Hall 2004 Graduate Pursuing Professional Golf Career
by Chris Yucus- BCR
April 20, 2009
Riordan seeks a ‘Futures’ in
pro golf
By Chris Yucus cyucus@bcrnews.com
CHARLESTON— Spring Valley native and Eastern Illinois University
senior Carrie Riordan is currently leading her golf team into the
Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) championships, which take place next
weekend at Crooked Creek Golf Course in London, Ky. Along with
preparing to win what she hopes will be both an individual and team
title at the OVC championships, Riordan is keeping an eye on her
“future.”
The Duramed Futures Tour that is.
Riordan, who was the BCR’s female Golfer of the Year in 2004 as a
senior at Hall High School, as well as a first-team OVC
all-conference selection at Eastern, is looking to extend her
career past the collegiate ranks by qualifying for the Duramed
Futures Tour, the developmental tour for the LPGA, this November in
Florida.
Riordan says trying to extend her golfing career into the pro game
has long been a dream, and she is hoping to earn herself a spot on
the tour with a high finish at the 2010 tour qualifying event held
in Florida in November.
“I talked to my brothers about it, and T.C. told me I would regret
it if I didn’t, which is very true. I figured that while I’m not
tied down, and I’m still young enough, I might as well chase my
dream and see where it takes me,” Riordan said.
Riordan, who will graduate from Eastern in May with a degree in
marketing, says she will spend her summer back home in Spring
Valley, before making her way to Florida in the fall to acclimatize
herself to the Florida courses.
“In October, I’m going to move to Florida ... so I can get used to
the grass and stuff around there for about a month,” Riordan said.
Riordan is already acquainted with the grass in the Midwest. In her
last regular season tournament this season, she led Eastern to a
win in the Loyola Invite. Riordan shot a 154, 79 on Day 1 and a 75
on the final day in cold and rainy conditions to finish third among
all golfers. Riordan hopes to continue the hot end to her college
career at the OVC championships next weekend.
“I want to win conference, as a team, and as an individual,” she
said. While Riordan says that eventually playing in the LPGA has
been a dream, she is taking the process step by step, and not
putting too much pressure on herself. “Obviously I’m always going
to give 110 percent. I’m always going to shoot for the highest. I’m
just going to play it by ear right now and see what happens. My
first goal is obviously to make it on the Futures Tour,” Riordan
said.
“I don’t want to put pressure on myself. I know what I’m capable of
doing, and I just want to have fun.”
