Western Australia’s Hannah Green has made a fantastic start to her professional career on the ALPG Tour in 2017, winning two events and finishing in the top 10 at all three major tournaments. Tomorrow she will make her debut on the Symetra Tour, known as the “Road to the LPGA” in what she hopes will be her road to the LPGA Tour in 2018.

The 20-year-old from Perth will tee it up alongside 131 aspiring LPGA golfers from 28 countries, who will be playing for a tournament purse of US$100,000. The winner will take home a cheque for US$15,000, and importantly move towards the top of the Volvik Race for the Card money list. The top 10 earners on the final money list will earn LPGA membership for the 2018 season.

Hannah took the time out to talk to us from Beaumont, California where she was preparing for the IOA Championship presented by Morongo Casino Resort and Spa.

Hannah, you had a great start to your professional career on the ALPG Tour this year, has this success caused you to revisit your goals at all for 2018?

“Yes I was really pleased with my season on the ALPG this year. I thought I had a pretty good summer last year but this year was even better and in a different situation. My goals haven`t changed I just think that my self-belief has risen”

You had a fantastic ISPS Handa Women’s Australian at Royal Adelaide in February finishing in a tie for seventh place. How does it feel so early on in your career to know that you can match it with the best players in the world?

“It was great! That was my second Australian Open and Royal Adelaide was an amazing venue for us this year. It`s really nice playing in Australia and it`s always nice having the crowd cheer for you. I wasn`t shocked at my finish, I knew if I played well that I would be up the leaderboard but for it to happen was even better”

Obviously there are a couple of different pathways available to the LPGA Tour, is that your main focus in 2017, making it onto the LPGA Tour in 2018?

“This year I`m going to play full time Symetra and maybe on my off weeks try qualify for some LPGA events. My goals are to have a couple wins this season. 3 would be great as I would make it straight to LPGA but if that doesn`t happen then the top 10 on the money list at the end of the year”

You have obviously travelled a lot in your amateur career, how prepared do you think you are for the long stints away from home that a professional golfer from Australia has to endure?

“The longest I`ve been way from home is a couple of months. And being from Perth it`s not exactly the closest place to America. So I could possibly be away for the whole season (March-October). I don`t mind the travel but I`m sure after a couple months living out of a suitcase I will feel a bit home sick. My parents plan on coming to watch me at a couple events and my coach Ritchie will also be travelling to America so it will be nice to see familiar faces”

Hannah tees off in the opening round of the IOA Championship presented by Morongo Casino Resort and Spa at 12:33pm local time on Friday, along with American Mindy Kim and 2015 Oates Vic Open Champion Marianne Skarpnord. The other ALPG members who are competing this week are Rebecca Artis, Liv Cheng and Jayde Panos.

Live scoring can be found at www.symetrascoring.com

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