Dawn Shockley seems to be picking the ideal time to turn pro, though other professionals in the field for this week’s HealthOne Colorado Women’s Open might think otherwise.
Shockley just completed her senior season on the University of Denver women’s golf team, and she finished on a high note. In the last two months she won two college tournaments, including the impressive feat of claiming the individual title at the NCAA East Regional. Then she capped off her career by placing 21st in last week’s NCAA Women’s Championship Finals.
All of which has Shockley thinking big going into this week”˜s Women”˜s Open.
“I think I can win this tournament,” she said. “I’m playing my best golf right now. I’m very excited and ready for the next stage.”
In her pro debut, Shockley will be competing for a championship purse of $55,000. The Colorado Women’s Open will run Wednesday through Friday (May 27-29) at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club, with Thailand’s Walailak Satarak going for her third straight title. Former University of Colorado golfer Erin Houtsma, the 2005 champion, is also in the field.
Shockley, who grew up in Estes Park and now lives in Denver, was in peak form during her final semester of college golf. She won the BYU Dixie Classic in late March, finished third in the Sun Belt Conference tournament, won the NCAA East Regional (a final-round 66 gave her a one-shot victory) and finished 21st at nationals. She led DU to its first NCAA Regional team title and helped the Pioneers to their best finish ever at the NCAA Finals (fifth place).
“It was definitely a good spring season, which was fun,” said Shockley, whose stroke average was 74.13 as a senior. “I had confidence that I could compete with the best, and when I did it, it wasn’t a surprise, but it was an eye-opener for me as I went into nationals and prepared to go pro. I always wanted to win a college tournament, and that one (at the NCAA Regionals) is one of the best tournaments other than the NCAA Championships. So to win that was unbelievable.
“And what the team did was great. Our goal was to be in the top five (nationally) to beat what we did last year (sixth), and we did that.”
Shockley, 22, is no stranger to success, in golf or otherwise. At Estes Park High School, besides being two-time all-state in golf, she won the Class 3A state cross country title as a freshman and was named Miss 3A Colorado Basketball as a senior. In addition, she was student body president as a senior.
“I’m pretty competitive in everything,” she said. That should serve Shockley well as she embarks on her pro career. On her schedule for later in the year are attempting to qualify for the U.S. Women’s Open, and going through the LPGA Tour qualifying process.
Shockley won’t be the only former DU player making her pro debut this week at the Colorado Women’s Open. Katie Kempter of Albuquerque, who finished 39th at last week’s NCAA Finals, likewise will be playing for cash at Green Valley Ranch.
“From the time they were freshmen, these seniors set the standard of what it meant to be competitive and tough,” DU coach Sammie Chergo said last week as Shockley and Kempter finished their college careers.
