University of North Carolina Athletics
Photo by: Michael Wiser
Third Time’s The Charm For Brynn Walker
September 29, 2020 | Women's Golf
Brynn Walker, UNC's fifth-year golfer from St. David's, Pennsylvania, knows her way around the ShopRite LPGA Classic but this year will a little different when she tees off in Galloway, New Jersey on Thursday.
And not just because of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has changed the tournament's date and will keep fans from attending.
Walker, who will be making her third start in the tournament, is approaching this event with a sense of belonging and, consequently, more comfort than ever before, having earned a sponsor's exemption into the field.
Seaview Golf Club, the host site of the ShopRite, is like a second home to Walker, whose family grew up visiting the course during the winter.
"My mom had grown up going there," Walker said, "and in the winter we would get a lot of snow, so she had the idea to go down there because they don't usually get a lot of snow. It just kind of became a tradition passed from my mom's family for us to go [to Seaview] in the winter. Even though it was cold, we'd still go out there and play. It's just a fun thing my mom and I got to do."
Since she was 15, Walker has made the ShopRite part of her golf schedule. While participating in qualifying events, Walker developed relationships with Seaview and event sponsors, including Eiger Marketing Group. She continued to set her sights on advancing through the qualifiers and ultimately playing in the tournament.
Walker successfully qualified for the tournament twice. In her first appearance in 2016, she recalls a sudden sense of relentless nerves beginning on the first tee. It was her first shot at an LPGA event and it was an eye-opening experience that had an immediate and important impact on her career.
"The experience of playing in the event has really helped me," Walker said, "because the first time I played it was my first LPGA event and I just had so many jitters and I don't even know what happened that round but it was not good.
"I don't remember it much which is probably a good thing, but I think that experience will be really valuable just to calm my nerves instead of getting over the hump of okay I'm out here playing, this is really cool. Let's try to get out there and compete this time. I think that I need to switch my mindset to that, just thinking okay let's compete with some of the best in the world. I think that experience will help me set up for that."
After a few more years of competition in the ShopRite qualifier and continuing to develop relationships at the event, Walker qualified for the tournament again in 2019. Her dedication and passion for this event did not go unnoticed. Bill Hansen, Eiger Marketing Group's LPGA Coordinator, approached Walker following her qualifier round and said, "Let's just make sure it's not this hard next year."
That's where the sponsor's exemption simplified the process.
Having played her way into the tournament twice, Walker was awarded a spot by Eiger Marketing Group in the field when play begins Oct. 1, avoiding the usual pre-qualifiers and qualifying events that had become a familiar part of her pre-tournament routine.
Receiving an extra year of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Walker is returning to UNC as a fifth-year senior, with a dream of pursuing professional golf. While she has played competitively once since the U.S. Amateur earlier this summer, she has been working toward teeing it up in the ShopRite LPGA Classic.
Walker's experience in LPGA events offered her newfound confidence that has validated her pursuit of a professional golf career.
"It just confirmed that I think I could definitely play at that level," Walker said.
What was once an intimidating feat, is marked with a sense of belonging. Walker has gotten over the jitters and gained the necessary experience to change her perspective on the tournament. She has set higher expectations for herself to compete with the professionals and prove she earned her place in this tournament.
"They say the third time's the charm," Walker declares with hopeful excitement.
Walker begins the ShopRite LPGA Classic Oct. 1 at the Stockton Seaview Hotel and Golf Club in Galloway, New Jersey. The 54-hole tournament takes place on the 6,217-yard, 71 par Bay Course. For more information on the event, visit lpga.com.
And not just because of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has changed the tournament's date and will keep fans from attending.
Walker, who will be making her third start in the tournament, is approaching this event with a sense of belonging and, consequently, more comfort than ever before, having earned a sponsor's exemption into the field.
Seaview Golf Club, the host site of the ShopRite, is like a second home to Walker, whose family grew up visiting the course during the winter.
"My mom had grown up going there," Walker said, "and in the winter we would get a lot of snow, so she had the idea to go down there because they don't usually get a lot of snow. It just kind of became a tradition passed from my mom's family for us to go [to Seaview] in the winter. Even though it was cold, we'd still go out there and play. It's just a fun thing my mom and I got to do."
Since she was 15, Walker has made the ShopRite part of her golf schedule. While participating in qualifying events, Walker developed relationships with Seaview and event sponsors, including Eiger Marketing Group. She continued to set her sights on advancing through the qualifiers and ultimately playing in the tournament.
Walker successfully qualified for the tournament twice. In her first appearance in 2016, she recalls a sudden sense of relentless nerves beginning on the first tee. It was her first shot at an LPGA event and it was an eye-opening experience that had an immediate and important impact on her career.
"The experience of playing in the event has really helped me," Walker said, "because the first time I played it was my first LPGA event and I just had so many jitters and I don't even know what happened that round but it was not good.
"I don't remember it much which is probably a good thing, but I think that experience will be really valuable just to calm my nerves instead of getting over the hump of okay I'm out here playing, this is really cool. Let's try to get out there and compete this time. I think that I need to switch my mindset to that, just thinking okay let's compete with some of the best in the world. I think that experience will help me set up for that."
After a few more years of competition in the ShopRite qualifier and continuing to develop relationships at the event, Walker qualified for the tournament again in 2019. Her dedication and passion for this event did not go unnoticed. Bill Hansen, Eiger Marketing Group's LPGA Coordinator, approached Walker following her qualifier round and said, "Let's just make sure it's not this hard next year."
That's where the sponsor's exemption simplified the process.
Having played her way into the tournament twice, Walker was awarded a spot by Eiger Marketing Group in the field when play begins Oct. 1, avoiding the usual pre-qualifiers and qualifying events that had become a familiar part of her pre-tournament routine.
Receiving an extra year of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Walker is returning to UNC as a fifth-year senior, with a dream of pursuing professional golf. While she has played competitively once since the U.S. Amateur earlier this summer, she has been working toward teeing it up in the ShopRite LPGA Classic.
Walker's experience in LPGA events offered her newfound confidence that has validated her pursuit of a professional golf career.
"It just confirmed that I think I could definitely play at that level," Walker said.
What was once an intimidating feat, is marked with a sense of belonging. Walker has gotten over the jitters and gained the necessary experience to change her perspective on the tournament. She has set higher expectations for herself to compete with the professionals and prove she earned her place in this tournament.
"They say the third time's the charm," Walker declares with hopeful excitement.
Walker begins the ShopRite LPGA Classic Oct. 1 at the Stockton Seaview Hotel and Golf Club in Galloway, New Jersey. The 54-hole tournament takes place on the 6,217-yard, 71 par Bay Course. For more information on the event, visit lpga.com.
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Golf
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