"My experience on the Big Break was amazing, to say the least," Whitney Wright, one of the contestants we'll be watching on Big Break Ireland after its Sept. 20 debut, told Golf Babes. "I met so many wonderful friends and people from all parts of the world and will cherish that the most out of everything."
Whitney recently moved to Raleigh, N.C., and if you're in the area head out to Raleigh Country Club or TPC Wakefield. You might find Whitney at either course.
Wright is aiming for a sort of dual-citizenship in 2012: She hopes to earn playing status on both the LPGA and LET. She's playing the LPGA Q-School second-stage qualifier soon, and will play the LET Q-School in January. Whitney made it to the final stage of LPGA Q-School last year.
"My golf career to date has been very strange and different," Whitney said, explaining that after college at Florida State she moved to Norway and played 18 months on the SAS Masters Tour.
After returning to the U.S., Wright entered LPGA Q-School and did well enough to earn Futures Tour status for 2011. Unfortunately, as is often the case because of limited financial opportunities in women's golf below the LPGA level, she could only afford to play a few tournaments this year.
"I've been saving up my money for Q-School," Whitney said, "so this is once again my shot. I have to make something happen!"
Finding sponsors is always an issue for young women golfers, and hopefully the Big Break will open some doors for all of its cast members. But the experience was its own reward, Wright said, not least of which for the new friendships forged.
"I'm sure they will be friends for a lifetime," Whitney said.
