Duramed FUTURES Tour 2009 LPGA Card Winners - Quick Quotes

Here are some quick quotes from an impromptu Duramed FUTURES Tour press conference with 2009 LPGA Tour Membership Card Winners Vicky Hurst, Mindy Kim, Sarah-Jane Kenyon, M.J. Hur and Jin Young Pak:

DFT:  Vicky Hurst finished No. 1 on the money list this year. Vicky you came out here as a 17-year-old rookie and are now holding your 2009 LPGA Tour card.  What has this journey been like for you?

Vicky Hurst: Well it has been pretty unbelievable all year playing out here on the [Duramed] FUTURES Tour with all these great players and I am really thankful for standing here. My mom was my caddie all year, and I have been playing great and I am really happy right now.

DFT:  Mindy came out here last year in her rookie season also as a 17-year-old professional. She didn’t have the same success last year as this year, so how did you turn it around in 2008?

Mindy Kim: I think the difference between last year and this year was about me just focusing more and just practicing a lot more, finding the right coaches and going to church a lot more and dedicating my efforts to God first, rather than myself. And like I said, I am just really lucky to be out here and holding up one of these cards right now. Hopefully, I will even work harder and play well next year.

DFT:  Sarah-Jane, you have been a non-exempt LPGA professional this season. Next year, you will be a Priority LPGA professional with full playing privileges. How does it feel to know that in 2009, you are not going to have to juggle back and forth between two tours and try to figure out how, where and when to play?

Sarah-Jane Kenyon:  It is going to be amazing. For starters, I don’t have to go to LPGA Qualifying School this year. I actually get to go home to Australia and spend more time with our families. We are planning a wedding too. It is going to be really nice to actually be organized and know where I am going to play more than a week in advance. It will be fun next year.

DFT: This is M.J. Hur’s first season on the Duramed FUTURES Tour. Now, you have status on the 2009 LPGA Tour. How does that make you feel?

M.J. Hur:  I feel great and I am very happy and excited to have an LPGA Card and to be able to play there next season. Also, I want to thank my parents and the Duramed FUTURES Tour staff. They are very supporting and kind. I will do my best next year on the LPGA Tour. I will be a proud [Duramed] FUTURES Tour alumni.

DFT: Jin Young, you played on the LPGA Tour, lost your status this year and you made the best of it. You came out here and got your LPGA card back. Can you tell us how it feels to have that card back in your hands for 2009?

Jin Young Pak:  I am very excited that I got a 2009 LPGA Card.  When I was on the LPGA last year, I was not ready for the big league. I learned a lot from the LPGA last year and also I learned a lot on the Duramed FUTURES Tour this year. I will continue to work hard and I also will be a Duramed FUTURES Tour proud alumni.

Contact: Lisa D. Mickey, Duramed FUTURES Tour, lisa@duramedfuturestour.com.