This past weekend September 28-30, Sophie Guo (Orlando, FL 2019) took one step closer to her ultimate goal: playing professional golf. Guo, who is originally from China, competed in the LPGA Symetra Tour’s 2018 IOA Golf Classic held at Alaqua Country Club in Longwood, FL.
Sophie’s Performance
As the lone amateur in the field, Guo did not let the big stage affect her game and finished the weekend T55 with a final score of 216 (+3).
She kicked the tournament off in style with a birdie on her first hole, and two more birdies within the next four holes. After making the turn in her first round one-under, Guo caught fire. She hopped on the birdie train for a healthy three-hole ride from the 11th to the 13th and she represented the PKBGT atop the leaderboard at T10.
She ended the first round T40 (-1), and followed up with a second round under-par where she made the cut at T38 (-2) going into the final round. Guo began her final round with yet another birdie on one, and finished her first taste of professional competition three-over.
In a field of 108 competitors, she outperformed 49 professional golfers alongside strong PKBGT representation including a 7th place finish from Jillian Hollis (-9) and a T14 finish from PKBGT ambassador Katherine Perry (-7).
How She Made the Field
Guo earned the sponsor’s exemption into the event by winning the PKBGT IOA Golf Classic Junior Qualifier held a few weeks earlier at the same Alaqua Country Club on September 8-9. She outplayed 15 of the tour’s top competitors from the east coast to earn the spot after back to back two-under rounds finishing with a total score of 138 (-4).
Sophie talked with the Symetra Tour communications team about how the Symetra Tour and the PKBGT work together to allow aspiring professionals to truly reach for the stars. Guo noted “For young golfers like me, it’s truly amazing and great that we get a chance to qualify for the tournament we could only dream of before.” She added, “[The] PKBGT is an amazing supporter that helps many young girls reach their goals.”
The PKBGT would like to thank our partner Insurance of America (IOA) for supporting female golfers from the developmental levels of junior golf all the way through the professional ranks. On and off the course, IOA’s continued support and dedication to growing opportunities for young girls is crucial in empowering the next generation!
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The Peggy Kirk Bell Girls’ Golf Tour is an initiative of the Triad Youth Golf Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit foundation aimed at increasing learning and playing opportunities for youth golfers. Based out of Greensboro, North Carolina, the PKBGT offers affordable, high-quality nationally ranked girls’ golf tournaments designed to prepare junior girls’ golfers for high school and collegiate golf. The PKBGT is the nation’s largest “girls’ only” junior tour with over 700 members in 2018 and 750 girls playing in or committed to collegiate golf. Learn more about the tour at pkbgt.org or by contacting Tour Director Mike Parker at mparker@pkbgt.org or 336-347-8537.
About Insurance Office of America
With the vision “to be a family of companies that grows and leads the marketplace by serving our clients, our community, and one another,” Insurance Office of America is one of the largest, privately held agencies in the country. IOA is the title sponsor for 3 LPGA Symetra Tour Events, the IOA Championship presented by Morongo Casino Resort and Spa, the IOA Invitational at Atlanta National Golf Club and the IOA Golf Classic at Alaqua CC. IOA also covers over 50 sports teams including the multiple teams in the NBA, NHL, NFL, WNBA and more.
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