Turning pro is the biggest step any athlete can take.
Naomi Ko probably has only has one summer remaining as an amateur golfer. The Royal Colwood performer wants to make the most of it, both in her senior NCAA season with the North Carolina State Wolfpack, and also internationally for sa国际传媒.
鈥淚 will remain an amateur until [LPGA] qualifying school in the fall,鈥� said the Claremont Secondary graduate.
The 21-year-old will get an early preview of the professional game when she tees off against the best of the pros from May 30 to June 3 in the 2019 U.S. Women鈥檚 Open at Charleston, South Carolina, after earning a berth last month by winning the 56-player, two-round qualifying tournament in Woodburn, Oregon, at 3-under 70-71.
It鈥檚 her second time playing as an amateur in the U.S. Women鈥檚 Open after also qualifying in her freshman year in 2016. The next time she plays in the event, it will be for money.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a different mindset from amateur to pro as you take on different responsibilities,鈥� said Ko, the 2014 sa国际传媒 junior champion and 2016 Canadian junior champion.
鈥淕olf is now becoming full time for me. You have to manage time differently as a pro because golf will be week after week. Before, it was a side thing with school coming first.鈥�
That portion of her career begins closing out this weekend at her NCAA regionals in Oklahoma.
鈥淚 have matured a lot through college,鈥� said the sports-management major.
Ko graduates next week, with her family coming out to Raleigh, North Carolina, from the Island for the occasion.
What follows will be as busy summer as Ko has been selected to represent sa国际传媒 in the 116th British Women鈥檚 Amateur from June 11-15 at Royal County Down in Northern Ireland, and in the 61st Porter Cup from July 24-27 in Niagara Falls, New York.
But the international event in Canadian colours which has most captured her fancy is the 2019 Astor Trophy, which will take place Aug. 28 to Sept. 1 at Royal Colwood. Formerly the Commonwealth Women鈥檚 Championship, it changed its name when Ireland was added to the event in 2007. sa国际传媒 will compete against teams from Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Ireland in the quadrennial championship first hosted in 1959 on the Old Course at St. Andrews.
鈥淭hat would be so cool,鈥� said Ko.
鈥淚t鈥檚 one thing to represent sa国际传媒 in your hometown. It鈥檚 quite another to do so on your actual home course.鈥�
Although the Golf sa国际传媒 national team is centralized on Bear Mountain, the program is flexible enough to allow Ko and other top Canadian talent to drop in on an as-needed basis.
鈥淲hen I鈥檓 back home, 80 to 90 per cent of my golf rounds are at Royal Colwood,鈥� said Ko, part of the three-member Canadian team that placed seventh at the 2018 World Amateur in Ireland.
鈥淏ut it鈥檚 a good contrast every once in a while to play Bear Mountain because it鈥檚 so hilly. Although I鈥檓 not always there directly, the national team program has really helped me out.鈥�
After her hectic summer schedule, a new horizon looms. It鈥檚 called the LPGA.
鈥淚f all goes well, I鈥檒l turn pro in the fall,鈥� said Ko.
