Heather Angell wants to make sure she gets all she can out of playing golf for a living.
And after seven years of trying to move up the ladder at LPGA Qualifying School, she finally broke through last month and will play in the final qualifying tournament in December in Daytona Beach, Fla.
"I think when it's your passion and it's what you really want to do, it's difficult to step away," said Angell, a 2002 graduate of North Carolina and a 1998 graduate of Forsyth Country Day. "I know a lot of ladies that I've known have stepped away from the game and are doing other things, but I want to make sure I've given it my all."
Angell, 30, has gained valuable experience playing on the Futures Tour, a developmental circuit that doesn't have any large paydays but is a place to play competitively.
"It's a developmental tour, so you can't get rich off it, but as far as experience and playing tournament golf it's a great place to kind of hone your game," said Angell, who has made $6,707 in 84 career tournaments. Her best finish in seven years of playing on the Futures Tour is a tie for 36th.
Angell has had time to get a masters degree from High Point, getting a sports-management degree in 2005. She also dabbled at High Point one season as an assistant golf coach.
She said that she's had plenty of odd jobs to supplement her income during the winter months, but her focus during the Futures Tour season is about golf and trying to get better.
"It's hard work and dedication, and that's what it takes," she said, "and a lot of practice."
Angell has also made sure to do plenty in the community since she turned pro. She's active in the Junior League of Winston-Salem and has put the journalism degree she got at North Carolina to good use.
"I was the editor of their magazine, and that was a lot of fun, but it was a lot of work as well," she said. "It was neat to see how the magazine all gets put together. I had to go and be a reporter and write stories and edit the magazine as well."
Last season Angell was 160th on the money list, winning $1,516 and making two cuts in nine tournaments.
Even though Angell has never advanced to the final stage of LPGA Qualifying School, she said she's excited about the opportunity.
She said there will be about 120 players in the tournament. The top 20 will get full playing status on the LPGA Tour next season. The next 20 will get conditional status during the five-round tournament. There's also a cut after the fourth round.
"I think what I'll bring is a lot of experience and I'm just looking to continue to play solid," Angell said.
The tournament will be held Dec. 8-12, and Angell said that because the Futures Tour has played at the LPGA International Champions and Legends Course, that it will hopefully give her an advantage.
"I'll be excited about it and I'll be a little nervous, but it's a marathon and not a sprint with the five rounds," Angell said. "I just want to go there and play as well as I can."
