Calgary’s Jennifer Ha notches first victory as professional golfer
Published in the Calgary Herald and Calgary Sun on April 18, 2016
Happy Gilmore stored his oversized cheques in the back-seat of his car.
After celebrating her first professional victory last week at a National Women’s Golf Association (NWGA) shootout in Florida, Calgary’s Jennifer Ha had other ideas.
“I was actually joking the other day that I want to go to the bank and see if the tellers will let me cash it,” said the 22-year-old Ha, who turned pro shortly after winning the 2015 Sun Life Financial Alberta Ladies Amateur Championship last July at Lynx Ridge. “It was really cool, just taking the picture with the cheque and having people congratulate me for my first professional win.
“It’s a little different than a college win.”
In this case, US$2,500 different.
A five-time trophy-winner during her stellar collegiate career at Kent State University and a former member of Golf Canada’s national amateur squad, Ha signed for a three-day tally of 4-under 212 en route to a one-stroke triumph last Thursday at Timacuan Golf & Country Club just north of Orlando. Her scorecard for the week included a pair of eagles, eight birdies, six bogeys and one double.
“I’m working on some stuff with my swing and with my game right now. I always am. I’m always trying to get better,” said Ha, who has been based in Florida for the past several months. “But I feel a lot more confident right now in my game than I did over the summer or than I have, actually, in a while.
“Being on my own and kind of figuring out what my game is to me has been the little change. I usually had a coach or my dad there to tell me the little things while I’m practising, and right now I don’t have that in Naples. And just trying to figure what works for me and what I like in my game, that’s definitely given me more perspective towards what I’m good at and what I need to work on. That’s been really good for me and I think it’s only helping me.
“And knowing that I can win professional events and I can go out there and shoot good numbers, that definitely helps my confidence.”
Ha is a rookie on the Symetra Tour — the primary feeder for the LPGA Tour — but with limited status on that circuit, she has been banking experience at NWGA showdowns.
The smooth-swinging Calgarian has teed it up in eight events so far in 2016, earning a payday in seven of those. Timacuan seems to be her favourite track — she also enjoyed a second-place showing at the water-logged layout in mid-February.
Along the way, Ha is also learning the job description isn’t limited to just smashing drives and sinking putts.
“It’s definitely a lot different than college golf,” Ha said. “Being a pro, there are a lot more things that I have to plan and figure out — not only how I’m going to get places, but how I’m going to afford it and budgeting. It’s a lot of work.”
That oversized cheque will certainly help cover some expenses, even if the tellers ask for the pocket-sized paper version.
Ha will try to add to her winnings at another NWGA regional-series stop this week.
“Not everyone can say that they do what they love every day for a living,” Ha said. “This is definitely what I love doing. This is what I’ve always loved doing since I was little, so I feel very fortunate that I do have this opportunity to play golf for a living. It’s pretty cool.”
