Michigan Golf Journal September 2020

Michigan Golf Journal Professional Tournaments GR’s Sarah White Wins LPGA Symetra Tournament in First Try By Tom Lang Playing Boys Hockey had a Large Role in Her Development Most golfers are simply thrilled to qualify for their first-ever pro Tour event. Sarah White – a 2014 high school state champion from East Kentwood – went more- than-one better, taking full advantage by winning in her first-ever shot on Tour, earning the trophy for the LPGA’s Symetra Tour Founders Tribute, August 14- 16 in Mesa, AZ. White shot 65-68-65 for 15-under par, including a final-hole birdie, to edge out Sophia Popov by one stroke. White qualified per the results in an earlier Women’s All Pro Tour (WAPT), a mini tour event in Texarkana that provided the exemption. “It’s a dream come true,” White told Symetra Tour staff. “I have dreamt about being a professional golfer since I was five. I was competing today with Sophia Popov and next week she is competing at a LPGA major. Being able to keep up with some of the girls who have more experience than me is humbling because I know I can do it. “It’s an amazing opportunity I gave myself and my whole world (turned around),” she later told MGJ by phone from California. “Within a few days I won my first pro event, and within the hour I had to accept membership (in the Symetra Tour) if I was to play in the next event (in California). So, I just dove right into full blown on-Tour traveling, and I’ll be in every event now with Category B status, sort of like their winner’s circle. So, the rest of the year I’ll be all Symetra,” the rookie pro added. White grew up playing Michigan golf and boys ice hockey – both experiences she believes helped toughen her up and ready herself for a professional golf career. She said playing 14 years of hockey competing alongside the boys (eventually on the East Kentwood High team) was a catalyst. “When I’m not playing golf well, I grind really well, I think because of playing boys hockey and getting looks like ‘who is this girl in the net?’ So, just having that mentality of the competitiveness and the grind of hockey and giving of 100 percent I think that really helped me.” Heading into high school was pivotal for her eventual