Brooke Ferrell, recent University of Wisconsin graduate, was on hand Wednesday at the Island Resort Championship media day to receive her official invite into the field as a sponsors exemption. The impact could be immeasurable as she hopes to improve her status with a strong performance from June 23-25 at Sweetgrass Golf Club.
“It’s hard out here, and money is tight for everyone, and since I didn’t play well at Q-School it determined my next 365 days,” explained Ferrell, who did not advance past Stage I and therefore has low status. “I felt like I was better than the status I have, but I have to deal with it. Being able to get into this tournament and have the opportunity to earn money makes me really want to capitalize.”
“I’m so happy to be back here, I’m glad they weren’t sick of me,” joked Ferrell, whose older sister, Allyssa, is a full-time member of the Epson Tour. “I love the golf course, and I love the casino, it is so fun.”
Ferrell was a First-Team All Big Ten performer at Wisconsin as a junior and was the low Badgers golfer in six of the teams’ ten tournaments this past year as a senior. Recently, she has dealt with a wrist injury that has bothered her since high school.
“I took some time off after my collegiate season, I felt like I needed to rest my body and mind, so I’m still shaking off a bit of rust coming back,” explained Ferrell about the state of her game. “I didn’t want to be burned out by the time July rolled around. I wanted to be completely ready to go, and I wanted to give me wrist some time to heal.”
Ferrell said she had hit balls on the range five days in a row for the first time since the Big Ten Championships ended.
“I’m happy to be back golfing because I didn’t know what to do with my time now that I am done with school,” said Ferrell. “I might get a part time job just to fill the time. Because of my wrist injury, I can only practice for so long in a given day.”
In the next few weeks, Ferrell has a LPGA Monday Qualifier and the Ohio Women’s Open; then she will focus squarely on the Island Resort Championship.
“I’m hoping to use my upcoming events to get ready for this one (at Sweetgrass Golf Club),” said Ferrell. When I get here (Island Resort), I want to be peaking.”
Ferrell’s sister, Allyssa, has been an amazing sounding board for Brooke. Allyssa played at Michigan State and has competed on the Epson Tour since 2015. While she is not off to a great start this year, Allyssa finished 35th on the Volvik Race for the Card money list in 2016 and has contended many times on Tour.
“I lean on her a ton, whether I’ve had a good day or a bad day, she always knows what to say,” said Brooke. “Because she plays, it is such an advantage to have a sister like that. She is by far the strongest person I know. I’m hoping she finds success very soon.”
More than anything, Brooke loves the opportunity to compete alongside her sister and even test her luck on a slot machine or two during the tournament.
“We just have such a fun time here, she (Allyssa) was so jealous that I was coming (for media day), my parents were jealous too,” said Ferrell with a broad smile. “My dad joked that he wanted to me to put $20 on the slots for him. We just love it here.”
It’ll be a family affair for the Ferrell’s in late June at the Island Resort Championship.
)
)
)
)
