said.
RISING Gold Coast golfer Becky Kay has turned professional after advancing to the second stage of the LPGA Tour’s qualifying school in the US.
That result guarantees the 20-year-old at least partial status on the secondary US Symetra Tour next year but she will be aiming for much higher at the second and final qualifying stages next month.
“I’ve had quite a successful amateur career and I’m super grateful for everyone who has helped me get this far but I feel I’m ready to jump in the deep end,” the Coolangatta Tweed Heads member said.
“I feel it’s been a long time coming ... since the age of 13 I have been in Golf Australia and Queensland Academy of Sport programs and I’ve had so much support which has made these goals attainable.
“I’ve been very lucky to have had experiences in professional events with the help of both Golf Australia and the ALPG and I think the time is now right. I see this as just the beginning.”
ALPG chief executive and former tour star Karen Lunn is tipping a successful pro career for Kay, who has represented Australia 12 times as an amateur and earned a coveted Karrie Webb Series scholarship in each of the past three years.
“I have known Becky for a number of years now and she is the latest in a long line of incredibly talented and well credentialed young female players, including Minjee Lee, Su Oh and Hannah Green, to take the plunge into professional golf,” Lunn said.
“Becky has shown through her performances in ALPG events over the past five years that she has the game to succeed. Many wise heads who have watched her progression feel that she has the talent and the X-factor required to succeed at the highest level.”
Kay created headlines last year when she became the first female golfer to qualify to play against the men in the 93-year history of the Queensland Open.