Duramed FUTURES Tour member Kim Welch of Sacramento earned her exemption for winning the Golf Channel's "Big Break: Ka'anapali" to play in this week's Navistar LPGA Classic in Prattville, Ala. It was the Californian's first appearance in an LPGA Tour event.

She carded a 2-under-par, first-round score of 70, and played 17 holes at level-par in the second round, taking a 5-over-par 10 on the par-five 17th hole when her second shot found a hazard. Welch called that hole "a minor disaster," but was thrilled about her LPGA debut, finishing at 70-77 to miss the 36-hole cut by two shots at 147 (+3).

"I've had a great time and a great experience and I've learned a lot," Welch told The Golf Channel.

Welch Talks To Media Prior To Navistar LPGA Classic

Here is the transcript of Duramed FUTURES Tour member Kim Welch’s pre-tournament interview on Tuesday with the media in Prattville, Ala. Welch earned the LPGA tournament exemption by winning the Golf Channel’s “Big Break: Ka’anapali” show earlier this summer.

LPGA staff member Mike Scanlan: Kim, thanks for coming in. Congratulations on earning this sponsor exemption through the “Big Break Ka’anapali.” You won earlier this year on the Duramed FUTURES Tour, and you've also earned your LPGA Tour card by finishing tenth on the Duramed FUTURES Tour’s Money List. If you would, just talk about being here in Prattville and playing in your first LPGA event.
KIM WELCH: I'm really excited to be here. It's my first event. I have my brother with me this week on the bag, and I'm just looking forward to having a fun week and getting my feet wet and getting some experience out there.

Scanlan: Now, when you were playing in the Big Break, was the thought of earning an exemption to Navistar in the back of your mind?
KIM WELCH: Yeah. I mean, I knew what was at stake, obviously, but you know, that TV show is just -- it's so weird how anything can happen. Even the best players can get kicked out early, so I just wanted to have fun during that show and not worry about the outcome -- just kind of take it one shot at a time.

Q. Have you had a chance to play the course yet?
KIM WELCH: I played a little bit this morning. I'm going out in the afternoon to play the rest.

Q. Do you like what you see?
KIM WELCH: I do. Yeah. This course fits me well, I think. It's a longer course. The rough's not too bad. There's not too much trouble out there.

Q. I saw you took part in the junior clinic this morning. Can you tell us a little bit about that?
KIM WELCH: (Laughs). It was fun. Eric, the Trick Shot guy was awesome. And he had us doing the chicken dance at the end. I've never done that on a golf course, I have to say. (Laughs). So it's great.

Q. Any particular holes that you're going to be concentrating more on out there? Anything you're looking out for?
KIM WELCH: I haven't seen the whole course yet, so I can't really say, but I'll know more by this afternoon. Is there anything I should look out for? (Laughs). Do you know? (Laughs).

Q. How old were you when you got interested in playing golf?
KIM WELCH: I got started when I was 7, and I'm 25 now. I've been playing on the Duramed FUTURES Tour for the last three years.

Q. So how did it feel to be with the juniors out there?
KIM WELCH: Oh, I mean it was great. That's exactly how I was when I was little. I remember going to the [PGA] Seniors Tour event out in Sacramento, and I would go to the junior clinics and watch everybody, and it was just -- you know, it just blows your mind when you're little to see the golf stars out there kind of hanging out with you.

Q. What made you decide to do the “Big Break?” How did you decide to do that?
KIM WELCH: Honestly, I wasn't too excited about even doing it, you know, but I had a couple friends tell me that they thought that I might be good for the show. So I finally auditioned on the last day that I could, and three months later they told me I was in.

Q. You’re a reality chick now.
KIM WELCH: Oh, gosh. Don't call me that. Am I really? Don't clump me in there. (Laughs). No. It's been great just getting recognized by a few more people. I had some of the kids come up to me today, and it's nice to know that they're just so into it, and they're getting golf any way they can.

Watch the video interview>>

Welch Calls First LPGA Event "A Great Experience"

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