Like many traditional careers, professional golf is a day job. It doesn’t have traditional 9-to-5, but after spending hours on the course practicing and competing, golfers do go home and enjoy life. Also similar to other professions, life can get in the way and some tasks may slip through the cracks.
Britney Yada learned this the hard way after missing the deadline to sign up for Stage II of the LPGA Qualifying Tournament.
“I just completely spaced,” said Yada. “Of course mom and dad were not pleased with their daughter, and I was super disappointed in myself. I’ve been out here for seven years now, and I should have known the deadline was around that time.”
Yada was left with few options after the deadline passed. The Epson Tour veteran could return to the Qualifying Tour for the 2023 season or work hard, play well and hope to earn an exemption to Q-Series in December through the Ascensus Race for the Card.
At the end of the season, the top-10 on the Official Money List automatically earn LPGA Tour status for the next season. Nos. 11-35 get exempt into Q-Series, which takes place in December and is a second shot at earning LPGA Tour status. Players outside of No. 35 must go to Stage II to have a chance at playing Q-Series.
“We grind all year out here to try and get in that top-10,” said Yada. “So it’s nice to have a second way to get out there [on the LPGA Tour].”
Yada didn’t want to put pressure on herself to play well and accepted that what’s meant to be will be. The thought process paid off when she won the Murphy USA El Dorado Shootout, ultimately moving her from No. 60 to No. 18 in the Ascensus Race for the Card.
“Michelle Piyapattra sent me a screenshot of the money list, and I was like ‘Wow 18th,” laughed Yada. “I had no idea. I mean I knew it would be a pretty big jump, but I didn’t know it would be that big.”
With just two weeks left in the season, Yada’s recent jump allows for some breathing room. Another win or top finish could put the Hawaiian even closer or inside the coveted top-10. Although Yada slipped up when she missed a deadline, she bounced back and overcame obstacles to keep her dreams alive.
“I would hopefully like to be a regular card holder on the LPGA Tour,” said Yada. “Even though I love everyone [on the Epson Tour], it’s nice to be out there on the big girl tour where everyone wants to be.”
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