Oilers’ Petty begins pro golf career with a ring

By Kevin Schrock
@KRock_6

Since graduating from the University of Findlay last spring, Kasey Petty has been making a career out of the sport that earned her All-America honors her junior and senior year. However, of the events she has played in, maybe none will be more memorable than her pro debut.

When Petty teed off on day two of the U.S. Women’s Open back in July, her mind was focused on the task at hand: making the cut and continuing deeper into the tournament. However, when the 22-year-old realized that it might not be in the cards for her on that day, her mind turned to somewhere else.

In the back of her head she couldn’t shake the idea that this might be the day her boyfriend, and University of Findlay assistant golf coach Jacob Miller, would pop that important question.

“My day at the course obviously wasn’t spectacular but afterwards I guess I kind of had a hunch about it,” said Petty. “He definitely still surprised me though and it is a day I’ll never forget.”

Not only was the day special for Petty because it was her first professional tournament, but it also marked seven years since she and her new fiancé had met.

Petty still credits the University for providing her with a platform to reach her goal of making a career out of golfing.

“My last two years at Findlay I really worked hard and started seeing some success,” said Petty. “By my senior year in the spring I was finishing really high in pretty much every tournament and becoming a pro started to become a real option.”

Now Petty spends every day out on the golf course; well, almost every day, looking to continue the success she had at Findlay at the professional level.

“We try to leave one day off a week,” said Petty, who is currently in California preparing for stage one of qualifying school. “I do a lot of preparation with my caddy. We go out to the course in the morning and then after lunch we usually go back out again in the afternoon.”

Petty has played in two other tournaments so far in her pro career. In the Kentucky Open Petty fired a seven-under-par, which would be good enough for a third place finish and first place among the professionals. In the Ohio Open she finished in a three-way tie for ninth place among the professionals in the field.

Keep an eye out for Petty on the LPGA in the future as she continues her work toward gaining her Tour Card. As the first ever professional golfer to come out of the University of Findlay, she is making her mark in the golf world quickly and more success is sure to follow in the 2016 Oilers Female Mancuso Award winner’s footsteps.