Pro golfer Koh all fired up for HSBC Women’s Champions

SINGAPORE — Twelve months after taking a courageous leap into the world of professional golf, Koh Sock Hwee (picture) found that the life of a touring pro can often be a tough and lonely journey.

With just her smartphone and tablet as companions on tour, the 27-year-old has had to dig in amid setbacks on and off course to achieve her dream of competing in the prestigious Ladies Professional Golf Association Tour.

“Turning pro has been a dream come true,” she told TODAY. “It is a small milestone achieved, and the first step in starting my career.

“It has been a learning journey going out there on my own, as you are rarely alone when you’re competing with the national team. It was hardest at the start as I was still new and I had nobody to ask for advice.”

In her debut pro season last year, Koh played 17 events across the United States, South Korea, Vietnam, Taiwan, the Philippines, Thailand, and Singapore. Her biggest test was in August and October, when she made a second attempt to qualify for the LPGA via the LPGA Q-School.

However, Koh did not advance to the third and final qualifying round after finishing 95th in the Qualifying Tournament Stage II in Florida. She missed the cut by just two strokes.

“It was very upsetting,” she said. “But there is no point dwelling on it, and no point being sad.”

Koh’s stoicism and determination to carry on is also reflected in her summary of her current financial situation. After turning professional last February, Koh did not have enough money to fund her debut season.

The Sentosa Golf Club (SGC), which had adopted her and allowed her to use its facilities, organised a fundraising dinner for her that brought in S$15,000.

Koh has also taken on tuition jobs to make ends meet. “(My financial position) is the same (as last year) but it’s okay,” she said. “I use my prize money from tournaments to make up for it.”

Koh has since bounced back from last year’s setback, earning a spot in this year’s Taiwan LPGA Tour after finishing joint-10th in the qualifying tournament last November. She also started the year on a positive note, finishing joint-31st in the NT$10 million (S$456,130) Hitachi Ladies Classic last month.

Koh is also gunning for a spot at next month’s US$1.5 million (S$2.1 million) HSBC Women’s Champions, as she takes on 14 other golfers in the local qualifying tournament at the SGC’s new Tanjong course this week.

Koh, who has competed in three editions of the HSBC Women’s Champions, recorded the Republic’s best result last year with a joint-59th placing after carding a 10-over par 298.

Koh is hopeful that her familiarity with SGC will work to her advantage this week. “I know the course better than anyone. The greens are very challenging, but the tee-offs are probably friendlier than Serapong. All I can do is prepare well and play my own game,” she said.

* Visit www.hsbcgolf.com/womens for more information on the HSBC Women’s Champions