Twenty-one-year-old professional golfer Vicky Hurst has big plans for the 2012 LPGA tour.

“My goal for 2012 is to finish in the top 15. The top 10 has been pretty much the same for the last five years and will be hard to break into, but I think the top 15 is do-able. It’s going to take a lot of work, but I’m very focused.” Hurst joined the LPGA’s Futures tour in 2008 during her senior year a Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy. That year she was named “Rookie of the Year” and “Player of the Year. “Every year I’ve improved, and getting better helps build my confidence.”

Hurst earned more than $200,000 last year on the tour and ranked 45th in money earnings from the 22 tournaments she played.  The highlight of her year however, was participating in the Solheim Cup (the LPGA version of the Ryder Cup). Hurst was one of 12 American golfers who traveled to Ireland to compete against 12 Europeans. “It was amazing. It was one of my goals to make the team. Teeing off on the first hole on the first day there were thousands of spectators chanting and signing. My mother and sister flew in and I won my match on Sunday, only to lose the completion by half a point.”

The LPGA season is long, starting in February with tournaments in Australia, Thailand and Singapore. During March Hurst played in California and Arizona. The rest of the year will see her traveling throughout the United States, Mexico and Canada, with stops also scheduled in Brazil, France, the United Kingdom and a return to the Far East. “I really love the traveling-going to new places – I love everything about it.”

 

She sees only good things when it comes to her future. “After a round, particularly a bad one, I actually learn a lot. Failure means there’s room for improvement.  Of course, success builds confidence, so I’m good with that too. The mind is such a powerful thing. You can be the most talented golfer in the world, but if you don’t believe in yourself, you’re destined to fail. I believe if you put your mind to it you can accomplish amazing things.”

 

 

 

2012 LPGA Schedule

 

April 18-21
LPGA LOTTE Championship Presented by J Golf
Oahu, HI

 

April 26-29
Mobile Bay LPGA Classic
Mobile, AL

 

May 5-6
HSBC LPGA Brazil Cup 2012
Brazil

 

May 17-20
Sybase Match Play Championship
Gladstone, NJ

 

June 1-3
ShopRite LPGA Classic
Galloway, NJ

 

June 7-10
Wegmans LPGA Championship
Rochester, NY

 

June 21-24
Manulife Financial LPGA Classic
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

 

June 29-July 1
Walmart NW Arkansas Championship Presented by P&G
Rogers, AR

 

July 5-8
U.S. Women’s Open
Kohler, WI

 

July 26-29
Evian Masters Presented by Société Générale
Evian-les-Bains, France

 

August 9-12
Jamie Farr Toledo Classic Presented by Kroger, Owens Corning and O-I
Sylvania, OH

 

August 17-19
Safeway Classic Presented by Coca-Cola
North Plains, OR

 

August 23-26
CN Canadian Women’s Open
Coquitlam, BC, Canada

 

September 6-9
Kingsmill Championship
Williamsburg, VA

 

September 13-16
RICOH Women’s British Open
Wirral, United Kingdom

 

September 20-23
Navistar LPGA Classic
Prattville, AL

 

October 11-14
Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

 

October 19-21
LPGA HanaBank Championship
Incheon, South Korea

 

October 25-28
Sunrise LPGA Taiwan Championship 2012
Yang Mei, Taoyuan, Taiwan

 

November 2-4
Mizuno Classic
Shima-shi, Mie, Japan

 

November 8-11
Lorena Ochoa Invitational Presented by Banamex and Corona Light
Guadalajara, Mexico

 

November 15-18
CME Group Titleholders
Naples, FL

 

December 9
Wendy’s 3-Tour Challenge
Henderson, NV