LITCHFIELD PARK, Ariz. — Ashley Shaw, a 15-year-old amateur golfer from Litchfield Park, Arizona, will make her LPGA Tour debut later this week after winning The John Shippen Cognizant Cup on Monday, May 6, and earning an exemption.
This moment in Shaw's young career would be an understatement, to say the least.
"It just makes me so excited," Shaw said. "I know my mom is excited for this week during Mother's Day weekend and she told me this would be the best Mother's Day if we are on the course instead."
Which is exactly where Ashley and Mom, Slyvia, teeing it up alongside the world's best female golfers in the LPGA Tour's Cognizant Founders Cup at Upper Montclair Country Club in Clifton, N.J. Shaw’s mother, Slyvia, is also serving as her caddie this week and said she was thrilled to have a front-row seat as her daughter achieved one of her dreams.
This, after Shaw shot a 1-over par 73 on the same course to earn a two-stroke victory in the Shippen event.
"It's an extremely important tournament," Shaw said. "It helps bring more diversity to the game of golf and to know the winners get an exemption to these types of events, it helps bring more diversity. This is so important because not a lot of people in this game look like myself."
The John Shippen National Invitational is a series of competitions created to provide playing opportunities on the LPGA Tour and PGA TOUR for the nation’s top Black amateur and professional women and men golfers.
The main key to her success at such a young age comes down to Shaw's work ethic and continually working on her game day after day.
"Ever since 10 years old I have been on a golf course swinging away," Shaw said. "I put in a lot of time on the course and my happy place is on the course. I love the game and what has made me successful is having a support system that I have in my parents and family."
Since the events began in 2021, the Shippen tournament has covered travel costs for participating players to help minimize financial barriers. Shaw will make her debut on Thursday, May 9 while taking pride in representing all of the youth in the Valley.
"There aren't that many golfers from Arizona that are on the professional tour," Shaw said. "There are some good golfers in Arizona, especially junior golfers and we're coming! There are plenty more than just myself and I might be one of the first ones but definitely won't be the last."
Arizona sports
The city of Phoenix is home to four major professional sports league teams; The NFL's Arizona Cardinals, NBA's Phoenix Suns, WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury and MLB's Arizona Diamondbacks.
The Cardinals have made State Farm Stadium in Glendale their home turf and the Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix is home to both the Suns and the Mercury. The Indoor Football League’s Arizona Rattlers play at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale.
Phoenix also has a soccer team with the USL's Phoenix Rising FC, who play at Phoenix Rising FC Stadium in Phoenix.
The Valley hosts multiple major sporting events on a yearly basis, including college football's Fiesta Bowl and Guaranteed Rate Bowl; the PGA Tour’s highest-attended event, the WM Phoenix Open; NASCAR events each spring and fall, including Championship Weekend in November; and Cactus League Spring Training for 15 Major League Baseball franchises.
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