A year after graduating from Southern Methodist University (SMU) with a degree in advertising and a minor in psychology, Hays High alum and golfer Lindsey McCurdy is grinding away in mini-tournaments across the United States in order to reach her goal of qualifying for the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA).

After McCurdy barely missed the LPGA last year, she had to re-enter qualifying school and is now currently in the middle of the qualifying process with her ninth week on the road playing in tournaments.

“It’s been good, it’s been busy,” McCurdy said. “I’m glad to finally start to play golf for a living now.”

McCurdy has gone from winning the 2012 state golf title at Hays High during her junior season, to playing team golf at Southern Methodist University (SMU), to now competing with some of the best golfers in the world on a weekly basis. McCurdy’s schedule consists of four weeks on the road, and then one week back at home. She described this process as taxing, but also a fun experience.

“I’m pretty surprised at how friendly everyone is out here,” said McCurdy. “I mean everyone gets along really well. I guess we are all trying to do the same thing and our goal is to make the LPGA.”

Her time at SMU taught McCurdy the value of staying mentally strong even when things aren’t going your way. This aspect of her game has stuck with her during her play on the mini-tournament circuit.

“At SMU I really worked on having a little bit better resilience on the golf course,” McCurdy said. “Getting over bad shots and being more positive. Also, the short game obviously. So that was an aspect of the game that I really focused on.”

McCurdy described her game as simple, and just trying to keep the same mind set even if things go wrong. Other than keeping that mental edge, McCurdy has been focusing on improving her putting.

“I’ve been working on my short game, my putting specifically,” said McCurdy. “Out here everyone is good. Basically whoever can make the most puts can have a good week. I feel like that’s something I’m just constantly working on.”

Going back to her play at Hays High School, McCurdy appreciated the local support of her program and the city of Kyle during her high school career. She credited that support motivated her while she trained and competed on the green.

McCurdy had some advice for younger golfers who wanted to be in the position she is in today, and that is to just keep going.

“There are going to be good days and bad days in golf,” McCurdy said. “And at the end of the day you just have to accept it and be positive moving forward. Just know that if you work hard eventually it is going to pay off.”

After competing in the Michigan mini-tournament this past weekend, McCurdy will head to her last event in Cincinnati before she is able to go home for a week. These next few tournaments will be pivotal in McCurdy’s march to to qualify for the LPGA at the end of the year.