Spencerport's Downey pursuing pro golf career

Last summer, Spencerport native Danielle Downey graduated from Auburn University and returned home to compete as an amateur in the Wegman's Rochester LPGA Tournament. Now the three-time New York State Amateur Champion has made the transition to her pro golf career official as she competes on the LPGA Futures Tour.

"This is a lifelong dream of mine," said Downey. "I know I'm ready for the challenge and I know a lot of other women who will be competing as hard as I am out there. But I'm not only playing for myself, I'm representing the hopes and dreams of my friends and supporters back in Rochester."

The Futures Tour began in 1981 to help young hopefuls develop their golf skills and ultimately reach their goals of qualifying for the LPGA Tour. Over 300 players from 29 countries now compete with ten automatically advancing into the LPGA Qualifying Tournament. A total of 23 players in 2003 earned playing status on the 2004 LPGA Tour.

Downey will use her amateur career as a launching pad. While at Auburn, she won the 2000 Southeast Conference Individual Championship and finished second at the 2002 NCAA Women's Championship.

In two stops on the 2004 Futures Tour, the Lakeland, Florida Futures Golf Classic and Tampa Bay's Next Generation Futures Golf Classic, Downey has yet to make the cut in shooting two-round scores of 153 and 154, respectively. Her score in Tampa was one stroke away from making the cut.

Danielle and her father, Mike, have been pursuing sponsors for the past year. "When your daughter has a dream and this much talent, you've got to go for it," said Mike.

There are 16 stops left on the 2004 schedule including the Frye Classic April 23-25 in Wichita, Kansas. The closest stops to Rochester this year are the M&T Bank Loretto Futures Golf Classic in Syracuse July 23-25 and in Albany, August 27-29.