Amelia Garvey is preparing for her chance to move a step closer to achieving her childhood dream; playing professionally on the LPGA Tour.

After blitzing her way through the first stage of LPGA Tour Qualifying School, where she finished in a tie for fourth at 12-under-par, Garvey is preparing for second stage from October 18 – 24 at Plantation Golf and Country Club.

The top 70 will progress to the Q-Series in December to compete for their LPGA Tour cards.

alt text

Garvey turned professional in time for the US Open in June, where she made her professional debut. The 21-year-old has since played in various mini-tour events while working with her new coach, fellow Kiwi Grant Waite, in the lead-up to both stages of Q-School.

Speaking with SENZ Radio’s Ian Smith, Garvey says life is a rollercoaster at the moment.

“It’s a little bit hectic. Obviously, it's been something I’ve worked towards my whole life. Now, getting the opportunity to make my mark out here and try and play on tour; it’s definitely a bit stressful but exciting at the same time,” Garvey explained.

While playing for her 2022 playing future might seem like a daunting task, Garvey still manages to have perspective.

“I’m just trying to treat it like another tournament at the end of the day. I still know that it’s all or nothing, it’s pretty cut-throat out here, and this is my one and only chance to get on tour this year.

“Whatever I attach to it is just going to add more pressure, so I’m just going to go ahead and play the next stage as if it’s any other tournament just as I did at first stage, which worked out pretty well.”

With Stage 2 of LPGA Tour Q-School a little under a month away, the University of Southern California graduate is heading to Arizona to play a mini-tour event to fuel her competitive juices before the big week. She will then play a Monday qualifier for another LPGA Tour event in New Jersey before flying to Florida for some early preparation.

She told SENZ Radio’s Ian Smith she’s learned plenty in her short time as a professional and is lucky enough to pick the brains of many good people and golfers around her, including world number six, Lydia Ko.

With Ko residing in the same city as Grant Waite, Garvey often tries to line up a game of golf when their schedules align.

She says Ko has been a huge help.

“I played practice rounds with her at both US Open’s. She also lives in Orlando, where Grant is based, so I’ve been going back and forth from California and Orlando, and I always try to get a round with Lydia where I can.

“Hopefully, down the road, we’ll be playing a few more tournaments together. She’s amazing; obviously, when we played practice rounds together I’m not trying to distract her too much. She’s always there to give a helping hand.”

“Being a recipient of the Lydia Ko scholarship a few years ago, I think she’s happy to see another Kiwi golfer trying to get out there on tour as well.”

It’s safe to say Garvey is well-equipped to make her childhood dream of being an LPGA Tour professional come true.