Tulsa World: Born to play golf

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Born to play golf

Seventeen-year-old Vicky Hurst shot an even-par 71 on Thursday at the Sem-Group Championship.

By JIMMIE TRAMEL World Sports Writer
Published: 5/2/2008 4:00 AM
Last Modified: 8/20/2009 10:07 AM

Vicky Hurst was almost born on a golf course; her success is no surprise.

BROKEN ARROW—Vicky Hurst, a 17-year-old high school senior from Melbourne, Fla., got a sponsor’s exemption into the SemGroup Championship and isn’t squandering the opportunity.

After nine first-round holes, Hurst was 3-under par and had a two-shot lead on the field. She settled for even par, but her score — posted despite sinister wind gusts — was still good enough to lead you to believe the kidwas born on a golf course, which she almost was.

Hurst’s mom, Koko, was very pregnant with Vicky back in June of 1990. Koko was playing a round of golf at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland and made it as far as the 16th hole.

“I was ready to hit the ball,” said Koko Thursday.

Then Koko’s water broke and Vicky was on the way. Considering the way Vicky came into the world, it’s no surprise she graduated to professional golf before graduating high school.

Call it destiny.

“I’m not sure,” she said. “I grew up in a golfing family and I think today I’m headed in the right direction.”

Vicky, the 2007 AJGA Player of the Year, is the sixth consecutive player of the year to skip college and turn pro. She joined the LPGA’s development league and last week set a Duramed Futures Tour 54-hole scoring record while earning her first pro victory.

The competition is major league at Cedar Ridge this week, but Vicky played like she belonged amid the world’s best golfers. She said it was “awesome” to see her name atop the leaderboard.

“I think she knows she is good enough,” said Koko, who travels with her daughter to tournaments.

“But I don’t know if she feels comfortable out here. After a few more tournaments, she will be more comfortable.”

Vicky did not make the cut while playing as an amateur in three previous tournaments against LPGA competition — two U.S. Opens and the 2007 Ginn Open. She played in the Ginn Open nearly a year after the death of her father, Joe.

“He’s up there hopefully looking downonme,”Vicky said. “I think his attitude towards my golf and golf in general was just have fun and keep your heart in the game and no matter how bad of a shot you hit, you are still out there playing and enjoying the game.”

Vicky said she was not nervous at the start of the first round. She admitted to being a little nervous toward the end of the round because she wanted to post a good score.

Vicky is juggling coursework and class work with the intent of graduating May 17. Teachers and administrators at Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy have been flexible in allowing her to do correspondence work and take make-up exams.

She regrets that she didn’t get to go on a senior class outing to Disney World, but sacrifices have to be made if you are golf ’s next big thing.

Jimmie Tramel 581-8389
jimmie.tramel@tulsaworld.com

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