Blood, Sweat and Cheers for Kenyon
IN: News | Futures | ILOVENY Championship (2008) | Round Three | by Liz White | 08 Sep 2008
It’s been four long years of doubt, frustration and never say die determination but Sarah-Jane Kenyon has finally made the big time – and how.
Today the Queenslander secured a coveted LPGA Tour card by winning the final Duramed Futures Tour event with a three shot victory over Mindy Kim at the Capital Hills course in Albany, New York.
“I can’t imagine anyone could be happier than me right now, I don’t think I can believe it,” she said.
“This time last year, around July, it was a pretty big low for me things were not going well, I had missed a bunch of cuts on the Futures and there were a few times there where I considered possibly a new career.”
But all that is in the past now for Kenyon, who gained her LPGA card by finishing third on the Duramed money earners list. The top ten earned automatic entry into the 2009 season.
“I think if this would have happened the first year out I don’t think I would have appreciated it as much as you really should. To finish the way I did was great.”
After several close calls, today’s win was Kenyon’s first on the tour this year and it was accomplished under trying conditions. After just seven holes yesterday’s second round play was cancelled due to the poor weather.
The 24-year-old resumed her second round at 7:30am this morning and after several hours break steeled herself for the third round.
“I just started from scratch. I just went out and did a whole new warm up routine and then started again,” she said.
“We (Kenyon and fiancé Duane Smith) have been working out hard at the gym and I think it paid off today, I didn’t feel tired at all when we finished so I think our whole year of preparation has all come together for the last event.”
Kenyon admitted she was nervous at the start of play with so much on the line.
“This was everything, if you win you don’t go to Q school, you have your card it sets you up for either next year or forever,” she said.
“My rhythm was a bit out this morning it was a bit steery and there wasn’t really much trust going on.
“But we did some good work in the break and I played pretty solid this afternoon, I hit 17 greens and the one I did miss I got up and down so it was relatively stress free, it was nice.”
With very few scoreboards around the course, Kenyon didn’t really know how she was faring until she arrived at the 18th green.
“On the 18th I saw that I had a four shot lead so I knocked my ball on the green and then three-putted,” she laughed.
“It didn’t matter it was probably nicer to have a little bit of extra time on the green.”
While she is delighted to have made the LPGA, Kenyon is also thrilled at earning around $50,000 in winnings this year. Playing in ten events, she posted six top tens and made the cut in all 10 tournaments she contested. Today’s $14,000 purse topped off her impressive year.
“The last couple of years have been a real struggle and there has been a lot of stuff going on credit cards and it has been nice to have a decent year where we haven’t had to panic about getting entry forms in and paying bills,” she said.
“We are on a 21-hour drive at the moment so we have just decided we are going to stop so Duane is scouting for something better than a Super 8 (budget motel) right now!.”
With a little bit of financial security Kenyon can afford to joke, but there is no light heartedness when she talks about the affect of what securing her LPGA card really means.
“We have never really been able to plan a whole year in advance,” she said.
“We have had to plan week to week. I don’t even know, it is hard to imagine to say this is definitely where we are going to be at this date.”
In the past, Kenyon, who had non-exempt status on the LPGA, has had to make some tough decisions about which tour to compete in. Constantly she faced the vexing dilemma of either attempting to qualify for the big dollar LPGA event or committing to the Futures. Kenyon knew if she played well on the Futures she would basically be guaranteed a full time LPGA card.
But now with a clear playing path in front of her for 2009, Kenyon admits it will take a little getting used to.
“It doesn’t seem like professional golf to me, I don’t know what that is like.”
