Huron Expositor, 2016-12-21, Page 3Doig shoots for LPGA
Seaforth resident and professional
golfer Robyn Doig recently launched a
Gofundme campaign for an upcoming
golfing trip to Australia with the
ultimate goal of joining the LPGA
Justine Alkema
Postmedia
Seaforth native Robyn
Doig is putting along on her
journey to be a player in the
Ladies Professional Golf
Association (LPGA).
Most recently, Doig
started a Gofundme cam-
paign to raise funds for an
upcoming seven -week trip
to play golf in Australia on
the Australian Ladies Profes-
sional Golf Tour from Jan. 17
to Feb. 24, 2017; only 35
international members are
invited each year to the
event.
Doig noted that while win-
ter is the off-season in North
America, most serious golf-
ers head south during this
time to stay on their game.
Last year, Doig played in
Florida. However, she
believes the trip to Australia
will provide her with more
opportunities.
Golfing is in the 24-year-
old's blood; her parents own
the Seaforth Golf Course and
she grew up playing the
game. As a result of the com-
munity she has in Seaforth
and area, she has felt
extremely supported in her
journey of professional golf.
Her Gofundme goal is
$11,000, and after being up
for just a couple weeks, 40
donors have already pro-
vided her with $5,150.
"The costs of starting out
as a young golf professional
are extremely high," said
Doig. "However, I really
believe that competing on
the Australian LPGA and
gaining more international
experience will make a sig-
nificant difference to my
success."
Those funds will go to
flights, a joining fee, food,
accommodation, a rental
car, equipment and tourna-
ment entries. Doig's dad will
be going with her as her
caddy, so the expenses are
for both of them.
Doig has a number of titles
to her name including The
Toronto Star Women's Ama-
teur Champion in 2012,
Ontario Women's Amateur
Champion in 2014 and
Ontario Women's Amateur
Match Play Champion in
both 2013 and 2014.
Doig attended the Uni-
versity of Central Florida
where she majored in
Sports Business Manage-
ment and Communications
with a minor in Coaching.
She played on UCF's golf
team for four years, and
their team achieved a con-
ference championship. At
that point, Doig new she
wanted to become a profes-
sional golfer and officially
went professional in August
2015.
At that point last August,
she held a fundraiser in Sea -
forth featuring a comedian,
food and auction to raise
funds to start her career.
However, then she had lots
of time to plan the event;
now she just confirmed her
Australia trip at the end of
October. She had heard of
other girls in her position
Wednesday, December 21, 2016 • Huron Expositor 3
Doig playing golf.
raising funds on Gofundme,
and it seemed a good way to
gather support on a tight
timeline. She said it also
"gets her name out there."
The campaign has been
shared over 200 times on
Facebook.
"I had no idea the
response I would get [to the
campaign]," said Doing.
"Especially because it's
Christmas and everyone is
already on tighter budgets.
But it's been amazing so far."
She said she has been sup-
ported by family and friends
but also by acquaintances
and friends of friends.
Doig has tried out for the
LPGA twice. She said she
learned a lot from her first
experience, and she missed
advancing by just two shots
on her second.
"To get into the LPGA, you
have to play as much as you
possibly can," she said. "The
more you play the more sta-
tus you get and the more
competition experience you
get. Then you get noticed,
sponsored, invited to bigger
tournaments and basically
work your way up to the
LPGA tour."
Doig said on her
- May a circle of family, friends & happiness
surround you during this magical season.
We send our holiday wishes to you & your family ._
with appreciation for your patronage.
SEAFORTH
ANIMAL
HOSPITAL
80205 North Line, Seaforth
www.seaforthvet.com • 519-527-1760 •
Photos courtesy of Doig's Gofundme page
Gofundme page: "In order to
get to the LPGA Tour, you
must advance through three
qualifying tourna-
ments. Those who do not
advance can compete on the
Symetra Tour and reach the
LPGA based on earnings
throughout the year. Com-
peting in Australia in the off
season will help prepare me
for the Symetra Tour which
runs from March to
October."
Doig said she loves golf
because of all the opportuni-
ties it has created for her.
She loves being outside, not
sitting in a desk, the compe-
tition and that her entire
family is involved in the
game.
mm&mows1 tor.co
Doig and her father, Cam, who will be accompanying her to
Australia.
der
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