WINTER HAVEN, Fla. - Former Ole Miss women's golfer Dori Carter earned her playing card on the Duramed Futures Tour for the 2010 season, after finishing 14th in the qualifying tournament Friday at Lake Region Yacht & Country Club. In her first attempt to qualify, Carter shot 73-72-73-69-76-363 during five days of competition.
Carter will most likely earn full exempt status on the Futures Tour, when the final status is awarded after the LPGA Tour Qualifying School in December.
The Duramed Futures Tour is the LPGA's Developmental Tour. It's the equivalent to the Nationwide Tour on the men's side. More than 250 players from across the country and world begin competing on Monday to earn a spot.
"It's a huge relief for me. I haven't played a tournament since September," said Carter after five grueling days of golf had ended. "I've been gearing up for this all semester. I knew what was required to make it, and I took care of business. Today was kind of tough out there with the conditions. The wind was really tough."
Head coach Michele Drinkard and Carter's former teammates kept tabs on former the two-time All-American and All-SEC first team honoree during the week and were thrilled for her.
"We are real excited for Dori. She's worked extremely hard. It's very rewarding for her to go through Futures Tour qualifying school the first time and most likely receive full exempt status," Drinkard said. "This won't be the last tour card she earns, because with her hard work ethic, she'll be playing on the LPGA Tour one day soon. Her teammates let out a big yell at the course when we told them about her finish today."
Carter will finish her degree in December, and then start preparing for the Futures Tour, which begins in March and lasts through September of 2010. The top 10 players on the money list earn their cards for the LPGA Tour.
"It's going to take some adjustment, but I am excited about the opportunity and hopefully I can advance to the LPGA Tour," Carter said. "I don't know if it will happen this year or three years down the road, but I am starting to see it all fall into place."
