UTB-TSC's Martinez set to begin pro career

Former University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College golfer April Martinez has reached her childhood dream — to play women’s golf at a professional level.

Martinez has earned her tour card and qualified for the Duramed Futures Tour, the developmental tour for the LPGA, and will play in her first professional tournament at the Florida Nature’s Charity Classic from March 19 to 21 in Winter Haven Fla.

Martinez received her bachelor’s degree from UTB-TSC in May 2009 after four years with the Scorpions golf program. The 2006 graduate of Edinburg Economedes played four years at UTB-TSC, the first two when the Scorpions competed in the NJCAA and the last two in the NAIA.

"It’s another step on the ladder," Martinez said. "I’ve reached the next step now at the Duramed tour, and now I have one more step after that (LPGA Tour), so I’m just going to enjoy the ride."

Martinez qualified for national tournaments twice at UTB-TSC — during her freshman year at the NJCAA national tournament and during her senior year in 2009 at the NAIA women’s golf national championships.

Last April, she was the invited as the local amateur to participate in the Duramed Futures Tour event at Rancho Viejo Resort and Country Club. The Historic Brownsville Open returns to the Rancho Viejo from April 23 through 25 and Martinez will be in the field, this time as a professional.

Martinez is setting realistic expectations and knows that all tournaments will be tough.

"I want to be very realistic because it’s not the same thing as college; these girls are just like me or better," Martinez said. "I like being able to meet my goals and that’s one of them, to just keep my tour card and play as best as I can. It will definitely be a learning experience."

Martinez’s strength is off the tee, hitting longer drives than most women with the men’s clubs she likes to use. She was runner-up at the NAIA national tournament long drive contest, and she ontinues to develop her skills on her short game and on the green.

At the professional level, there are no friendships to make on the golf course. All of the women have the same goal — to win as much as money as they can and to qualify for the LPGA.

"These girls are fierce, I mean they’re out to compete," Martinez said. "They’re not out for fashion, they’re not out to do anything else but beat you and to keep their tour card. It’s going to be tough. I know some ladies that I’ve played with in the qualifier before, and they’re much older than I am and they have been on the Duramed tournament for 10 years now. You know they’re still going at it and then there are some girls that are just maybe more naturally talented and who were on the Duramed tournament for one or two years and then got into the LPGA. It just depends on how much you practice, how much you want it and how good you really are."

Martinez plans to work hard and achieve success during her first tour season, which runs until September. Success on the course will mean paydays, which will help her with expenses for the season. She does not have a sponsor.

"My goal is to keep my tour card and play well," she said. "I also want to make as many cuts as I can. Eventually, I want to win two or three tournaments. You never know."

Martinez departs for Winter Haven this weekend for Florida with her father, retired teacher Ricardo Martinez of Edinburg, as her caddy and sponsor.

"My dad has just been my steady rock," she said. "He has been there many times when I wanted to keep the clubs in the closet, you know, kick them and not even want to see them again.

"He has been there to tell me that everyone goes through bad days but you just have to get back up and keep working at is and work through it. That is the only way you’re going to be good at it."