CASEY MACNEIL – ROAD TO THE LPGA
Hi! My name is Casey MacNeil. I am a 21 year old golfer from Massey, Ontario. I recently graduated from university where I played NCAA Division 1 Women’s Golf at Charleston Southern and Chicago State University. I’m shooting for big things in 2016!
My goal for 2016 is to compete and make it through the LPGA Qualifying School Tournaments. There are 3 stages to qualify through to earn the LPGA Tour Card, each costing $2500-3000 USD. Along with travel and accommodation to California and Florida for 8 days each tournament, I could really use your help to fund my dream of playing professional golf.
Qualifying Tournament Stage I – August 22-28, 2016 at Mission Hills Country Club, Rancho Mirage, California
Qualifying Tournament Stage II – October 17-23, 2016 at Plantation Golf and Country Club, Venice, Florida
Qualifying Tournament Stage III – November 28 – December 4, 2016 at LPGA International, Daytona Beach, Florida
Growing up outside of a small town in Northern Ontario, all I wanted to do was play hockey like any Canadian kid but being the youngest of 7, my parents had enough with team sports when it came to me. They wanted me to play an individual sport, and since my mom was a golfer herself, she started me in the sport at age 6.
At age 10, I played in my first junior golf tournament with my family watching on the first tee. I was so nervous, I hit my tee shot into the hazard and started to cry as I walked to my next shot. Coming a long way, the next two years I played local junior tournaments and won everything. At age 13, I realized golf could be something more than just a sport for me when I shot under par for the first time ever at the local club championship. After earning a bronze medal at the 2008 Ontario Bantam Girl’s Championship, I realized I could make golf my career.
In November 2011 I signed my National Letter of Intent to play NCAA Division 1 Golf at Charleston Southern University in South Carolina. A few weeks before I was set to move to South Carolina, the coach that had recruited me quit his job. With the coach being the main reason I chose the school, I was upset about going so after one year at Charleston I transferred to Chicago for another golf coach I wanted and to be closer to home. Unfortunately, that golf coach also ended up leaving before I started but I stuck it out anyways, graduating in April 2016 with a bachelor of arts degree.
I’ve worked incredibly hard on my golf game and have had an amazing journey so far. Here are some of the highlights:
– 2010 Ontario Summer Games, Bronze medalist – even par
– 2010 and 2011 Team Ontario Golf
– NOSSA Championship – New Record for lowest score (5 under par 67)
– 2012 Named to Big South All-Conference Freshmen Team
– 2013 University of Wisconsin Green Bay Invitational Champion
– September 2013 Western Athletic Conference Golfer of the Month
– 2012-2016 Scholar Athlete Honors
This is just the beginning for me! I am currently working as a golf instructor at the Timberwolf Golf Academy, with dreams of playing golf professionally. Please help me on my journey to the LPGA. Your support is much appreciated! Thank you.