Richdale earns LPGA tour card

Constant improvement has paid off for this talented Kelowna resident

Kelowna�s Samantha Richdale achieved an important goal this summer. She is exempt from qualifying school for the 2010 LPGA tour. During a most successful season, where she won two events�the Turkey Hill Classic and the Louisiana Pelican Classic�and earned $54,391 in winnings, Richdale has shown herself to be a productive professional. While on tour, Richdale made time for an interview with GolfWest: h3. How do you feel about golf becoming a legitimate career? It is a really great feeling to know that I will be playing full-time on the LPGA next year and the potential is there to make a lot more money playing for bigger purses. h3. In what ways has your game improved from last year? I think it has been just a steady improvement of all aspects of my game. I started working with a sports psychologist Dr. Gio Valiante this May and he has helped me have such a better mental game. I have learned to score well without hitting the ball well. I constantly work hard with Craig Harmon on improving my swing and improving my short game. My caddie Paul Maggiore and I have worked hard over the past year and half to learn about my game and my tendencies. h3. What do you mean when you say your mental game has improved? I have a different thought process and outlook on the course. I focus on different things and have learned how to calm myself down a bit better. h3. Please describe the emotions that come with getting your card. There is a bit of relief because when you are in a professional sport there is always a bit of doubt as to whether you can be successful and make a living at it. It feels very rewarding to know that I played well all year and received a card through the futures tour. It feels like all the hard work (over) the past few years has paid off. h3. How do your sponsors feel about your performance? My sponsors, Prasco, are the best sponsors anyone could have. They are so supportive and encouraging and they are very excited for me and my accomplishments. They have helped tremendously and I think it shows in my improvement since they began helping me in July of 2008. h3. Please talk about the friends and family who support and cheer for you. My parents are amazing. They are so supportive of my journey to play on the LPGA and have always encouraged me. They have made it very easy for me to pursue this career and it feels good to prove to them that it is going to be worthwhile. I have met a lot of great people throughout the years playing on tour and through college that have also supported me. I have a few fans that have made some trips to come to multiple tournaments which is incredibly special!